Can Your Appearance Impact Your Mental Health Can Your Appearance Impact Your Mental Health

So, What Effects Does Your Appearance Have On Your Mental Health?

The way we perceive our physical appearance can play a massive role in the way we feel about ourselves daily. For instance, it has been shown that those with higher body satisfaction often feel more positive about themselves and have a better outlook on their mental health as opposed to those who dislike their physical appearance.

Someone's self-image can change the way they see themselves and then change the way that others see them too. For example, you can suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety when you have a negative body image. Having a positive body image has also been linked to having better psychological resilience and improved quality of life.

As well as having an impact on your mental health, the way we see ourselves can also have an impact on the relationships that are important to us. Some people will comment that attractive people always seem to be confident, successful, and intelligent, however, it’s more likely the way they see themselves rather than how they actually look. This is often referred to as the ‘halo effect’.

So, does that mean that we can’t do anything to help our mental health if we don’t like the way we look? Not really. While it is important to know that how you see yourself has an impact on how others see you, there are many ways you can build a more positive body image so you are able to appreciate yourself for who you are.

How Can You Improve Your Mental Health?

Know Your Worth

It is essential that you know how valuable you are as a person. This comes from within and not from how you appear on the outside. While you may want to worry about things like ways to minimise scarring after breast reduction, or having your clothes ironed, it is important for you to realize that these have nothing to do with your self-worth. You need to try and remind yourself that beauty is definitely more than skin deep and your worth or value isn’t determined by what other people think of you.

Eat Well

A big part of how you feel about yourself is looking after yourself. You need to ensure you are looking after yourself and eating a well-balanced diet. Doing this will help to keep up energy levels, improve your mood, and keep you healthy. When you feel more positive about how you feel you will care less about how others see you and your physical appearance.

Remember Self-Care Is Important

You need to arrange some self-care into your routine, especially if you haven’t included any at all yet. You should engage in hobbies, spend time with loved ones, try relaxation techniques, and more, This all helps you to cope with the stresses of everyday life. It can also help you to deal with any emotions and help you to see yourself in a better light. Take some time to do something for yourself to keep yourself positive. It could be a walk, a bath, listening ot music, or simply going for a cup of tea in a cafe.

Exercise Often

As well as making sure you eat well, you should also include exercise in your routine. It has many benefits when it comes to both your physical appearance and mental health. From improving your sleep to reducing your stress levels, and boosting your self-esteem, just ten minutes of exercise can really help. Try and include it in your routine as much as possible.

Have Positive Role Models

Try and find positive role models for your life. These are the people who have characteristics or traits you admire and look up to. You can look at them and then use them to become a better version of yourself. It can help to boost your confidence and help you reach your dreams.

As you can see your mental health and physical appearance can be linked so it’s important to think of them together at times. Do you have any other things that should be mentioned on this topic? It would be great to hear about them in the comments below.