Every body is a summer body

As we continue to enjoy (or avoid) the hottest days of summer, it may be increasingly difficult to avoid negative social media content about becoming “beach ready”. At Well Psychotherapy, we work with many individuals who struggle with poor body image and dissatisfaction with one’s appearance. Although summer is a time for fun in the sun, we find that people may experience increased discomfort around body image because we often wear less clothing to stay temperately cool (and to tan!). We sat down with Dr. Sarah Chipps, founder and director of Well Psychotherapy, to learn how we can best enjoy the next few months without allowing poor body image days to prevent us from making fun summer memories. 

How does having poor body image affect our mental health?

Poor body image refers to a negative perception and dissatisfaction with one's own body, including its size, shape, and appearance. This can manifest as feelings of shame, anxiety, and self-consciousness about one's physical appearance, leading to behaviors such as excessive dieting, exercise, avoidance of social situations, and real and perceived social isolation. This focus on unhappiness with physical appearance can be both a cause and a symptom of mental health struggles related to self worth, self esteem, identity, and sometimes, trauma. 

Do you find clients struggle more with body image in summer months?

Definitely - and there are some good reasons for this. People often struggle more with body image issues in the summer months because there’s an expectation (and a comfort factor) around wearing less clothing and thus exposing our bodies more to the eyes of others. People have more opportunities to compare their bodies to others given increased visibility, which can be extremely distressing if you experience your body as worse than (in whatever way) the bodies of your peers. 

This can be true both for people concerned about body weight and shape from a “thin is in” culture, and for people struggling with gender related body image. While I witnessed an increase in body positivity and acceptance of all shapes and sizes over the last ten years or so, this summer I hear a lot of people returning to a weight loss focus and being excited about (and envious of) the possibility of GLP1 inhibitors. People who are questioning their gender or who are transgender often have incredible discomfort with body image, and particularly during the summer months, which makes a lot of sense. Many trans folks feel great relief once they receive gender affirming care (in whatever way makes sense for them), and a part of this relief is interwoven with greater influence over body image.  

What can someone do if they are experiencing a difficult body image day?

This can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can help you cope:

Self compassion: I know it might sound cheesy, but self compassion is number one on my list. Would you talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself? What would you tell a friend who was having these same thoughts? Is it more important for you to have friends who are present and engaged with you or who look a certain way (and are perpetually distracted by a negative internal dialogue)? 

Focus on your values: Relatedly, what kind of friend/family member/coworker/pet/ guardian do you want to be? Can you focus on fertilizing your relationships with values based actions and energy instead of focusing on how you might look? Can you distract yourself from a focus on your appearance by being in the world in a way that is in line with your values? I always say that the way to build self esteem is through estimable acts (not appearance)! I remember when I was recovering from an eating disorder and poor body image I would think of the people in my life who made me feel warm, safe, and connected. Invariably, the energy people put out that felt the best to be around didn’t have anything to do with their body shape, size, or facial features. 

Reduce body checking: I recommend covering your full length mirrors if you tend to obsess in front of them. This can help focus your attention outside of yourself and onto participating in the world. 

Consider therapy: Of course, professional help can be invaluable. Like I said, body image distress can be a symptom and a cause of many mental health issues, and it’s sometimes hard to tease these issues apart on one’s own. 

What would you advise someone to do if their friends are obsessing over body image this summer? 

The thing about other people’s actions is that we almost never have absolute control over them. I always encourage people to accept others and not expect friends or loved ones to change. However, you can try having some limited influence by modeling positive body image through your own verbalizations, modeling a healthy relationship with food by not restricting intake, making intuitive food choices (intuitive = what do you feel like + what will help you feel good physiologically and energetically after you eat it), redirecting conversations when people are speaking poorly of their or others’ bodies, and asking directly for friends to not disparage people (including themselves) around you. Again, you can’t guarantee that your efforts will result in your friends changing their behaviors, but by living your own best body image life through estimable acts, you will reap the rewards of a more solid sense of healthy identity. 

Our clinicians are here to help. Learn more on our Individual Therapy page.