Self-Image & Self-Harm

In most cases, anorexia nervosa isn’t about food. It’s an extremely unhealthy and potentially life-threatening way to cope with negative emotions. For people with anorexia, thinness often equates to self-worth.

People with a Binge Eating Disorder typically binge or eat a large amount of food in a relatively short amount of time, to alleviate negative emotions.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by both manic episodes and periods of depression. Manic episodes, or “mania,” are the emotional highs, while depressive episodes are the lows. Some people living with bipolar disorder will experience symptoms of mania and depression at the same time.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is typically accompanied by frequent mirror-checking or requests of others for reassurance of an acceptable appearance to a distressing degree.

No one is born with a negative body image. However, people can begin developing dissatisfaction with their physical self at a young age. Whether it’s weight, height, body shape, facial features, or some other aspect of their body, most everyone has an inner critic who feels they could do something to improve their physical appearance.

Among all mental health conditions, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate—at least one person dies every 62 minutes as the direct result of an eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.

When someone repeatedly and excessively engages in a behavior despite the harmful consequences of doing so, it is referred to as a compulsive behavior. People who struggle with compulsions often feel unable to control their behavior due to intense anxiety and distress.

Domestic violence in close relationships can occur in the form of physical violence, psychological violence, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

Addiction is a chronic disease that affects an individual’s brain and behavior. It makes it feel impossible to resist the urge to use them, regardless of how much harm they may cause.

Like how an athlete works with a coach, people looking to achieve peak performance also work with therapists to perform their best.

Perfectionism becomes maladaptive when an individual becomes so preoccupied with ”perfect” performance that nothing is ”good enough” to meet their excessively high standards.

Although it can be a struggle at times, people have a responsibility to take care of their bodies by eating right, getting enough sleep, and more. Social, physical, and mental health are dimensions of wellness, which is crucial because research demonstrates an association between good physical health and mental health.