Why Does Summer Make Me Feel Worse About My Body? Understanding Body Image Anxiety.
As the weather warms up and summer approaches, many people look forward to beach days, vacations, and socializing more. Yet at the same time, summer can bring an unwelcome increase in worries about body image and others’ perceptions.
You may notice yourself becoming more self-conscious about what you're wearing, avoiding social events that involve swimsuits, concealing your body, and comparing your appearance to others. You might also feel significant pressure to change your body, lose weight, or become more toned before the season gets into full swing.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many people find that summer intensifies existing body image concerns. Understanding why this happens can be the first step toward developing a healthier relationship with your body and having more fun during summer.
Body image:
the thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and beliefs we have about our bodies
Why Summer = Worse Body Image
The “Summer Body” Pressure: we receive loads of pressure to change our bodies to meet unrealistic societal beauty ideals in preparation for summer.
More Body Exposure: summer tends to involve wearing more revealing clothes to avoid overheating. Parts of your body may be exposed that you haven’t been used to for the past several months.
Increased Social Comparison: summer often involves more social events where you might get stuck comparing yourself negatively to others.
Signs That Body Image Concerns Are Affecting Your Well-Being
Avoidance of events, pools, beaches
Body checking obsessively
Frequent negative comparison to others
Constant reassurance-seeking
Guilt or shame after eating
Restricting food, purging in any way, over-exercising to feel you “earned” your food
Believing you will finally be happy when your body is a certain way
The trouble is: beauty ideals can rarely be achieved and most people will feel horrible about themselves as they try to change their bodies.
Clients often tell me, even if they do achieve their desired weight or body change, they don’t feel satisfied. There is a part within them that continues to feel lesser than others and pushes them to do more, promising one day they will feel good about themselves.
But, I propose, you are already completely good enough as you are. AND, you will have a much more fun and fulfilling summer if you strive to accept your body and appreciate yourself for who you are.
3 Ways to Improve Your Body Image This Summer
Focus on Experiences Rather Than Appearance: be remembered for how joyful, inclusive, and fun you are by redirecting your thoughts to the moment you’re in and the people you enjoy spending time with.
Notice the Stories You're Telling Yourself: pay attention to self-critical thoughts that get you stuck feeling like you need to “fix” yourself to be good enough. Gently question these thoughts and consider evidence to the contrary.
Practice Body Neutrality: instead of focusing on how you look, notice and appreciate what your body allows you to do. Like picking out seashells, swimming in the lake, or hugging a friend.
When Therapy Can Help
If body image concerns are preventing you from fully participating in your life, therapy can provide a supportive space to explore what's underneath these struggles.
Body image difficulties are rarely just about appearance. They are often connected to deeper experiences involving self-worth, perfectionism, anxiety, relationships, societal expectations, or past experiences of criticism and shame.
Through therapy, you can learn to:
Challenge unhelpful beliefs about your body
Reduce appearance-based self-criticism
Develop greater self-compassion
Explore the roots of body image anxiety
Build a healthier relationship with food and movement
Feel more comfortable taking up space in the world as you are
Final Thoughts
If summer tends to make you feel worse about your body, you are not alone. You're living in a culture that places enormous emphasis on how bodies should look.
You deserve to enjoy summer without spending every moment evaluating your appearance.
Healing your relationship with your body isn't about changing it. It's about learning that your worth is not dependent on your appearance.
If you're struggling with body image anxiety, disordered eating, or self-esteem concerns, therapy can help you develop a more compassionate and peaceful relationship with yourself.
