Lesson 2: Lesson 2:

Stress and Body ImageStress and Body Image

What are we talking about today?What are we talking about today?

Common mental health issues related to stress Common mental health issues related to stress and body image. and body image.

Stressful situations that affect us personally.Stressful situations that affect us personally.

Discuss different ways people can react to Discuss different ways people can react to stressful situations.stressful situations.

Dealing with Stressful SituationsDealing with Stressful Situations Stress: Stress: the body’s the body’s normal responsenormal response to situations to situations

perceived as “alarming”. perceived as “alarming”. The ways in which people react to stress can The ways in which people react to stress can

vary greatly.vary greatly. Everyone can learn skills to cope with stress that Everyone can learn skills to cope with stress that

contribute to optimal mental health. contribute to optimal mental health. Making healthy choices and seeking support Making healthy choices and seeking support

when needed helps us lead a balanced life.when needed helps us lead a balanced life.

Stress Can Be Positive or Stress Can Be Positive or NegativeNegative

stress is not always a bad thing and can in certain stress is not always a bad thing and can in certain situations contribute to optimum performance. situations contribute to optimum performance.

What could happen if a person had too little stress?What could happen if a person had too little stress? If a person is under too little stress, it will be difficult to become If a person is under too little stress, it will be difficult to become

self-motivatedself-motivated to perform well. to perform well.

Too little stress can express itself in feelings of Too little stress can express itself in feelings of boredom boredom when when someone is not being challenged enough. someone is not being challenged enough.

An optimum level of stress brings the benefits of An optimum level of stress brings the benefits of alertness and alertness and activationactivation. .

Excessive StressExcessive Stress Can hinder performance and enjoyment. Can hinder performance and enjoyment.

These excessive levels of stress occur These excessive levels of stress occur when…when… what is asked of us is beyond our perceived what is asked of us is beyond our perceived

abilitiesabilities too much is asked of us in too short time spantoo much is asked of us in too short time span unnecessary obstacles are put in the way of unnecessary obstacles are put in the way of

achieving our goals achieving our goals

Negative StressNegative Stress

Consumes mental energy that could be Consumes mental energy that could be devoted to focusing on effective techniquedevoted to focusing on effective technique

Can impair judgement and Can impair judgement and fine motorfine motor control control damages the positive frame of mind needed damages the positive frame of mind needed

for high-quality competition by:for high-quality competition by:

• promoting negative thinking promoting negative thinking • damaging damaging self-confidence self-confidence • narrowing attention narrowing attention

What else can cause stress?What else can cause stress?

negative thinkingnegative thinking more likely to succeed if we take a positive more likely to succeed if we take a positive

perspectiveperspective seeing a new/challenging situation as an seeing a new/challenging situation as an

opportunity to demonstrate skills at a opportunity to demonstrate skills at a higherhigher level level

“ “I’m in trouble” = less chance of success I’m in trouble” = less chance of success

Exercise and StressExercise and Stress Many people use exercise as their primary Many people use exercise as their primary

stress-managementstress-management strategy. strategy.

Regular exercise can remove Regular exercise can remove by-productsby-products of the of the stress response and help release emotions. stress response and help release emotions.

Bouts of physical activity allow muscles to Bouts of physical activity allow muscles to release their stored energy then return to resting release their stored energy then return to resting state. This reduces tension. state. This reduces tension.

The endorphins released when exercising, affect The endorphins released when exercising, affect moodmood and promote a sense of happiness. and promote a sense of happiness.

Complete the Stress Complete the Stress Vulnerabilty Self-TestVulnerabilty Self-Test

Pgs. Pgs. Assess your results and complete the Assess your results and complete the

reflection.reflection.

What Is Body Image?What Is Body Image?

Our body image is how we feel about our Our body image is how we feel about our own body and what we think our bodies own body and what we think our bodies look like to look like to othersothers. . genetics influence our facial features, genetics influence our facial features,

body shape, height, and weight. body shape, height, and weight. Even if everyone ate the same things Even if everyone ate the same things

and did the same amount/type of and did the same amount/type of exercise, we still would not have the exercise, we still would not have the same bodies. same bodies.

