"What would you tell your teenage self?"

We went and asked strangers: "What would you tell your teenage self?". Here are some of their answers.

"I would like to tell my teenage self that life gets better."

"To take every day one step at a time. You are who you are and you can't really do anything to change it."

"Just don't care, realize it really doesn't matter."

"Be yourself, just do it!"



Written by Naomi Duggan

The Untold Truth of Body Dysmorphia.

IMAGINE walking across the school hallway while thinking that people are constantly teasing and making fun of you.

IMAGINE not being able to focus in class because all you can think of is 'your nonexistent physical flaws'.

IMAGINE avoiding mirrors because you didn't want to encounter someone with such repulsive and unsightly looks.

IMAGINE thinking that no one will ever like you, only because of your appearance.

IMAGINE living your day-to-day life obsessing about something that isn't even there.

The body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental illness in which someone is addicted to the nonexistent defects in their appearance. 

Cause

The cause of body dysmorphia is unknown, however according to researchers, many factors increase the likelihood of getting BDD. Some of these factors include: depression, bullying, fear of being alone and a competitive character. 

Some of the Signs and Symptoms of BDD (according to Anxiety & Depression Association of America) include:

- Disguised appearance (with body positions, makeup, clothing, etc.)

- Avoiding mirrors

- Checking in mirrors

- Skin picking

- Excessive exercise and grooming

- Seeking surgery

- Constantly changing clothes

- Comparing appearances to others

Some of the common areas of BDD:

Stats

The body dysmorphic disorder begins most usually during adolescents. According to Anxiety & Depression Association of America, “Research shows that it affects men and women almost equally. About one percent of the U.S. population has BDD.”, meaning that at least 3 millions people in the US suffer from body dysmorphia. 

Effects on Life:

- Have a hard time taking control in their life and taking responsibility 

- Poor quality of life

- Low self esteem

- Obsession with their appearance

- Hard time keeping relationships

- High levels of stress

Famous People with BDD:

- Andy Warhol

- Micheal Jackson

- Shirley Manson

In closing

In the final analysis, according to Webmd, the body dysmorphic disorder "is a distinct mental disorder in which a person is preoccupied with an imagined physical defect or a minor defect that others often cannot see." BDD is often mistaken for OCD or anxiety disorders, seeing that they both share similar characteristics. Currently, there is a low quantity of research done worldwide on BDD, go and increase the research by funding to the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation.

Written by Naomi Duggan

SCREEN TEENS

“Rule 1 of the Thin Commandments: If you aren't thin, you aren't attractive.” On pro-ana websites, a life-threatening eating disorder is seen as a lifestyle.

"Drink up to a shot of apple cider vinegar before eating. Ice or gum are good food substitutes. Wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it when you want to eat. Food = pain.” These are some of the tips that young girls share to motivate each other to achieve an unhealthy body weight. These types of communities can further degrade these women's distorted eating habits and are encouraging our society to promote these serious illnesses.

Over the past few decades, adolescents spend much more time on the internet are influenced by its content.

CONS OF THE INTERNET

Since the 1930's, the amount of women age 15-19 with anorexia has increased, and it is unquestionably caused by the arrival of the internet.

Social media

On social media, users share a 'perfect version' of their day-to-day life. Many will compare themselves and second-guess their appearance. With the majority of Canadians using social media on a daily basis, social media largely impact one's self worth. In fact, a survey by Florida State University "found that a group of women who were asked to browse Facebook for 20 minutes experienced greater body dissatisfaction than those who spent 20 minutes online, researching rain forest cats". 

Pro-ana & Pro-mia

Pro-ana and Pro-mia (stands for pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia) websites are a community that view eating disorders as a lifestyle rather that a very serious disorder. They teach each others tips to obtain an extremely low body weight and encourages the young girls to continue down the road of self-destruction. In fact, 96% of teens diagnosed with an eating disorder who visited these sites learned new dieting and purging techniques. 

