Katy Mackenzie

I’ve talked about Body Positivity before but I don’t think I’ve spoken on Body Dysmorphia and how it affects myself and other people. I wanna talk about the effect that social media has on people who struggle with Body Dysmorphia and whether It’s a blessing or a curse.

The term ‘Body Dysmorphia’ is a mental health condition in which a person overthinks about their appearance. This can also mean they look at their body in a different way to how other people see it. They can see themselves bigger or smaller than they actually are. It can also worsen someone’s mental health and the struggles they’re facing in daily life.

I’ve always been bigger than other people, it’s been a tough journey to accept that. My peers and friends were always smaller than me. Being a tall, plus size girl has always had an effect on me. Whether that being having to buy bigger clothes or being bullied because I was ‘fat’. Although I don’t like the term fat and it’s not an insult to me anymore, being a young kid and having that thrown at you every day of your life, it takes a toll on someone, especially a kid.

Growing up with social media and having that constant stream of beautiful people that were slimmer than myself made me hate the way I was. I started hating my body and who I was. I started to binge eat and when I was at my lowest, I struggled with eating as a whole, making myself sick after I ate. I’ve never talked about that time of my life because I didn’t think it mattered. At the time, I thought I was doing what was best for me but I now know that I was just hurting myself in a different way.

Seeing so many people on my Instagram feed in bikinis and crop tops made me want to lose weight and every time I looked in the mirror, I looked away because I hated the way my legs, stomach and face looked. I wanted to be slim like everyone else. I was hating every part of myself just because I didn’t have people in my life that were the same size as me and who were finding themselves.

Having body dysmorphia and seeing all these slim people on my timelines triggered me a lot and it made me think I wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t good enough for society. Until I found people that were on the same path as me. Finding themselves in this weird world. The people who I now look up to.

Social Media may be a toxic place but you have to find the people who are doing the same as you. Finding plus size women has helped me realise that I’m not alone and no matter what, there is someone out there having the same struggles as me. Working in a plus size fashion store has also helped me so much, the support that I get is immense and I’m so grateful to my team for helping me realise weight doesn’t mean much anymore.

Body Dysmorphia is a serious mental health condition and it can affect people in so many different ways. We have to be aware that although someone might look good on the outside, they may be feeling like they look horrible inside. We never know what goes on in someone’s mind. It takes a lot of time and effort to be comfortable in the skin we’re in but that’s the beauty of progress.

2 years ago, I wouldn’t have worn a crop top, I wouldn’t wear jeans and I certainly wouldn’t have bought bodysuits but now, after finally realising I’m beautiful the way I am, I’m able to wear whatever I want.

Remember you’re beautiful the way you are, no matter what anyone says. It’s a hard journey when you begin to accept yourself for who you are and what you look like but starting that journey can be in small steps and it might take a while but that’s okay.

Overall Social Media is a weird place, it can be soul-destroying sometimes but it can also be a beautiful place to show you are and grow as a person! You just have to find those people who make the bad days better and the good days amazing! I regularly share my favourite accounts over on Instagram so make sure to look out for them!

If you need a small dose of motivation for today, here are my go-to songs when I need to remember it’s okay to be myself:

Brave – Sara Bareilles

Love Myself – Hailee Steinfeld

Firework – Katy Perry

Me Too – Meghan Trainor

Sorry Not Sorry – Demi Lovato

Start today by loving yourself.