Having a negative view of yourself or having body image issues can affect your behaviour in many unhelpful ways.

For example, you might:

  •  avoid social situations
  •  not speak your mind
  •  not feel confident to express your uniqueness through styles of clothing or hair
  •  avoid activities and/or sports that expose your body

There can be many reasons that you might not feel comfortable with your body.

Understanding that …

  •  the media significantly influences our perceptions and standards of physical beauty – they often portray super thin, taller than average women with perfect complexions and perfect bodies. It is simply unrealistic for most people to look like this!
  •  it can take time to adjust to the body changes that occur as a natural part of puberty
  •  it is normal to feel awkward and to become fixated on imperfections particularly during adolescence
  •  it is common to want to portray your own unique look and style but also “fit in” and be accepted by your peers, but this isn’t always easy to do
  •  beauty has many definitions
  •  people come in all shapes and sizes
  •  the majority of people don’t look like models
  •  even models have had a lot of assistance to achieve their look – many of the images that are portrayed in magazines and commercials have been digitally modified to enhance models’ appearance
  •  no one is perfect

… can help you set realistic expectations for yourself when it comes to your body.

And you might gain confidence and find it helpful if you:

  •  focus on the aspects of your face and body that you like and then accentuate these
  •  be yourself when you are choosing clothes and accessories – people will admire you for expressing the real you
  •  choose a hair style that is compatible with your type of hair and that you can manage
  •  accept compliments without debating the issue or dismissing the comment – just say “Thank you”
  •  maintain an active lifestyle and a healthy body weight