PROS OF THE INTERNET

On the brighter side, many social media websites block images and post that promote eating disorders. Per example, Pinterest bans content that encourages eating disorders.

Also, many people who struggle or struggled with an eating disorder use social media to document their recovery. Likewise, some users create accounts on social media to encourage people to love their bodies.

Go follow them on Instagram!

In closing

In the final analysis, the internet has plenty of negative content such as pro-ana websites but it's also an incredible resource to encourage people to recover from their illnesses. It is important to be able to distinguish the 'good' content from the 'bad' content found on the internet. We should teach young girls and boys to love themselves no matter what they look like. Sometime in the future, perhaps no one will be concerned about their appearance and we will all love ourselves for who we are and not what we look like.

Written by Naomi Duggan

Starving for Perfection - Eating Disorders

Every single hour at least one person dies as direct result from an eating disorder. Eating disorders are the most deadly psychiatric disorder. According to the Government of Canada, eating disorders are characterized by body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, dieting and family social support deficit. This disorder usually develops in teenage years and young adulthood. Perfectionist attitude toward school or work, low self-esteem, and distorted body image are some of the common attribute to someone with an eating disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa – also called anorexia- is an medical condition, in which the patient starves themselves in the desire of losing weight. Around 1% of teenage girls suffer from anorexia.

Some of signs and symptoms of anorexia (according to Mayoclinic) are:

Physical

• Extreme weight loss
• Thin appearance
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Dizziness/Fainting
• Bluish extremities
• Hair that falls out
• Absence of menstruation
• Osteoporosis
• Dry and yellow tinted skin
• Intolerance of cold

Behavior (psychological)

• Dieting and fasting and/or excessive exercise
• Preoccupation with food
• Denial to hunger
• Refusal to eat
• Extreme fear to gain weight
• Social withdrawal
• Lack of emotions

Long term complications

- Anemia (red blood cell deficiency)
- Heart problems
- Bone loss, which increases the risks of fractures

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a disorder in which someone eats uncontrollably for a short period of time on recurring basis.The binge eating disorder affects 1.6% of American teenagers (1). According to Womenshealth.gov, as many as 4 million Americans have the binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder affects women slightly more often than men. The majority of people suffering from BED also suffer from obesity.

Some of signs and symptoms (according to Mayoclinic) are:

• Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as over a 2-hour period
• Feeling that your eating behavior is out of control
• Eating even when you're full or not hungry
• Eating rapidly during binge episodes
• Eating until you're uncomfortably full
• Frequently eating alone or in secret
• Feeling depressed, disgusted, ashamed, guilty or upset about your eating
• Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss

Long term complications (according to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration)

• Osteoarthritis
• Chronic kidney problems or kidney failure
• High blood pressure and/or high cholesterol

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa (bulimia) is similar to the binge eating disorder, however someone with bulimia will purge (by vomiting or by using laxatives) after the binge in order to prevent weight gain. According to the NEDA, Bulimia nervosa affects 1-2% of adolescent and young adult women.

Some of signs and symptoms (according to the Mayoclinic) are:

• Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight
• Living in fear of gaining weight
• Feeling that you can't control your eating behavior
• Eating until the point of discomfort or pain
• Eating much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack
• Forcing yourself to vomit or exercise too much to keep from gaining weight after bingeing
• Misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas after eating
• Restricting calories or avoiding certain foods between binges
• Using dietary supplements or herbal products excessively for weight loss

Long term complications

• Electrolyte imbalances
• Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting
• Tooth decay
• Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse

In closing

In the final analysis, eating disorders are a serious illness that can cause severe complications and even death.  This type of  disorder can also ruin your relationship with your loved ones. The world must try to prevent and raise awareness to this serious illness. 

World eating disorder day is on June 2, 2017. Use the hashtag #WorldEatingDisordersDay and take a stand against eating disorders.

