01/27/2026
Because body image doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
When the world feels unpredictable, politically, socially, economically, the nervous system looks for something it can control. For many of us, that “something” becomes the body. The mirror. The photo. The perceived flaw we can zoom in on when everything else feels too big, too chaotic, too out of reach.
As a psychologist specializing in body image, I don’t see this as vanity or self-absorption. I see it as a learned coping response. Body surveillance is often one of the earliest tools we’re given to manage anxiety, uncertainty, and worth. It’s socially rewarded. It’s familiar. And it promises safety, even when it never truly delivers it.
So no, the problem isn’t that you still have body image thoughts while the world is burning. The problem is the story that tells you those thoughts mean something is wrong with you.
Diet culture thrives during times of collective stress because it offers simple answers to complex pain: control your body, and you’ll feel better. But psychologically, that turns the body into a battleground, a place where fear, grief, and helplessness get stored instead of processed.
You’re allowed to care deeply about the state of the world and struggle with your body. One does not invalidate the other. This isn’t a moral failure. It’s a nervous system doing what it was conditioned to do.
Healing isn’t about never criticizing a photo again. It’s about gently questioning why your body became the place where all that tension landed and whether it deserves to carry that weight alone.
You landed on my post for a reason. For more support on your body image resilience journey, follow 🙋🏻♀️
Also follow my practice for everyday mental wellness 🏡
Disclaimer: My social media accounts are for educational purposes only and should not be considered psychotherapy or medical care.
