Illusion to Illumination
I had the pleasure of being part of the SwitchOn
Saturday radio team in June this year for the very
illuminating teen show ‘From illusion to illumination’.
I enjoyed sharing the airwaves with Miani, Livvy and Jared
in the studio and speaking on the phone with Jen Richards
who is an ambassador for Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV).
We had an interesting discussion about some of the issues
around body image – and in particular the media’s role in
how young people view themselves these days.
So you may be wondering what does body image mean?
Body image is the picture of our body, which we form in
our mind. That is, how we see ourselves when we look
in the mirror or when we picture ourselves in our mind.
It incorporates what we believe about our own appearance,
how we feel about our body, including our height, shape,
and weight and how we sense and control our body as we
move.
Unfortunately body image has become a form
of self-assessment, which many people use to
measure their self-worth. Why is this a problem?
Body image not only relates to how we actually see
ourselves, it can also relate to a distorted image or view
of ourselves.
40 SwitchOn
by Dr Helen Mursell
Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist
If your perception of yourself is distorted, this makes
it a very unreliable assessment tool indeed. If you see
yourself in a negative light you are more likely to feel
uncomfortable, self-conscious and awkward in your body,
which can lead to feelings of shame and anxiety.
Having worked as a Psychologist in this area for over
10 years now, I have witnessed so many grueling battles
marked by endless analysing and criticising according to
some comparison with a cultural ideal or an unrealistic
expectation of the self. My role is to support the individuals
I see, as well as help educate the broader community to
develop what the literature describes as positive body
image.
That is, a clear, true perception of our shape—seeing
the various parts of our body as they really are and
celebrating and appreciating our natural body shape.
I t’s time we spread the word that a person’s physical
appearance says very little about their character
and value as a person and feeling comfortable and
confident in our body is what brings contentment.
I believe we all have days when we feel awkward or
uncomfortable in our bodies.