Written by Naomi Duggan

(1) Eating Disorders Coalition. (2016). Facts About Eating Disorders: What The Research Shows.http://eatingdisorderscoalition.org.s208556.gridserver.com/couch/uploads/file/fact-sheet_2016.pdf

A guide to happiness and self-love

• A healthy body is a healthy mind!

Your body is extremely precious and quite possibly the only one you'll ever have. You shouldn't treat it carelessly, but with tender love and care.

EATING

Eat a well balanced diet! Consume plenty of whole foods that contain nutrient that are vital to your health and that keep you energized. If you eat something and don't feel so good afterwards, it should be a sign that it might not be good for your body. Get your vitamins, your minerals and most importantly don't deprive yourself! Don't forget to indulge every now and then!

FOODS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY!

- Foods high in probiotics such as kimchi, kefir, yogurt and sauerkraut

- Mushrooms

- Dark leafy vegetables like kale

HYDRATION

It is recommended for teens to drink around 6-7 cups of water per day. Did you know that dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, poor concentration and affect your sport performance?

SLEEP

The recommended amount of sleep per day is 7-9 hours. Not enough sleep per night can lead to more negative thoughts throughout the day.

EXERCISE

Everyone should get at least one hour of exercise per day. It not only increases your life expectancy but it also releases endorphin's, 'the happy hormone'.

DE-STRESS

Adolescence can be stressful for some. According to an annual survey published by the American Psychological Association, teens are more stressed out than adults. Some of the effects of stress on our bodies are headaches, muscle tension, fatigue and sleep problems. To relieve stress listen to some music, take a hot bath or do some yoga.

• Dress to impress... yourself!

Wear clothing that make you feel like a million bucks! Don't dress to please anyone else but yourself!

• Surround yourself with positive people

Spend more time with friends and family who love and support you! Make sure you enjoy spending time with those people!

• Help other people!

Go do some volunteering or donate clothes to people in need! Did know that helping others triggers the part of the brain responsible for the feeling of 'reward'. It also lowers stress levels and makes us feel good about ourselves.

• Find something you absolutely love doing!

Find something you're passionate about! Avoid spending time focusing on your appearance and spend time doing things that you love and make you happy!

• Admire other peoples beauty without questioning your own

Don't compare your body to others. Everybody is different and everybody is beautiful in their own way!

• Inform yourself!

Read books and watch videos about body image.

Websites:

mediasmarts.ca/

http://selfesteem.dove.ca/

Youtube videos:

- The perfect body – blogilates

- Plus-size? More Like My Size – Ashley Grahams – TED Talk

- How To Fall in Love with Yourself? - Andrea Russett

- YOU LOOK DISGUSTING - my pale skin

Book:

- 13 ways of looking at a fat girl by Mona Awad

• Make a list of what you love about yourself

Here's mine:

Now it's your turn:

Written by Naomi Duggan

Voices of Teens

"I believe that to become more confident/have a positive body image is to stop comparing yourself to others. No one is perfect, which is something they should keep in mind. Everyone is perfect the way they are and they should flaunt what they have." -AL

"We should definitely encourage models that have different figures, with different backgrounds. The reason for this is because, as kids, we all grow up with the typical supermodel. We idolized these people since society literally only showcased them However, if we were to grow up having different role models with different bodies that sort of resembled ours, we wouldn't have to learn to love ourselves since the people we admire look like us. I personally think that it's a way that we could unconsciously learn early on, how to love our body." -AA

"We should have different shaped Barbie's, body confidence festivities, no separation between plus size and regular size and increase the use of a diversity in models." -EBB

"It is important to surround yourself with positivity to have a good body image. Filter out any negativity, whether it's in your relationships or online. Unfollow those haters, ditch the bullies and treat yourself when you feel the need to!" -AO

"I want to be beautiful."

"Sweetie, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

 "I want to be beautiful." replied her 6 years old daughter.

The mother was afraid, afraid that at a such young age, that her little girl was already concerned about her appearance. Later on, the mother looked at herself in the mirror with disgust. My thighs are huge. I wish I had a flat stomach. My face is so round. I hate my double chin. Why are my wrists so big. I wish I had a thigh gap. The insecure parent started to shed tear, after tear and thought to herself.
“How was she suppose to teach her children to love themselves, if she didn't even love herself in the first place?”

