BREAKING STIGMAS
ON MIND AND BODY
Feel safe. Feel supported
Never feel alone.
ON MIND AND BODY
Feel safe. Feel supported
Never feel alone.
Body Talk is an online platform that breaks stigmas on Mental Health and redefines Body Image by spreading awareness through open conversations, shared experiences, education, resources, support, creativity and collaboration.
By choosing healthy over skinny, you are choosing self love over self- judgment. By doing so you are choosing yourself, you're mental and physical health, and your confidence over the world’s preconceived ideals and pressures. When you’re healthy, your skin glows, your hair is healthier, your mind is more positive, you think more clearly, and your self-esteem is much higher. Choose you, not society’s/media’s opinions on what’s beautiful. Healthy is what’s beautiful and wanted, always.
Sometimes self harm comes from numbness. Instead of thinking the person is crazy, getting angry or saying words that can cause more harm than comfort, the most important thing is to understand the reason behind it, to make the person feel understood (even if you don’t understand it yourself). That’s what empathy is and it should be applied even more in situations that seem extreme.
© Body Talk
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved
READ TIPS AND ADVISE FROM OUR COMMUNITY
“Learn about nutrition, listen to other people's experiences and try to learn from them.You might think that you don't have the "perfect" body ,which honestly doesn't exist, and that only when you lose weight you'll be happy but if you wait for that you'll never be happy because there's always going to be something that you see as a flaw.Also it will help talking to someone and consulting a nutritionist until you are able to eat again properly without being afraid.”
"Having an eating disorder is a really tough period in your life where you destroy you body for a peace of mind that you never get. Remember, no food will ever hurt you as much as your eating disorder will. You can't live a full life on an empty stomach and a weak body."
"I watched the youtube channel 'Bestdressed'. Although her older videos are all about fashion, it's interesting to see her find her voice and how honest she is about who she is."
“Recovery is absolutely not linear. A relapse doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it’s all part of the recovery process. It’s so important not to compare where you are to others. You are on two completely separate journeys, and that’s ok. You don’t have to be where they are right now. Trust your process and know that no two recoveries look the same.”
"Give yourself credit for the days you made it through when you thought you couldn’t. How you speak to yourself matters. How you treat yourself matters. The time you spend with yourself matters."
“A lot of great music and movies have got me through the difficult times. If I had to pick the three most influential, I would say Good Will Hunting (movie) and i (song by Kendrick Lamar).”
“What really helped me was watching other people's videos in yt in which they talked about their experience with trying to lose weight and their eds and how they view all these now.Also I watched videos in which they talked about proper nutrition and exercising and what benefits the body.A few of them are Vicky Justiz,Kyla Beland,Shelley ,Joanna Soh and It's just Kimberly.”
“Whatever/whenever I'm going through, I tend to put myself in a shell, don't talk to people much, I snap at my mom whom I truly truly love, and hink that no one truly cares that's how biology works we have to look out for ourselves and what's even the point to life, and I urge to be better than me lol TELL YOUR FRIEND GO SEE A THERAPIST REMEMBER YOU ARE LOVED AND THERE IS A POINT TO EVERYTHING/EXISTING. And once you do seek help, I also believe YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN HELP YOU GET OUT OF THIS. NO FRIEND PARENT THERAPIST DRUG PLACEBO ETC CAN HELP WITHOUT YOUR HELP - YOU ARE MAGIC FOR YOUR BODY in any way you look at it. BUT ALSO DONT BE SCARED TO SAY NO WHEN YOU DO NEED YOUR SPACE - Harder said than done, but these 3 things sound like oxymorons but they're not. I've become better than my older self too and it has proven to be true in my case. I still resort to my phone to feel instantly calmer thereby creating a false attachment of that "release" feeling with my phone (the body learns EVERYTHING) But if you follow accounts that are literally just fairytales then don't use social media often or have 2 separate accounts for those type of inspo pages. Unless it inspires yoy positively/creatively or you learn from it or you love them (nope you don't really love the Kardashians), DONT FOLLOW!! I unfollowed most IG celebs and all and I feel better no jokes and I still see their posts now and then but it takes effort to reach their profil. Ig is known to cause anxiety and depression so now there are also accounts about before afters so u can see the editing of everyday posts by famous people and that might help you realise how pervasive and sick the problem really is because me saying this rn may sound like I'm overreacting. Don't compare your life's timelines with nayone don't compare your real life with anyone's high light reel.”
