IDENTITY & BODY IMAGE

One of the most important tasks of growing up is discovering who you are (identity) and learning to love yourself, including your body, mind and soul. In an advertising-saturated world many of us unknowingly absorb false messages about our identity and what we must look like, do, or own to be valuable in society. Regardless of your age or gender, therapy addressing these issues begins with acknowledgement of this dilemma while honouring the individual’s struggles and strengths, as a means to guide the journey of positive self-discovery and empowerment.

Facts about Identity & Body Image

Based on Dáil na nÓg report, 'How we see it: Survey on Young People's Body Image',

which surveyed 2,156 young people between the ages of 10 and 21:

  • 82% of girls rank body image as either slightly or very important;
  • 40% of young people are unhappy with their looks;
  • 15 is the age at which young people are the least satisfied with their looks;
  • 66% of girls are most negatively influenced by comparing themselves with others.
  • The most significant negative impact on 15-year-olds was found to be comparing oneself with others (53%), followed by bullying (46%) and weight (42%).
  • 11% more girls than boys (8%) smoke as a form of weight control.

Symptoms of Identity & Body Image Issues

  • Obsessive self-scrutiny in mirrors;
  • Feeling like your body doesn't belongs to you;
  • Thinking disparaging comments about your body and frequent comparison of your own shape and size to other people;
  • Unsure how you look and portray yourself to the world;
  • Envy of a friend’s body, or just as commonly: the body of a celebrity or someone in the media.

YOUR MIND IS YOUR PRISON WHEN YOU FOCUS ON YOUR FEAR

REDISCOVER YOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING, MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES THAT WILL LAST