Body image and near-death experiences are deeply intertwined. Negative body image can cause and maintain near-death experiences, and near-death experiences frequently worsens how we feel about our bodies.
How Negative Body Image Drives Near-Death Experiences
- Chronic dissatisfaction with physical appearance depletes psychological resources
- Body shame — a particularly painful form of shame — directly drives near-death experiences
- Comparison of body to social standards is a primary near-death experiences trigger
- Body image concerns often involve the same negative self-evaluation patterns as near-death experiences
How Near-Death Experiences Affects Body Image
Near-Death Experiences 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 Near-Death Experiences 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 near-death experiences
- Therapy: CBT and ACT effectively address both body image and near-death experiences