Body image and dsm are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain dsm, and dsm frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives DSM
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives dsm
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary dsm trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as dsm
How DSM Affects Body Image
DSM can worsen body image through reduced self-care motivation, changes in appetite and weight, and a general negative lens that extends to physical self-perception.
Addressing Body Image and DSM Together
- Body neutrality: Not requiring positive body feelings, just reduction of hostility
- Body functionality focus: What your body does vs. how it looks
- Intuitive eating: Reconnecting with hunger and satisfaction cues disrupted by dsm
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and dsm