︎︎︎ back
"Having an eating disorder is a really tough period in your life where you destroy you body for a peace of mind that you never get. Remember, no food will ever hurt you as much as your eating disorder will. You can't live a full life on an empty stomach and a weak body."
"I watched the youtube channel 'Bestdressed'. Although her older videos are all about fashion, it's interesting to see her find her voice and how honest she is about who she is."
“Recovery is absolutely not linear. A relapse doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it’s all part of the recovery process. It’s so important not to compare where you are to others. You are on two completely separate journeys, and that’s ok. You don’t have to be where they are right now. Trust your process and know that no two recoveries look the same.”
"Give yourself credit for the days you made it through when you thought you couldn’t. How you speak to yourself matters. How you treat yourself matters. The time you spend with yourself matters."
“A lot of great music and movies have got me through the difficult times. If I had to pick the three most influential, I would say Good Will Hunting (movie) and i (song by Kendrick Lamar).”
“What really helped me was watching other people's videos in yt in which they talked about their experience with trying to lose weight and their eds and how they view all these now.Also I watched videos in which they talked about proper nutrition and exercising and what benefits the body.A few of them are Vicky Justiz,Kyla Beland,Shelley ,Joanna Soh and It's just Kimberly.”
“Whatever/whenever I'm going through, I tend to put myself in a shell, don't talk to people much, I snap at my mom whom I truly truly love, and hink that no one truly cares that's how biology works we have to look out for ourselves and what's even the point to life, and I urge to be better than me lol TELL YOUR FRIEND GO SEE A THERAPIST REMEMBER YOU ARE LOVED AND THERE IS A POINT TO EVERYTHING/EXISTING. And once you do seek help, I also believe YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN HELP YOU GET OUT OF THIS. NO FRIEND PARENT THERAPIST DRUG PLACEBO ETC CAN HELP WITHOUT YOUR HELP - YOU ARE MAGIC FOR YOUR BODY in any way you look at it. BUT ALSO DONT BE SCARED TO SAY NO WHEN YOU DO NEED YOUR SPACE - Harder said than done, but these 3 things sound like oxymorons but they're not. I've become better than my older self too and it has proven to be true in my case. I still resort to my phone to feel instantly calmer thereby creating a false attachment of that "release" feeling with my phone (the body learns EVERYTHING) But if you follow accounts that are literally just fairytales then don't use social media often or have 2 separate accounts for those type of inspo pages. Unless it inspires yoy positively/creatively or you learn from it or you love them (nope you don't really love the Kardashians), DONT FOLLOW!! I unfollowed most IG celebs and all and I feel better no jokes and I still see their posts now and then but it takes effort to reach their profil. Ig is known to cause anxiety and depression so now there are also accounts about before afters so u can see the editing of everyday posts by famous people and that might help you realise how pervasive and sick the problem really is because me saying this rn may sound like I'm overreacting. Don't compare your life's timelines with nayone don't compare your real life with anyone's high light reel.”
︎︎︎ back
"Songs for sure. It’s been very therapeutic. And also working out on and working on yourself. I’ve realised self care makes me feel good about myself. And sometimes just dressing up well helps me feel more confident and better about my body image. Accepting my body and embracing it with confidence, I know it sounds like a text book rule but it takes years to get there with a little bit of self care. So people always spoke about self love but I realised it only comes with self care. If you don’t take care of yourself it’s going to be hard to love yourself."
"Growing up with mental illness confuses an already scattered brain that’s trying to find yourself and your identity. Through the many phases and moods, likes and dislikes, behavioural changes, the most important thing to keep telling yourself is that whoever you are, is separate from the person the illness has made you into. The point is never to stay the same, but also to always remember that what you’re going through doesn’t define you. You existed before the diagnosis, you will after. You do not exist inside it, it exists inside you. Hence, you are bigger, you are stronger, and there is more of a you in there than it. Always remember that. Be patient, be persistent.."
