As we grow up our bodies change you might start to notice differences
between yourself and your classmates. Maybe you became the tallest person in
your class or maybe you're the only one with facial hair. These differences are
normal but sometimes they can make you self-conscious about your body. What you
think and feel about your body can change over time. It is common to become
more aware of your body during puberty. Puberty usually happens between the ages
of 10 to 16. It's a normal part of being human to notice your own body and the
bodies of others. You also get ideas about what body types people desire
through family, friends, social media, TV, and movies, and when you think you do not
match up to these ideals, you can begin to have a negative relationship with
your body. Having trouble with your body image can mean so much more than just
worrying about weight. This is Thomas. He's on the football team. On the outside
you'd think he was very confident about his appearance, but Thomas has a secret
that has been troubling him. He hates how he looks and obsesses about it. He thinks
that his ears and nose are too big and constantly checks how he looks in
mirrors when he passes. He spends a lot of time stressing about his clothes and
hair in the morning and worries that the people around him think he's disgusting.
He even thought about getting plastic surgery to change his ears and nose
Thomas finally reached out to a counselor who helped him to stop using
negative language about himself and work towards finding what he likes instead.
Like Thomas, the body we see in the mirror may be a distorted image based on
a negative view of yourself. For example, you may restrict what you eat because
your goal is to look like what you think others desire, or your life feels out of
control, so you begin to control what you eat,
overeat, or work out constantly. Body image issues can lead to unhealthy
relationships with food, your body, and even become life-threatening. A counselor
can help you get your life back on track by developing a healthy relationship
with your body