To empower girls to have a self-like, to know who they are and be confident to be themselves
One of the top concerns for teens is how you look. Your 'body image' is created from how confident you are about your looks, what you think of how you look and what you think others see when they look at you. A negative body image can develop when someone is unhappy with how they look.
Its normal to have feelings of self-consciousness and to have views on how you think you look to others. Being positive about yourself brings an inner peace whereas having a negative image of yourself can affect both your self-esteem and your health. Hence, its important to give time to getting to know who you want to be and being comfortable with who you are.
How is body image formed?
Given all the other changes going on during teenage years this can often feel like a struggle even though it is a normal part of growing up. Many teens will find who they want to be and be comfortable with it, but for some it may be too much and lead to a lot of unhappiness and distress. Trying to change who you are sometimes creates bad eating habits which may develop into anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa - please see the section for this if that's you or might be you.
Websites Offering Support:
A Mighty Girl
has compiled this collection of ten great books for Mighty Girls on body image.
TeensHealth.org
Are you putting yourself down? If so, you’re not alone. As a teen, you’re going through lots of changes in your body. And, as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. It’s not always easy to like every part of your looks, but when you get stuck on the negatives it can really bring down your self-esteem.
Books on this subject:
Banish Your Self-Esteem Thief
A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook on Building Positive Self-Esteem for Young People
Build confidence and self-esteem with fun, easy to read tips and strategies aimed at young people aged 10+. Packed with activities and real-life stories, it will show you what self-esteem is. Next it looks at how it develops, the impact it can have and how all this applies to your own self-esteem. You can use it on your own or with the help of a parent or practitioner.
Blame My Brain: the Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed
During the teenage years the brain is undergoing its most radical and fundamental change since the age of two. Examination of the ups and downs of the teenage brain dealing with powerful emotions, the need for more sleep, the urge to take risks, the difference between genders and the reasons behind addiction or depression.
Dealing with the Real Stuff That Makes Life Tough
aims to be neither preachy nor condescending using real-life anecdotes to help readers triumph over difficulties.
Priceless: A Girl’s Guide to Uncovering the Beauty, Boldness & Brilliance Within
seeks to help girls of all ages change their perspective by uncovering and tapping into the beauty, boldness and brilliance within. Steele firmly believes that once girls have a clear understanding of who and whose they are, it can immensely affect their lives, as it did hers.
The Self-Esteem Team
contains everything you really want to know, but are too embarrassed to ask your teachers, from ‘How do I know if I’m healthy?’ to ‘What’s it like to take drugs?’
