How do you think and feel about your body?
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week (13–19th May) focuses on a theme that affects (or has affected) most people at some point in their life: how they see themselves when they look in the mirror. Body image issues are a common problem in a society that promotes unrealistic body ideals – but this week, the message is simple: love yourself just the way you are.
To start the discussion, the UK charity Mental Health Foundation, which hosts the event, has released a report with staggering results: one in five adults – and one in three teenagers – feel shame over the way they look. While body dissatisfaction is no surprise amongst teenagers who might struggle to accept their growing bodies (whilst facing strong peer pressure to conform), the report also highlights that one in eight adults have had suicidal thoughts because of it.
The impact on self-esteem and confidence is obvious, but if left unaddressed, this can lead to bigger issues, such as depression or eating disorders – particularly amongst young women. As media play a key role in their perception of beauty, it’s hard for them to appreciate their own bodies. Unhealthy teenage body image is nothing new, but with the tendency amongst young people to compare their appearance, social media has undoubtedly made the situation worse. To help them accept their differences and, better still, value their individuality, here is Teen Breathe’s own advice on positive body image.
Time to find inner peace and embrace the way we are…
No one is perfect, so stop being unkind to yourself and learn to love your body, quirks and all.
How do you feel when you look in the mirror? Do you find yourself criticising little details or complaining ‘I’m too fat’ or ‘I’m too short’ or ‘if only I had a different nose/bum/hair colour I’d be happy’?
If you’re frequently making negative comments about your appearance, you’re not alone. You can be confident that most of your peers will be equally as critical of their looks, especially given all the physical changes that happen as you get older. But while it’s normal not to like every part of yourself, for some it becomes so extreme it affects everyday life. This is because body image – how you see your face and body – is closely linked to self-esteem. If you aren’t happy with your body, you will lack confidence. If you have a positive body image, however, you will be happier and healthier both mentally and physically.
- This article is an extract from Be Kind, part of a four-book series released by Teen Breathe in May 2019 to help teenagers treat others and themselves with respect, compassion and care.
- Find out more and order your copies here.
- Illustrations by Maria Mangiapane. Words by Anne Guillot and Donna Findlay.
Una maoni gani na hisia gani kuhusu mwili wako? Wiki ya Ujuzi wa Afya ya Akili (Monday 13 - 19 Mei) inazingatia mada ambayo huathiri (au imeathiri) watu wengi wakati fulani katika maisha yao: jinsi wanavyojiona wanapotazama kwenye kioo. Masuala ya picha ya mwili ni tatizo la kawaida katika jamii ambayo huendeleza mawazo yasiyo ya kweli ya mwili <unk> lakini wiki hii, ujumbe ni rahisi: jipende tu jinsi ulivyo. Shirika la misaada la Uingereza Mental Health Foundation limetoa ripoti ya kushangaza kuhusu jinsi watu wazima 1 kati ya 5 na vijana 1 kati ya 3 wanavyoona aibu kwa jinsi wanavyoonekana. Ingawa kutoridhika na mwili sio jambo la kushangaza miongoni mwa matineja ambao wanaweza kuwa na shida kukubali miili yao inayokua (wakati wakikabiliwa na shinikizo kubwa la wenzao la kufuata), ripoti hiyo pia inasisitiza kwamba mmoja kati ya watu wazima wanane amekuwa na mawazo ya kujiua kwa sababu ya hilo. Athari juu ya kujithamini na ujasiri ni dhahiri, lakini ikiwa haitatibiwa, hii inaweza kusababisha masuala makubwa, kama vile unyogovu au matatizo ya kula - haswa miongoni mwa wanawake vijana. Kwa kuwa vyombo vya habari vina jukumu muhimu katika maoni yao ya uzuri, ni vigumu kwao kuthamini miili yao wenyewe. Uonekano wa mwili wa vijana usio na afya sio jambo jipya, lakini kwa mwelekeo kati ya vijana kulinganisha sura yao, media ya kijamii bila shaka imefanya hali kuwa mbaya zaidi. Ili kuwasaidia kukubali tofauti zao na, bora zaidi, kuthamini utu wao, hapa ni ushauri wa Teen Breathe mwenyewe juu ya picha nzuri ya mwili. Wakati wa kupata amani ya ndani na kukumbatia jinsi tulivyo... hakuna mtu mkamilifu, kwa hivyo acha kuwa mbaya na wewe mwenyewe na ujifunze kupenda mwili wako, tabia na yote. Unahisije unapojiangalia kwenye kioo? Je, unajikuta ukikosoa mambo madogo madogo au ukilalamika 'Nina uzito mwingi' au 'Nina urefu mfupi sana' au 'Ikiwa tu ningekuwa na pua tofauti, pua tofauti, rangi tofauti ya nywele ningekuwa na furaha'? Ikiwa mara nyingi unataja mambo yasiyofaa kuhusu sura yako, si wewe peke yako. Unaweza kuwa na uhakika kwamba wengi wa wenzao watakuwa na maoni sawa juu ya sura yao, hasa kwa kuzingatia mabadiliko yote ya kimwili yanayotokea unapozeeka. Lakini ingawa ni kawaida kutopenda kila sehemu ya nafsi yako, kwa wengine inakuwa kali sana hivi kwamba huathiri maisha ya kila siku. Hii ni kwa sababu picha ya mwili - jinsi unavyoona uso wako na mwili - inahusiana sana na kujithamini. Ikiwa hufurahii mwili wako, hautakuwa na uhakika. Hata hivyo, ikiwa una maoni mazuri kuhusu mwili wako, utakuwa na furaha na afya nzuri kiakili na kimwili. "Kama sehemu ya ""Kuwa Mkarimu,"" mfululizo wa vitabu vinne vilivyotolewa na Teen Breathe mnamo Mei 2019 kusaidia vijana kuwatendea wengine na wao wenyewe kwa heshima, huruma na huduma." - Tafuta habari zaidi na uagize nakala zako hapa. - Picha za Maria Mangiapane. Maneno ya Anne Guillot na Donna Findlay.