#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – Understanding The Relationship Between #Male #BodyImage And #MentalHealth

CHAPTER 02

#MALE #BODYIMAGE ISSUES

We’ve discussed how having a low opinion of your own body might impact your #mentalhealth. But what are the main pain points for those suffering? Let’s now explore in more detail just what kinds of issues men of the 21st century are facing.

Common #male insecurities

#Men are a lot more conscious of their bodies and overall appearance than at most points in the past. This manifests into a number of insecurities, all of which can impact people differently. Some of the most common problems #men have to face is:

A lack of muscles

While they’ve risen and fallen in regards to appeal over the decades, having muscles has always been seen as a largely positive thing in the eyes of the aesthetic world. A lot of men worry whether their body is bulky enough, or that they’ll be perceived as weak in the eyes of prospective sexual partners.

Too much (or too little) fat or flab

The dad-bod has made having some flab acceptable – but where is the line? Even though it’s perhaps less of a pressing issue than at some points in the past, a lot of #men still worry they are over or even underweight. Manxiety found that this was actually the biggest insecurity for #men, with as many as 46% worried about some form of weight gain.

Hair loss

#Men also tend to feel insecure about losing their hair. It’s not uncommon for #men to feel less than themselves when losing their locks, potentially even robbing them of a part of what helps define them. While there are now procedures in place to help combat male pattern baldness, they tend to be incredibly expensive – and often need regular maintenance.

Height

How tall you are is another pain point for a lot of #men. And while there is very little to be done to control this, it doesn’t stop a lot of guys from worrying that they aren’t tall enough to be seen as desirable.

Feeling effeminate or unmasculine

For some #men, insecurity might stem from a feeling of not ticking all the boxes for what it “means to be a #man”. While this is an outdated and backwards mentality, it’s still something a lot of #men struggle with. This could mean a lack of general bulk, the inability to grow facial hair or even having physical traits which are more closely associated with #women.

#Gynaecomastia

Another area of concern for #men is #Gynaecomastia – colloquially known as “man boobs”. This condition is often caused by higher levels of oestrogen in the body (often during puberty), resulting in the development of excess breast tissue. The condition is most common in #teenage #boys and older #men, and in extreme cases may need to be removed by surgery.

The influence of #socialmedia

While the prevalence of #socialmedia has done a lot of good for the world, it can’t be denied that it sometimes has a negative impact. Comparing ourselves to people we don’t know on a personal level is a slippery slope, especially when even their lives may be exaggerated or not as they appear.

This can be a real problem for a number of reasons:

It’s too easy to compare

With so many posts and images readily available to view, it’s easier than ever for a man to compare himself with someone he sees online. This is a far cry from the pre-#socialmedia age, when the occasional movie star and your close circle of friends was the only regular comparison to be made.

We get an inaccurate depiction of what “normal” is

People only tend to post images on social channels that make them (and their lifestyles) look attractive and appealing. This isn’t an accurate portrayal of their, or anyone else’s, reality. As such, it’s all too easy to forget the snapshot we’re being given isn’t actually what a normal person looks like.

It’s hard to escape

We tend to use social channels as the primary means of communication with our friends and family. That makes them particularly hard to avoid, even if they are having a negative impact on us. It’s only natural we’ll check out our news feed while we’re doing that – in the process exposing ourselves to these unrealistic beauty standards.

The inability to cut #socialmedia out of your life is a particular problem if you find yourself struggling. If that’s the case for you, some of the best advice is to:

Be selective with your feed

Thankfully you should be able to pick and choose who and what you want to follow. That means you can actively choose to avoid looking at “influencers” and celebrities, who are more likely to post the kind of content which might trigger feelings of inadequacy.

Remind yourself what you are good at

If you do happen to see someone or something which you can’t compete with, just remind yourself you’re good at plenty of other things. Your second cousin might have just won a football tournament, but can he compete with you at tennis? Probably not.

Remember it’s the internet

At the end of the day the best advice is to always remember how strange a place the internet actually is. Reality and what you’ll find on the net are often very different, so try not to invest too much thought into it.

#Male #bodyimage as a #teen or young #adult

Puberty is a rough time for anyone. Your body goes through a myriad of changes, leaving you feeling exhausted, irritable and potentially insecure in your own skin. Understandably, this has the potential to result in poor #bodyimage.

#Teens will often find parts about themselves they don’t like, and can develop dangerous thinking patterns, such as: :

• My body is not perfect and that means I am not good enough
• If I had a perfect body all my problems would go away
• I would be loved by everyone if my body was better
• My size and weight are not acceptable unless they are a specific number

The natural by-product of this is a heightened sense of insecurity and low #self-esteem. If you’re the #parent, guardian or family member of a #teen who’s struggling, there are steps you can take to make their own #bodyimage issues a little bit easier to manage:

#JamesDonaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Encourage different-sized role models

With so many young people growing up to idolise influencers with unrealistic body shapes, it’s perhaps no surprise that #teens are finding themselves unhappy with how they look. Make sure to point them towards icons who are larger, smaller and less conventionally attractive than what they see on social channels.

Focus on health over image

A great way to encourage a better #bodyimage is to teach them that their health is a priority over whatever the latest aesthetic trend is. Teach them how to eat right, exercise properly and what to avoid. The natural by-product will be a happier, fitter and self-confident #teen.

Be open about your past experiences

A lot of people at one time or another have felt insecure about the way they look. Open up to your #teen about any negative experiences you might have had with your own #bodyimage. They’ll appreciate the frankness of the chat, while also learning that their concerns are both valid and able to be overcome in time.

Don’t shame your own body

#Children are very impressionable. They’ll pick up on the criticism you levy at yourself, and inherit these potentially unhealthy views on what it means to look good. It’s your job to promote a healthy body image, not pull yourself apart in front of them over one tiny blemish or perceived fault.