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self-esteem

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The middle of May saw Mental Health Awareness Week hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. The theme this year focused on body image; how we think and feel about our bodies.

"According to the Mental Health Foundation, 30% of all adults felt so stressed by body image and appearance that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope." Share on X

Social Media And The Influence On Body Image

In the age of social media, we are more aware than ever of how our bodies look. In an age where we are comparing our bodies with others. More aware than ever regarding the idea of perfection. Seemingly more aware than ever when our bodies do not fit in with the social norm.

"In the age of social media and apps such as Instagram we are more aware than ever of how our bodies look…and when our bodies do not fit in with the social norm." Share on X
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Formal nights are a lovely excuse to get dressed up in a fancy dress and feel a little bit glamorous, especially when you are battling the effects of #chronicillness and #chronicpain which makes you feel anything but glamorous and elegant. You can’t see it but I am in a terrible #painflare forced to take painkillers and so also battling terrible #nausea!! Oh, the wonders of #makeup!! Big thanks to @simplyabbyrae from the @benefitcosmeticsuk counter in #Boots for helping me pick out some lovely products and tips on how to apply!! #spoonie #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicillnesswarrior #chroniclife #neurologicaldisorder #FND #functionalneurologicaldisorder #pandoaurora #formalnight #cruising #travel

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Every one of us has flaws; everyone has insecurities and things they are not happy with regarding their body or appearance. I, myself, for years, have not felt satisfied with what I see when I look into the mirror. For years, I have wished that I was prettier, thinner, or that I didn’t need to wear glasses all the time. When looking at my reflection in the mirror, I hear the cruel remarks and gibes from others; comments which have since stayed with me. Comments which still affect my self-esteem and how I think and feel about my own body and appearance. It’s probably why that there are not many selfies or photographs of myself in general on Instagram; because I am insecure and unhappy with my appearance.

"For years, I have been unhappy and insecure about my appearance and body image.  A reason why there is a lack of selfies and photographs of myself in general on Instagram or even on my phone." Share on X

Illness Can Cause A Hate Relationship With Our Bodies

When diagnosed with a chronic illness, the insecurities concerning body image grow exponentially then we could ever think possible. We develop more of a hate relationship with our bodies, stronger and unyielding to change than ever before. When living with a chronic illness we experience pain, discomfort, and loss of control. All of which also can lead to a change in physical appearance. And which can have a detrimental effect on self-esteem and how we feel about our bodies.

"When living with a chronic illness, we experience pain, discomfort and a loss of control. All of which can lead to a change in physical appearance. And which can have a detrimental effect on how we feel about our bodies." Share on X

The Influence of Illness On How We View Ourselves and Our Bodies

It is hard to love or feel positive about a body that seemingly no longer listens to my signals. A body that is continuously taunting me, letting me know of its dominance with its unpredictability. One which I do not know what it is going to do from one moment to the next. A body which I should have the utmost trust in, but only reminds me that it plays by its own rules. A game that I appear to have no control in, and which the symptoms have the upper hand. It continually likes to keep me on-and-off my toes, both figuratively and literally! As I make plans and wanting my body to help me fulfill those plans, my body, however, often have other aims, having a mind of its own.

Chronic illness causes many insecurities and unhappiness regarding both appearance and body image as the symptoms associated with it ravages our insides and sometimes even outward appearance
"It is hard to feel positive about a body that reminds me of its dominance with its unpredictability. A body that reminds me that it plays by its own rules. How can we love a body that treats us as it's own worst enemy?" Share on X

How can we love a body that treats us as it’s own worst enemy?

As the limitations caused by symptoms increased, becoming more disabling. The effects of such symptoms gradually became more visible, causing falls in public; the pieces of my already fractured body image became even more broken. Broken pieces scattered, and seemingly nothing I could do to repair the damage and put the pieces back together again.

Such debilitating and unpredictable symptoms can effect self-esteem, making us insecure and feeling like a prisoner in our own bodies

The shame and embarrassment when such incidents only add to the insecurities surrounding my body image. It affects my self-confidence, such as the worry about what others may think. But also, it affects my confidence regarding venturing out of the safety of home. No longer able to trust my failing legs, and the unpredictability of when such attacks will occur only adds to this — a feeling of being stuck inside an unreliable body; becoming a prisoner in my own body.

"No longer being able to trust my legs and the unpredictability of when such attacks will occur only added to my negative body image. And a feeling of being stuck inside an unreliable body; becoming a prisoner in my own body." Share on X

Learning To Love Ourselves And Embrace Our Flaws

But, unintentionally the neurological disorder has become stuck to my future, and which refuses to leave. A union that I do not want or asked for, but am unable to divorce.

"Life with a neurological disorder has become stuck to my future, and which refuses to leave. A union that I do not want or asked for, but which I am unable to divorce." Share on X

I need, therefore to learn to accept the constant presence that the condition has and will continue to have on my life. I need to remember that, as difficult it may be, that my body, with all its flaws and complications, is also my permanent home. A home that with all its problems and the insecurities it causes I need to learn to embrace and love. To look beyond what my body can no longer be able to do, or have difficulties with to what it can still do for me. To remember how far I’ve come and what I’ve achieved despite the obstacles created by illness. And to remember that despite everything, everything that our bodies throw at us, we are still here. Surviving. And one that is still keeping me alive.

