When you love yourself, you become stronger, and guess what, you can love yourself too. Remember you are not your body; you are your emotions, your thoughts, perhaps, and especially, you are the soul, so be you, and don’t let others judge you.
How to Support Someone Who is Being Body-Shamed
While I have been asking you to step in for those who suffer body shaming, or even worse, those who provoke it, I haven’t shared how, so here it goes:
- Be a supportive friend or parent. You know your friend/kid, and you probably know how to help them, and if you don’t, sometimes you can simply offer your help and be willing to listen. You can’t imagine how much you can learn when you listen.
- Encouraging positive self-image conversations. You might have to be stubborn on this one; trust me, I know it well. However, persistence yields the desired results. Remind your person how beautiful they are, the way they are, and encourage/remind them to focus on their best traits.
- Addressing body shaming in schools and social groups. If you are extroverted enough and you are up to it, public speaking, local talks, and other events to bring awareness can and will be extremely helpful.
Ultimately, you can follow your feelings. When you want to help your person, you will always find ways. Even if you are supporting them by listening alone, you can’t imagine how much you can help someone, even saving their lives. Body shaming is a serious problem, but if we all do our part, we can stop it.
Conclusion
I hope that today’s subject helped you to understand the situation better. If for any reason you have body-shamed someone, you can redeem yourself by, for example, making other body shamers aware that this is entirely wrong. Remember, you are the soul; everybody is the soul. The physical body will sooner or later rot (or burn in fire, up to you) once you, the soul, leave your current vessel/body behind forever.
I will repeat this. This is a very delicate subject, as well as a significant problem. If you are suffering excessively from body shame, please make sure to seek help. You are not alone. Contact Crisis Text Line if you need support. On top of that, I will be happy to help you add you to my healing list and support you with some personalized free healing, too, so feel free to reach out.
FAQ
Q: What is body shaming, and why is it harmful?
A: Body shaming is the act of ridiculing someone for not having unrealistic standards of looks. These can cause temporary or permanent damage to the victim and even pose a risk of suicide.
Q: How does social media contribute to body shaming?
A: Social Media yields many “ideal situations” as well as unrealistic situations that provoke many people to feel inferior or even unfulfilled by not being able to meet those standards.
Q: What are the psychological effects of body shaming?
A: Body shaming can lead to mental and eating disorders such as anxiety, depression, bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, or even suicide.
Q: Can body shaming lead to eating disorders?
A: Yes, it is common for body-shaming victims to turn bulimic or anorexic, as well as binge eating, and develop an aberration towards food.
Q: How can teenagers deal with body shaming in school?
A: Seek a proper circle of friends that are beyond this behavior, as well as seeking any help from teachers and parents when body shaming becomes a problem for you or for someone you know.
Q: What are some ways to overcome negative body image?
A: Realize that the standards are mostly unrealistic. Find positive aspects of yourself and focus on those. Seek help on how you can change what you don’t like, if possible, and how to do it in the right way.
Q: How can I support a friend struggling with body shaming?
A: You can remind them how awesome they are and help them to focus on their positive aspects, as well as give your friend security and protection, so they know they can lean on you if they need to.
Q: Are there therapy options available for those affected by body shaming?
A: Yes, you can always seek help, and you will find it. Don’t be afraid to explain this to your doctor or psychologist. They will help you out.
I hope today’s article helps you to have more awareness about body shaming and prevent it at all costs, and if you are suffering from it, remember, you are not alone. Next month, it’s July’s Monthly Tarot Reading time, and we will talk about the following Tarot Card: The Death. You will also have a couple of or three questions related to this card for you to reflect on. The guided meditation “The Death” card will be available to purchase. Stay tuned for next Wednesday!
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