Having a negative body image can have a significant impact on the life of an individual. It can decrease the confidence and morale of a person. We found five insidious ways in which negative body impact can hurt a sex life of a person.
- Your body image affects your sexuality
The more worried you are about your fat cellulite thighs and wider waist, the more sexually inhibited you become. Yet, desire and arousal work with a positive attitude.
When you view your body negatively, you are likely to be less attuned to sexual stimulation. You would second-guess everyone complimenting you.
Instead of appreciating the compliments as icebreakers to initiate romantic conversations, you would view them with a tinge of salt, taking them as sarcasm.
When you don’t admire your body, it’s hard for you to get into the mood. You don’t view yourself as sexy and fail to register sexual sensations such as desire, interest, and arousal.
A study published on the PubMed Central website sought to assess the impact of body image on sexual satisfaction.
On reviewing data from 437 middle-aged women, the study concluded that women who were dissatisfied with their body image exhibited a significant negative relationship which affects their sexual satisfaction.
They registered lower sexual desire, more pain during sex, less arousal and orgasm.
With this road blocking your mind, you can’t even relax to feel good during an intimate session. Hence even though you could push yourself to have sex, you aren’t going to reach orgasm.
- Bad feeling limits your sexual wellbeing
The negative body image magnifies your sense of self-pity and guilt. You, therefore, avoid watching yourself in the mirror.
In this situation, it’s hard for you to appreciate your body and embrace its flaws. When you have a date, you can’t come to terms with undressing in front of your partner.
The fickle on your cheeks may be a turn-off, just like the cellulite around your hips. You may feel demoralized by such features.
What you don’t know is that more than three-quarters of women also experience such skin texture issues and don’t regret the situation in any way. Instead, they go for skin tan and skin serum to help minimize their extreme conditions.
Feeling horrible about your skin and bodily feature prevents you from savoring the full extent of the sensation that could come about by sensual touch. You can’t even allow your significant other to freely touch and caress your body,
- Shame provokes less satisfying sex
Another way of hating your sex life is through disgust and self-criticizing yourself. Feeling bad about your body has far-reaching repercussions.
You could carry this shame from years of being teased and tormented, especially during your adolescent years.
But why carry jokes shared in elementary school some 20 years ago? You need to shade off this teen teasing and start living.
If this is a hereditary issue, it could come from your elder sibling. You could still recall how they criticized their image. These self-critical talks can stay in your mind for ages.
And if these challenges contributed to your relatives not getting married, or ending their matrimony, you’ll most probably be relationship-averse. It doesn’t matter how long these memories were planted.
Another cause of shame is found in the hypersexual women. A clinical study published in PubMed Central established that women who have high sex drive usually feel a tinge of shame due to their high libido.
The outcome mentions that hyper sexuality in women though a normal human behavior tend to be misdiagnosed and misunderstood.
You’ll continue to believe that you are ugly and aren’t considered normal by society. So you’ll conduct yourself this way. This prevents you from going out and seeking adventure and fun which could culminate in a relationship.
- Body unease limits your sex poses
Yet one more outcome arising from hating your body is your inability to fully immerse yourself in sex. Even when you become intimate, these thoughts still linger in your mind.
But sex is about courage, confidence, and giving the best. How else then can you meet these parameters when you are feeling disgusted with your body?
You start feeling unsure of engaging in the best and more exciting sex styles. Sex styles like the erotic women-on-top position are thus out of the question for you.
You don’t want your partner to view your fluffy belly or saggy waist. Still, your poor physique prevents you from engaging in certain maneuvers.
Instead of putting on your sexy lingerie and exposing your shapely legs, you’ll rather tie on a towel and a head scarf. This unattractive clothing could be a turn-off to your sex partner.
And even if he tries to accommodate these shortfalls, the fact that you can’t undress in front of him could disturb him.
Why rush to switch off the light and lay down to that he’s left with only the missionary style to perform?