"To develop a more positive body image, I need to look beyond what my body can no longer be able to do, to what it can still do for me. To remind myself that I am still here, and my body is still keeping me alive." Share on X

Perfection Is Merely A Social Construct; Not Reality

It’s easy to look at social media, such as Instagram and feel dissatisfied with our apparent flaws and blemishes against the idea of perfection on our screens. But, the reality is that perfection does not exist. Perfection is merely a social construct; no one or nothing is perfect. The images we see online have often been airbrushed. Or the many filters that are available on our favourite apps have been used to make the photograph worthy of being shared on social media.

"Perfection does not exist. The images we see plastered on social media have been airbrushed, or filters have been applied to them to make the photograph worthy of being shared." Share on X
The images we see on social media, such as Instagram have often been airbrushed or put through popular filters that give us an impression of perfection. Perfection, however, does not exist

Learning to love yourself is not an easy process, insecurities, and negative feelings toward my body will always be something I’ll need to fight. Body confidence and body positivity is something that I will have to continue working toward. I am not sure how, but I am sure I will eventually get there. But the more I read, the more I learn that everyone hides insecurities about their body and the image they put out into the world. Nobody is or looks perfect, and every one of us hides flaws or blemishes that they think makes them somehow less than.

Quote by Steve Maraboli in a white speech bubble with a pink marble effect background. The quote reads "There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty."
"Everyone hides insecurities about their body and the image they put out into the world. Nobody is or looks perfect, and every one of us hides flaws or blemishes that they think makes them somehow less than." Share on X

There are many quotes that state that authenticity and being yourself is the purest kind of beauty there is. The moral of the story, therefore, is to be true to who we are, and embrace who we are, flaws and all!

"To learn to be more body positive we need to learn to be true to who we are, and embrace who we are, flaws and all!" Share on X

How do you practice body positivity and being kind to yourself?

In The Mirror: Body Image and Chronic Illness

This post is genuinely personal and difficult to write, but as I think it will resonate with many others who are forced to live with illness every day, it is, therefore, an important one to write.

There are many times that I dislike myself and am ashamed of who I have become.  If I could be anyone else, I would gladly choose anyone else’s life to live rather than my own.

A lot of that is down to the neurological condition that I live with; everything that life with chronic illness has given me, I believe however that it has taken much more away.

The symptoms that I endure and the impact that it has on my life has stripped away friendships, my independence and ability to provide for myself through meaningful employment that was my aspiration after graduating university and before the deterioration of my condition.  The dreams that I had and the direction that I wanted my life to take was snatched from me and was instead forced to reevaluate everything and take a different path.

[Tweet “Chronic illness has given me so much. However, it has taken much more away.”]

I am sure that I am not the only person living with a chronic illness to feel or have felt this way.

To look at others, measuring ourselves against them and ending up feeling somewhat superfluous in comparison.  When I think of my family and seeing myself through their eyes, I often believe that I must be somewhat of a disappointment to them.

After all, I have not achieved anything substantial during my life thus far. Instead, my life consists of being stuck inside the same four walls or attending one hospital appointment after another.

These thoughts are not consistent and perhaps are worse during the darkest of days.

However, I came across the most beautifully compassionate and profound quote written by A.A Milne and famously said by his most famous creation, Winnie-the-Pooh.

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Perhaps chronic illness is the most significant part of ourselves that make us different but then without it then we wouldn’t be who we have become.

[Tweet “Without chronic illness then maybe we wouldn’t be who we have become. “]

Living with a neurological condition and its symptoms, for many years before being diagnosed, it has shaped who I have become as a person as a result.  If not for living with a neurological condition, I may have become an entirely different person, but then it would not necessarily mean they would be a better person. I like to think of myself as a compassionate and caring person; someone who is there for others and perhaps this part of what defines me as a person is as a result of the experiences of living with this neurological condition.

We often think of chronic illness as being the defining feature of the negative aspects of our personality and lives in general – the loss of independence, loss of self-confidence and so on but perhaps living with a chronic illness may also be the influence for the positive aspects which what defines us.

If it weren’t for chronic illness, I would never have been such an avid user of social media or the author of a blog for example and as a result, would never have found my close friends that I have made since sharing my experiences of living with a neurological condition.

Furthermore, I may not have such a close relationship with my parents if it had not been for the condition that has affected them as much as myself.

The difficulties faced when living with a chronic illness or neurological disorder are extremely difficult, and as a result of living with these for many years, we develop strength and resilience that was not there before the onset of symptoms and may not have developed if not for chronic illness.

The people closest to me can see beyond the neurological condition that I see as being such a big part of my life, and see my value despite the effects of chronic illness, and which I may not recognise in myself.

They recognise the things that make me different from everyone else and yet still love me because it’s those differences that make me and despite me being ashamed of that which makes me different from others.

A.A Milne should be celebrated for not only his profound words and insights of life but also for making those who may feel different from everyone else be proud of those differences and allow themselves to celebrate their individuality.

[Tweet “It’s those differences that make me, despite being ashamed of that which makes me different.”]

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