Our society puts an enormous pressure on boys and girls of all ages to strive to meet the standards of beauty.

Body Image in teens

According to the US Department of Heath and Human Services, “90% of 15-17 years old girls want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance”, that being the case, body image is an large issue especially in teenagers. During the teen years, adolescents undergo many changes regarding their bodies. Girls grow breasts and larger hips, whereas, boys will become more muscular. And so, it takes time to get used their new appearance and many will lose confidence in their looks.

Additionally, teenagers brain development makes them more vulnerable to criticism, teasing and negative comments. Adolescents tend to spend more time with their friends than the other age groups, and therefore are more likely to be negatively influenced by their peers. 

Signs of a negative body image

• Paying a lot of attention their looks (weight, shape)
• Signs of depressions and self-harm
• Dislikes the way their look
• Preoccupied by other people’s appearance and the beauty standards that are usually impossible to achieve

Positive VS Negative Body Image

People with a negative body image tend to:

- Have an poorer academic performance

- Avoid certain activities because they are concerned by the way they look

 According to research, conducted by Dove, “17% of women claiming they won’t go to a job interview and 8% missing work on days when they feel bad about the way they look.” 

- Miss out on life opportunities

On the other hand, people with a positive body image tend to:

- Focus more on friendships, relationships with their family, etc. 

- Make new friends with more ease and are happy with their achievements 

- Have a more positive outlook on their life

Men & Women

The vast majority of campaigns that promote a positive body image are targeted towards women. However, both men and women can have a negative body image. In fact, over the past decade, body dissatisfaction in men has increased.

The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness reports that between 2.4 and 3.6 million men suffer from eating disorders today. Although the number of men that are affected by eating disorders is much lower than the number of women, both men and women clearly are affected by the beauty standards present in our society.

In closing 

In the final analysis, parents are children's role model and should be cautious of the way they act around their children, since this can hugely impact their children's behaviors and their body image. Our appearance is an superficial quality and as a society, we should focus more on our internal beauty rather than what we look on the outside.

One day, if we redefine our beauty standards, maybe we will finally be able to not only love each others bodies but also, love our own.

Written by Naomi Duggan

Q&A with Fanny Trudel - School psychologist at Grande-Rivière

MEET ISA-BELLA LECLAIR: An Incredibly Uplifting and Inspirational Body Positive Advocate

Scrolling down my news feed on Facebook, I came across an absolutely brilliant story about Isa-Bella Leclaire. Born with a rare genetic condition, she takes the challenge to fight for body diversity. Isa-Bella inspires boys and girls of all ages to embraces their appearance. Her body-positive message went viral all across social media and made it's way around the globe. She has since been featured in Seventeen magazine, People magazine and appeared on a segment by TLC.

Isa-Bella Leclair, an Uottawa student from New Brunswick suffers from Parkes Webers Syndrome (PKWS). Some of the signs and symptoms of PKWS are Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) and lymphedema. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, lymphedema is swelling that occurs when lymph fluid can’t flow normally and builds up in the soft tissues of a limb- which causes her right leg to expand to approximately 40 pounds. Her condition does not label her in any way, when you first meet Isa-Bella, the first thing you notice about her is her compassionate and loving attitude she has towards the world.

Q&A with Isa-Bella Leclair

Q1

ND: What does “body positivity” mean to you?

IL: The way I perceive “body positivity” is knowing what you deserve, and loving yourself, not only your body but also, loving how you portrait your body. If you want to be happy, the first step is loving yourself: you need to love your body and acknowledge that everyone's body is different and love all those differences.

Q2

ND: How can others celebrate body diversity?

IL: Celebrate it! Accept that everyone's different. One of my favorite quotes is “Ugliness is just a failure of seeing” from the book The humans written by Matt Haig. If you see something and find something not so “pretty”,  just seeing it in another way, seeing the differences as more than just “differences” and seeing the positive in it, can really help.