Remember….Remember….

Body ImageBody Image Body image is linked to self-esteem/self-conceptBody image is linked to self-esteem/self-concept It is shaped by It is shaped by past experiencespast experiences, whether these are , whether these are

positive (such as athletic performance) or negative (such positive (such as athletic performance) or negative (such as abuse, disability, or bullying). as abuse, disability, or bullying).

Can be a concern for boys and girls no matter what their Can be a concern for boys and girls no matter what their bodies actually look like. bodies actually look like.

It is important not to make It is important not to make assumptionsassumptions about someone about someone else’s body image. else’s body image.

People of all shapes and sizes can have a positive body People of all shapes and sizes can have a positive body image and people of all shapes and sizes can have a image and people of all shapes and sizes can have a negative body image.negative body image.

Personal ExperimentPersonal Experiment

How do you see yourself?How do you see yourself?

Look at the people above. Then, on your own, Look at the people above. Then, on your own, without thinking about it too much, pick the body without thinking about it too much, pick the body that you think:that you think: Is closest to what you look like.Is closest to what you look like. Is closest to how you Is closest to how you wantwant to look. to look. Is the body type that’s most attractive to the opposite Is the body type that’s most attractive to the opposite

sex. sex. Findings on next page….Findings on next page….

Results…Results…

At the U of Pennsylvania, psychologists tried this test on At the U of Pennsylvania, psychologists tried this test on college students. They found that men and women view college students. They found that men and women view their bodies in dramatically different ways. their bodies in dramatically different ways.

Men are satisfied with their looks. The avg. man says his ideal Men are satisfied with their looks. The avg. man says his ideal body is a #4-that’s what he’d like to weigh-and he actually thinks body is a #4-that’s what he’d like to weigh-and he actually thinks he looks like that. He also thinks women are most attracted to he looks like that. He also thinks women are most attracted to that type-though that type-though womenwomen say that they like their men leaner. say that they like their men leaner.

Women, in contrast, think the lbs. of fat lie between them & their Women, in contrast, think the lbs. of fat lie between them & their ideal. They think, on avg., they are somewhat slimmer than #4. ideal. They think, on avg., they are somewhat slimmer than #4. But they think But they think menmen would be most attracted to a #3 when would be most attracted to a #3 when menmen actually say they like women bigger than a #3. actually say they like women bigger than a #3.

*These *These womenwomen want to be even thinner than #3-significantly want to be even thinner than #3-significantly thinner than they think would be attractive to men.*thinner than they think would be attractive to men.*

……every body is differentevery body is different

• An An ideal body weightideal body weight is a weight that allows is a weight that allows us to feel strong and energetic, regardless of us to feel strong and energetic, regardless of the number on the scale.the number on the scale.

• Someone with a healthy body has the Someone with a healthy body has the energy to spend time with friends, participate energy to spend time with friends, participate in sports, and concentrate on school or work. in sports, and concentrate on school or work.

• Eat balanced meals full of nutritious foods Eat balanced meals full of nutritious foods and participate in regularly in exercise. and participate in regularly in exercise.

Weight is Just a number!!!Weight is Just a number!!!

Positive Body ImagePositive Body Image VS. Negative Body VS. Negative Body ImageImage

WHAT IS POSITIVE BODY WHAT IS POSITIVE BODY IMAGE?IMAGE?

An understanding that healthy, attractive An understanding that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes.bodies come in many shapes and sizes.

Physical appearance says nothing about Physical appearance says nothing about our character or valueour character or value

Keeping assessment of your body Keeping assessment of your body separate from your self-esteemseparate from your self-esteem

Don’t obsess over food, weight, and Don’t obsess over food, weight, and calories. calories.