"Talk talk and talk. It’s been said so many times but sometimes just a rant helps. Whenever something bothers me I’ll type out a quick rant and send it to someone who know what’s going on and I’ll say ok now don’t reply. Because the key is not in someone reply, the key is in letting that emotion outside of your body giving your brain an illusion that it has been shared and the pain is now being shared 90% by you and 10% by the other person ATLEAST. Guided Mediations are again very helpful to clear your brain and continuous practice can teach you how to shut your brain off when you have unstoppable thoughts."
“It is always hard to hear advice from someone who doesn't understand the exact pain that you are feeling in your head, in your chest, in the back of your throat. But pain is what unites us all, rich or poor, old or young. The best cure for my pain that I have ever found has been in taking care of someone else. So keep helping others, and you will feel better too.”
“I myself fail to do this when I'm in a funk but if you do things that are scientifically proven to help release certain chemicals eg work out (maybe to music you like that feels good), talking to certain friends (doesn't have to be that they are better than other friends or closer or anything, just means they ~get it~), get some sunlight and banana (yes banaba literally helps who knew), create somehting with your hands with some texture that appeals to the touch sensory experience (bonus be close to nature like soil ed gardening), list out things you're so grateful for, how different loved ones made you feel or strangers if that made an impact, write them down when you're in a better mood so you can refer back to when you can't think of the light at the end of the tunner. At the end of the day, whether caused by a reason or not, bad thoughts feel like shit cause it's literally a chemical imbalance. So when I have accidentally done somehting that releases endorphins or whatever good hormones, I felt better than before I started. It just takes immense self love and discipline to follow through.”
“I have dealt with a lot of anxiety in the past. I had to become used to with the idea of saying no. Try to live in the moment and break the tension up by working out or listening to music that could help me forget about the situation and feeling.“
"Growing up with mental illness confuses an already scattered brain that’s trying to find yourself and your identity. Through the many phases and moods, likes and dislikes, behavioural changes, the most important thing to keep telling yourself is that whoever you are, is separate from the person the illness has made you into. The point is never to stay the same, but also to always remember that what you’re going through doesn’t define you. You existed before the diagnosis, you will after. You do not exist inside it, it exists inside you. Hence, you are bigger, you are stronger, and there is more of a you in there than it. Always remember that. Be patient, be persistent.."
"Talk talk and talk. It’s been said so many times but sometimes just a rant helps. Whenever something bothers me I’ll type out a quick rant and send it to someone who know what’s going on and I’ll say ok now don’t reply. Because the key is not in someone reply, the key is in letting that emotion outside of your body giving your brain an illusion that it has been shared and the pain is now being shared 90% by you and 10% by the other person ATLEAST. Guided Mediations are again very helpful to clear your brain and continuous practice can teach you how to shut your brain off when you have unstoppable thoughts."
“It is always hard to hear advice from someone who doesn't understand the exact pain that you are feeling in your head, in your chest, in the back of your throat. But pain is what unites us all, rich or poor, old or young. The best cure for my pain that I have ever found has been in taking care of someone else. So keep helping others, and you will feel better too.”
“I myself fail to do this when I'm in a funk but if you do things that are scientifically proven to help release certain chemicals eg work out (maybe to music you like that feels good), talking to certain friends (doesn't have to be that they are better than other friends or closer or anything, just means they ~get it~), get some sunlight and banana (yes banaba literally helps who knew), create somehting with your hands with some texture that appeals to the touch sensory experience (bonus be close to nature like soil ed gardening), list out things you're so grateful for, how different loved ones made you feel or strangers if that made an impact, write them down when you're in a better mood so you can refer back to when you can't think of the light at the end of the tunner. At the end of the day, whether caused by a reason or not, bad thoughts feel like shit cause it's literally a chemical imbalance. So when I have accidentally done somehting that releases endorphins or whatever good hormones, I felt better than before I started. It just takes immense self love and discipline to follow through.”
“I have dealt with a lot of anxiety in the past. I had to become used to with the idea of saying no. Try to live in the moment and break the tension up by working out or listening to music that could help me forget about the situation and feeling.“
"Keeping oneself happily busy- meaning find atleast one thing you enjoy doing and do it atleast for half an hour a day (reading, gardening, exercise, painting, singing, absolutely anything that makes you happy). Make sure you get time to rest/do nothing for atleast 15-20 mins. Phones off minimum 30 mins before sleeping. Go to sleep reading/re-reading and happy/positive book."