Q3

ND: How do you live a positive life?

IL: Find something you love and that inspires you. Put your energy into something you love. Also, surround yourself with people you love and try new things you never thought you would be able to do. Challenge yourself! Acknowledge that your body is just a carve that dries upon your thoughts and really, everything you do in life, stems from your thoughts. Just having positive thoughts is the first step to a positive life.

Q4

ND: How did you develop self confidence?

IL: I've had a physical disability since I was born and I grew up in a family that believed that everyone was different and that was normal, and everyone was beautiful. But when I got to high school, some people didn't grow up, the same way as I did and already had an idea of what was “beautiful” and what was “normal”. I had to acknowledge that some people didn't grow up the same way as I did and as a person who's different, it's kinda your “duty” to change their thoughts. So, I took the challenge, not in a negative way, but a positive one.

Q5

ND: When do you feel the most proud of yourself and your body?

IL: It's when I'm not 'healthy' that I feel sad, because there's no one taking care of your body. I feel most proud of my body when I wake up in the morning, I don't feel tired and I feel all energized. Or, when I find new things I can do with my body that I didn't know I could do, like new sports or engaging in new activities.

Q6

ND: In what ways do you take care of your body and keep it healthy?

IL: I have a 'sleep schedule'. Everyday I go to sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time. I've been doing this for 2 years now, and so, my body is used to it. I go to sleep at 10 and wake up every morning at 7. Sleeping is very important. I also drink a lot of water and just being careful of what you eat. Eating whole foods is good for you but you shouldn't deprive yourself from other foods. If you eat something and you don't feel good afterwards, it should be a sign that your body doesn't like that. You should eat foods that make you feel good and energized. Doing physical activities, it doesn't have to be an extreme sport. I can't do extreme sports because of my heart but I started doing yoga, which is really good because you can go at your own pace. Going for walks and  taking a breath of fresh air are also very good ways. Avoid stress, school can be stressful for some people, but make sure you're studying something you love and know why you're studying that.

Q7

ND: What advice would you give to someone who is self-conscious about their appearance?

IL: It doesn't just change from day to night, you don't just wake up with self confidence. It is something you need to work on just like anything else. You need to practice and build it up. Start with small steps, just waking up in the morning, smile as you wake up and put a song that you really like. Starting your day on the right foot. Even if there's things that bring you down and you look at yourself and feel bad. Trying not to compare yourself is also a very important thing. Trying compassion instead of comparison is really good. Not seeing others as a competition.

Your body is something that you're stuck with all your life, you have all your life to take care of it and acknowledge every part of it as your own and make it your own. When you meet someone for the first time, you can tell if someone takes cares of themselves. Even if you're 'different' and don't have that 'magazine', 'model' look, if you feel comfortable in your own body, it will show.

Q8

ND: Do you think that as a society we are too body focused?

IL: Yes, for sure. It's not only the body, it's really everything. When you look at your life, even as a child, you know kinda how it'll be: you go to high school, then you graduate, you go to college, then you get a job, start a family then die. This is what you should do. It's not good that people raise their children thinking that that's the way it should be. You should have the freedom to do anything you'd like. You're not born with a image of how someone should look, or how something should be. It's really brought up to you, through our culture. It's good to brake these bonds and traditions. With the new generation, we see that more, people who don't stick to one job, people that adventure. Also, in magazines, there's a lot more diversity, like in Covergirl, there was the first boy model. There's a lot more curvy models and models with disabilities, which is really cool. Just braking labels and telling yourself why it's that way, questioning why you do stuff and if that is the right thing.

Go check out the article Isa-Bella wrote for The Lymphie Life : https://thelymphielife.com/2015/06/12/i-always-end-up-still-feeling-good-about-my-body-how-one-woman-with-parkes-weber-syndrome-stays-positive/

Written by Naomi Duggan