Effects of NEGATIVE BODY Effects of NEGATIVE BODY IMAGEIMAGE

Increases the risk for extreme body/weight control Increases the risk for extreme body/weight control behaviours behaviours

extreme dieting and exercise compulsion and eating extreme dieting and exercise compulsion and eating disordersdisorders

Related factors that contribute to extreme Related factors that contribute to extreme dieting:dieting:

• depression depression • decreased self-confidencedecreased self-confidence• increased feelings of anxiety, increased feelings of anxiety, • feelings of unattractivenessfeelings of unattractiveness• persistent concern about weightpersistent concern about weight

Serious Disorders Caused by Negative Body ImageSerious Disorders Caused by Negative Body Image

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an is an obsessionobsession with an with an “imagined” physical defect in appearance. This defect doesn’t “imagined” physical defect in appearance. This defect doesn’t actually exist.actually exist.

Muscle dysmorphia Muscle dysmorphia is thinking that one’s muscles are too small is thinking that one’s muscles are too small or too weak. or too weak.

Eating disorders including:Eating disorders including:

Anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa is characterized by is characterized by fear of weight gainfear of weight gain and and severe restriction of food intake, which can result in significant severe restriction of food intake, which can result in significant weight loss. weight loss.

Bulimia nervosaBulimia nervosa involves an attempt to avoid weight gain or to involves an attempt to avoid weight gain or to manage weight through frequent compensation by purging. manage weight through frequent compensation by purging.

Binge eating disorderBinge eating disorder defines a pattern of binge eating (feeling defines a pattern of binge eating (feeling out of control while eating) without purging.out of control while eating) without purging.

Distorted Self ImageDistorted Self Image

AnorexiaAnorexia

Self-esteem has an impact on Self-esteem has an impact on how we view our how we view our bodiesbodies and is related to how we evaluate our and is related to how we evaluate our own physical abilities, job skills, interpersonal own physical abilities, job skills, interpersonal abilities, family role, and body image.abilities, family role, and body image.

Low self-esteem may develop if “ideal” body Low self-esteem may develop if “ideal” body standards are not met and may result in size standards are not met and may result in size misperceptions, faulty beliefs, and negative misperceptions, faulty beliefs, and negative feelings about one’s own body. feelings about one’s own body.

Negative body image may be influenced by:Negative body image may be influenced by:

exposure to images of exposure to images of idealizedidealized versus normal versus normal teasing by friends or familyteasing by friends or family life changes such as moving to a new school or life changes such as moving to a new school or

citycity TRAP: Comparing your bodies to others TRAP: Comparing your bodies to others

(friends, magazines,T.V(friends, magazines,T.V don’t let don’t let media or anyone elsemedia or anyone else dictate what dictate what

number should be on your scale. number should be on your scale. history of abuse (physical or sexual)history of abuse (physical or sexual) physical changes (results of puberty, medical physical changes (results of puberty, medical

problems, surgery, or sports injuries. problems, surgery, or sports injuries.

People with negative body image may:People with negative body image may:

engage in engage in excessiveexcessive body checking body checking (weighing, measuring, and trying on clothing) (weighing, measuring, and trying on clothing)

camouflage their size and shape with loose camouflage their size and shape with loose and bulky clothing and bulky clothing

avoid social situations that trigger physical avoid social situations that trigger physical self-consciousnessself-consciousness

avoid wearing bathing suits and/or shortsavoid wearing bathing suits and/or shorts

How Do Eating and Body Image Go Together?How Do Eating and Body Image Go Together?

In general, eating disorders are examples In general, eating disorders are examples of internal conflicts about food and/or body of internal conflicts about food and/or body size and shapesize and shape. .

They are more complicated, however, than They are more complicated, however, than just having a bigjust having a big appetite and unhealthy appetite and unhealthy eating patterns. eating patterns.

Media MessagesMedia Messages

Dove Videos: Evolution and AmyDove Videos: Evolution and Amy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

The Photo shop effect (you tube)The Photo shop effect (you tube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP31r70_QNMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP31r70_QNM

ShreddedShredded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvJ4quqcg2Ahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvJ4quqcg2A

Key Understandings:Key Understandings:

Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes.Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes.

““Body image” refers to the way we see our own Body image” refers to the way we see our own body. body.

People who have a positive body image tend to People who have a positive body image tend to demonstrate more healthy eating behaviours demonstrate more healthy eating behaviours than those who have a negative body image.than those who have a negative body image.