How to achieve body confidence this summer

It’s that time of year again – the weather is warmer and there feels a lot of pressure to focus on our bodies.

With endless online content telling us to “get the summer body”, it’s so easy not to realise how this impacts our mental health.

Maybe you’re planning on wearing pretty summer dresses, gearing up for a holiday, or worried about fitting into that dress for a friend’s wedding. We bet you’ve started to think about which diet you’re going to start.

Cue self-consciousness, over-exercising and restricting yourself from foods you love. But it doesn’t have to be that way – Dr. Ashling Doherty is here to help…

MEET DR. ASHLING DOHERTY

Dr. Ashling Doherty opened her private clinic in Jesmond in 2011 and has dedicated herself full-time since 2018. Her vision was always to create a space designed with clients at the forefront, where you feel safe enough to open up.

Ashling’s clinic features a welcoming waiting area, a therapy room and a soul space for meditation and mindfulness. You’ll find the clinic is filled with flowers and candles to create a relaxing environment. She continues to undergo yearly training, including psychosexual therapy and psychoanalytic couple therapy.

We caught up with Dr Ashling who revealed everything we need to know about regaining body confidence just in time for summer…

MORE INFO

THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND BODY IMAGE

The way you feel about your body is your affective body image, which can range from happiness to disgust. These feelings are often tied to satisfaction or dissatisfaction with specific body parts, weight and shape.

Your cognitive body image involves how you think about your body, while your perceptual body image is how you see your body – often not an accurate representation.

Body image is multifaceted, encompassing personality, coping strategies, behaviours, and interpersonal experiences, such as appearance teasing and cognitive processing.

THE PROBLEM WITH DIETING

You might believe you’ll feel better about your body if you lose weight, but this mindset can perpetuate dissatisfaction. The diet cycle often involves food restriction due to shame, leading to guilt when the diet is broken.

Most diets are not sustainable long-term and can set unrealistic goals. Instead, becoming more intuitive about your body’s needs and eating mindfully is beneficial. A holistic approach to body comfort is more effective than relying on diets alone. It’s also important to address underlying issues like perfectionism or stress that affect weight loss.

BUILDING BODY CONFIDENCE

Easier said than done, right? Body confidence means different things to different people. It’s not about loving every part of your body but becoming more comfortable with it. Instead of disliking yourself, it’s about not letting negative feelings impact your quality of life.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF YOUR INNER CRITIC

Dr. Ashling emphasises breaking the cycle of self-criticism. A healthy body image involves getting to know your body, understanding how it feels and moves, and becoming more comfortable with yourself. This process helps reduce the fear of judgment from others, which is often a projection of self-judgment.

10 STEPS TO IMPROVE BODY CONFIDENCE

1. Move your body: Engage in physical activities you enjoy, not just to change your appearance. Activities like dance, swimming, and yoga can be empowering and help build confidence.
2. Focus on strengths: Identify what you like about your body and personality. Even if it’s difficult initially, start nurturing a positive connection with yourself.
3. Explore influences: Reflect on what has influenced your body confidence, including past events and words from others. Identify activities that make you feel positive about your body.
4. Get dressed up: Wear colours and styles that make you feel good. Even small changes, like wearing jewellery or painting your nails, can enhance your well-being.
5. Practice self-compassion: Shift your internal dialogue from criticism to kindness. This long-term change is more effective than altering your body size.
6. Be body neutral: Focus on what your body can do and appreciate its functions. When negative thoughts arise, redirect your attention to a task.
7. Nurture your body: Engage in self-care practices like moisturising and massaging your body to promote connection.
8. Avoid restrictive diets: Aim for a varied diet and progress over perfection. Repetition and support are key to changing your inner dialogue.
9. Remember others aren’t judging: People are often more focused on themselves than on you.
10. Use affirmations: Positive affirmations and visualisation can help improve your body image.

For more support and to book a consultation, contact Dr. Ashling Doherty on 07871301079 or [email protected]

VISIT DR. ASHLING DOHERTY’S WEBSITE

Dr Ashling Doherty, Flat 1, 8 Akenside Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TN

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