“To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.” ― Simone de Beauvoir

A range of flawed perceptions with regard to body image exists among people. Poor body image has been linked to a range of risky behaviors, including substance abuse and self-harm tendencies. Teens and young adults, both males and females, with a poor body image are more likely to use drugs than others. On the one hand, boys are stereotypically expected to be muscular and athletic. On the other hand, girls are expected to be thin and slender. 

According to Eating Disorder Hope (EDH), almost 10 percent of teenage boys are extremely concerned with having a muscular body and about 2.5 percent use supplements, growth hormones or even illegal anabolic steroids, coined as “body image drugs,” to attain the coveted muscular physique. Steroid use, although illegal without a doctor’s prescription, opens the door to binge drinking, use of street drugs and eating disorders.

What is body image and what influences it?

Body image is a person’s perception of how he or she looks in relation to his or her size and features. People develop certain opinions regarding their own appearance, especially in their teens when they go to school or college and stand the increased risk of being judged by their peers. While many teens have a positive body image, some young people carry around negative perception of themselves.

People start developing their own perception about their bodies from quite an early age based on the world around them. In the early days of growing, one’s views are usually influenced by his or her friends and family. Later, television and movies where celebrities and models are regularly featured play a crucial role in affecting one’s perception about the entire concept of body image. There are also a number of billboards. magazines, social media, other online sources, etc. to account for the barrage of images that catches the attention of the viewers, especially youngsters.

The effect of these images on the subconscious mind of a developing adolescent is enormous. By the time they reach middle school or high school, they would have observed hundreds of images per day that they would start using as a parameter to measure their own perceived attractiveness. In the United States, teens spend an average of nine hours per day viewing some form of media, which is more than the total time spent in school or on sleeping.

Teenagers wrestling with the varied opinions on body image often resort to addictive substances to alleviate their distress and overcome their inferiority complex related to body and looks. In the absence of adequate guidance and support from family and friends, such an indulgence increases by manifold. Therefore, parents should play a proactive role in clearing doubts pertaining to stereotypical ideas on body image.

Get professional help

Drug abuse and addiction in teens typically develop as a result of underlying psychiatric issues, including negative body image. Poor body image can pave the way for other equally dangerous mental illnesses, such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These disorders could lead to self-harm and even to suicide.

If you or your loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, contact the Florida Detox Helpline to know about the Florida detox centers. Detox programs in such rehab centers will help remove the toxins from the body accumulated due to a prolonged use of the substances. Moreover, detox done under clinically supervised conditions will help in managing the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms due to the absence of the choice of drug. Call us at our 24/7 helpline number 855-920-9869 or chat online to get the details about the detox facilities in Florida.