- Think about your body more than the sexual episode
When you are obsessed with your poor body image, you tend to give it more than your fair share of attention. This way, your mind is more preoccupied with negative thoughts.
When you are on a date, instead of marveling at how the good time is unfolding, you’ll be more worried about what your man is likely to see wrong in you and start to criticize.
There are some women who, instead of promoting themselves during a conversation, rant about how they are uncomfortable and dislike themselves due to their high BMI indices.
They let their minds control the situation with a negative aura. Maybe they aren’t aware.
Having a poor body image impact on how some women conduct themselves during date, intimacy and relationships.
A woman who views herself as unattractive may engage in risky sexual behavior such as having multiple partners to satisfy her ego. Besides, they may either, engage in unprotected sex to try to pleasure their partners more, or give in to a manipulative sex partner.
Yet, those with better body image, per an article on the Science Direct website, are likely to focus on enjoying the sexual experience, contributing to higher sexual wellbeing.
But distracting yourself with poor and self-guilt isn’t going to improve your odds of taking your date further. Instead, he’s been taken aback by your revelation.
When he leaves you, he wouldn’t promise to see you again. In hind sight, he’ll seek out a more confident partner.
Finally, we discussed five insidious ways negative body image could hurt you emotionally and sexually. Loving your body image is necessary, and we hope the information provided can help you think positively, which can ultimately improve your sex life.
How Do You Challenge Negative Body Image?
Body image is defined as the perception one has about their physical appearance and the thoughts and feelings associated with it. In today’s society, the media heavily influences people’s perception of what the ideal body should look like, leading to an increase in negative body image. Negative body image can have detrimental effects on one’s mental health and overall well-being. It is important to challenge and overcome these negative perceptions and instead promote a more positive body image. In this paper, we will discuss the ways in which one can challenge negative body image.
1. Recognize the source of negative body image
The first step in challenging negative body image is to identify the source of it. As mentioned earlier, the media plays a significant role in influencing people’s perception of the ideal body. Social media platforms, in particular, are filled with images of seemingly perfect bodies, leading to comparison and self-doubt. It is important to recognize that these images are often heavily edited and do not represent reality. Understanding this can help in challenging negative body image.
2. Surround yourself with positive influences
Surrounding oneself with positive influences can also help challenge negative body image. This can include people who have a healthy and positive body image, as well as following social media accounts that promote body positivity. Being around such influences can help in shifting one’s focus towards self-love and acceptance rather than comparison and self-criticism.
3. Practice self-care
Engaging in self-care activities can also play a significant role in challenging negative body image. Taking care of one’s physical and mental well-being can help in developing a more positive body image. This can include activities such as exercising, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, and engaging in relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.
4. Challenge negative thoughts
Negative body image is often associated with negative thoughts about one’s appearance. These thoughts can be challenging to overcome, but it is important to challenge them. One way to do this is by using cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, such as reframing negative thoughts into more positive ones. For example, instead of thinking ‘I hate my thighs,’ one can reframe it to ‘My thighs are strong and carry me through my day.’
5. Focus on your strengths and abilities
Instead of focusing on physical appearance, it is essential to shift the focus towards one’s strengths and abilities. Engage in activities that make you feel confident and proud of your abilities, whether it is playing a sport, painting, or volunteering. This can help in building self-esteem and promoting a positive body image.
6. Seek professional help
If negative body image is significantly impacting one’s well-being, seeking professional help can be beneficial. A therapist or counselor can provide support and guidance in challenging and overcoming negative body image. They can also help in developing coping mechanisms and building a more positive self-image.
In conclusion, negative body image can have harmful effects on one’s mental health and overall well-being. It is essential to challenge and overcome these negative perceptions to promote self-love and acceptance. By recognizing the source of negative body image, surrounding oneself with positive influences, engaging in self-care, challenging negative thoughts, focusing on strengths and abilities, and seeking professional help when needed, one can challenge negative body image and develop a more positive perception of their body. It is a journey that requires patience and self-compassion, but it is a crucial step towards overall self-acceptance and happiness.