"Music and poems always help you feel a connect, gives you a sense of belonging and makes you feel like you’re not alone. But for me atleast it doesn’t really help me get out of the actual situation. Books have definitely helped in changing my perceptions. Even if it’s a small quote that you read about which really resonate with you. Once the idea is planted in your head it can really turn things around. Picking up habits you genuinely enjoy, I still like painting/ drawing when I get stressed cause it really calms me down. It doesn’t make the problem go away but it relaxes your mind so you’ll panic slightly lesser when you think about what’s bothering you. And maybe you’ll find your way out. But most importantly just talking. To someone you trust, someone who knows you already or someone who’s gone through something similar. Nothings worked better for me than that."
"It's not an easy straightforward road ahead.You may fall back into old patterns. But keep working hard, and you'll discover how much stronger you are than you thought you were."
"Therapy is huge, don’t be afraid of meds if that’s what you need, group therapy and peer support can be amazing. Get outside in nature, do something you don’t feel like doing and see what happens. This is temporary, I promise."
“I have dealt with a lot of anxiety in the past. I had to become used to with the idea of saying no. Try to live in the moment and break the tension up by working out or listening to music that could help me forget about the situation and feeling.”
“Keeping oneself happily busy- meaning find atleast one thing you enjoy doing and do it atleast for half an hour a day (reading, gardening, exercise, painting, singing, absolutely anything that makes you happy). Make sure you get time to rest/do nothing for atleast 15-20 mins. Phones off minimum 30 mins before sleeping. Go to sleep reading/re-reading and happy/positive book.”
“I would just listen mostly, and tell them what I went through and what helped me get out of that situation. Or what I’m still doing to make things better. It makes a huge difference when you’re talking to someone who already has an idea about all the things you’re feeling, even the small ones you can’t really put into words.”
“I think speaking to others helps the most. I dont like being alone at any given time, so being around people helps. Even watching movie / TV show is the best form of escapism for me.”
“Dealing with anxiety was a wake up call into finding and working on triggers. It's still a work in progress, but I feel I've grown a bit stronger since the second panic attack.”
"Music and poems always help you feel a connect, gives you a sense of belonging and makes you feel like you’re not alone. But for me atleast it doesn’t really help me get out of the actual situation. Books have definitely helped in changing my perceptions. Even if it’s a small quote that you read about which really resonate with you. Once the idea is planted in your head it can really turn things around. Picking up habits you genuinely enjoy, I still like painting/ drawing when I get stressed cause it really calms me down. It doesn’t make the problem go away but it relaxes your mind so you’ll panic slightly lesser when you think about what’s bothering you. And maybe you’ll find your way out. But most importantly just talking. To someone you trust, someone who knows you already or someone who’s gone through something similar. Nothings worked better for me than that."
"It's not an easy straightforward road ahead.You may fall back into old patterns. But keep working hard, and you'll discover how much stronger you are than you thought you were."
"Therapy is huge, don’t be afraid of meds if that’s what you need, group therapy and peer support can be amazing. Get outside in nature, do something you don’t feel like doing and see what happens. This is temporary, I promise."
“I have dealt with a lot of anxiety in the past. I had to become used to with the idea of saying no. Try to live in the moment and break the tension up by working out or listening to music that could help me forget about the situation and feeling.”
“Keeping oneself happily busy- meaning find atleast one thing you enjoy doing and do it atleast for half an hour a day (reading, gardening, exercise, painting, singing, absolutely anything that makes you happy). Make sure you get time to rest/do nothing for atleast 15-20 mins. Phones off minimum 30 mins before sleeping. Go to sleep reading/re-reading and happy/positive book.”
“I would just listen mostly, and tell them what I went through and what helped me get out of that situation. Or what I’m still doing to make things better. It makes a huge difference when you’re talking to someone who already has an idea about all the things you’re feeling, even the small ones you can’t really put into words.”
“I think speaking to others helps the most. I dont like being alone at any given time, so being around people helps. Even watching movie / TV show is the best form of escapism for me.”
“Dealing with anxiety was a wake up call into finding and working on triggers. It's still a work in progress, but I feel I've grown a bit stronger since the second panic attack.”