Think of your body as the vehicle toward your dreams. Don’t you take care of your car? Don’t you make sure it is well-maintained? If you are taking care of your car because you need it to go to work or other places, then why won’t you do the same to your body? Why won’t you take your vitamins, praise your body, drink water, and meditate? Taking care of yourself is so simple that it’s a wonder why many people don’t do it.
Studies showed that more than 9% of the global population has a general eating disorder. Largely seen as a health problem, eating disorder comes from discontentment from the way you look. Body issues are prevalent among teens, especially females. Research showed that 0.5% to 3.7% of women might have anorexia nervosa in their lifetime, while about 1% of female teens have anorexia. About 1.1% to 4.2% of women also suffer from bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
Such statistics showed that this is more than just a passing illness. It seeps into your being. It affects your relationships. And on many occasions, it may lead to more serious illnesses and even death. People with eating disorders need to be treated. They have to attend a bulimia recovery treatment program to learn how to take care of their bodies and have a healthy understanding of their bodies.
Caring for Yourself
It all starts with believing that you need to care for yourself. This is the most important factor in recovering from an eating disorder or even preventing yourself from falling into it. People usually don’t care about their emotional, mental, and psychological health. For them, as long as their physical bodies are strong enough, they don’t think about how their activities affect their mental health. But those who have suffered from not loving themselves more understand too well that physical, spiritual, and mental health are all interconnected.
Taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health depends on these five things: healthy eating and living, good hygiene, social relationships, enjoying every day, and relaxing. The more you learn to give your bodies and minds a break, the more they will help you get through many things in your life. Loving yourself and your body has a lot of benefits. Not taking care of it leads to many health and lifestyle problems.
Connect with Yourself
People always forget to connect with themselves. What is your body telling you? Is it tired? Is it exhausted? Does it need rest? It can be hard to show yourself you love your body when you don’t even listen to it. Evaluate where you are right now. Are you in a good place physically and mentally? How can you cope with your demons if you are not?
One way to continue being in tune with yourself is to keep a journal. Here, you can write about what you’re feeling physically, how you see yourself, and what you plan to do about it. Feel free to let your guard down. Remember that no one will see or read this journal. It will help you discover yourself and at what point you might need help from loved ones or professionals.
Spending Time with Others
People are born to socialize. That was why it was hard for people to distance themselves from each other during the lockdown and ensuing social distancing measures because of the coronavirus pandemic. People need touch. They need to feel loved. Surround yourself with people you trust, love, and care about. They will help ease stress and improve the way you look at yourself and others.
Experts said that seeing yourself through your loved ones’ eyes will change how you feel about your imperfections. Build a community wherein you can feel comfortable. People with strong social connections are the ones who live longer, healthier, and happier. Simply slowing down and spending an hour talking with loved ones will give your mental and emotional health the boost it needs.
Slow Down
People move in many directions every day. Whether they are pursuing a career or taking care of their families, they’re always on the go. When was the last time you’ve slowed down and savored your alone time? Everyone needs alone time. This is for yourself and your sanity. It’s to take care of your body and focus on your mental health. Give yourself time to breathe and relax. The world moves fast enough that you don’t need to keep up with it constantly.
The relationship you have with yourself is the most important one. It defeats all the other social connections you have. Yes, it’s even more important than the one you have with your spouse and children. What love can you give, after all, if you have none for yourself? Taking care of yourself, loving your body, and accepting your flaws are roads that lead to contentment.
