Suicide Prevention

                                                     (Effects of Suicide in Society)

Suicide, defined by terms, is intentionally taking one's own life prematurely. The leading cause of Suicide is depression; in essence, it is a cry for help when one is feeling lost, hoping to escape the pain that an individual is feeling. The effects of a suicide cause a ripple effect in the community, affecting those close to the victim, such as friends, and family.

Who is at risk?

According to online resources in the United States, it is stated that those that are adults over the age of 65 are more likely to attempt suicide due to loneliness and feeling like they no longer have a reason to live (Kent). But the reality of the situation is, that anyone is capable of suicide regardless of age, gender, or nationality, Anxiety, and Depression an emotion that plays a major role in the lives of all of us, that may lead anyone to an attempt at suicide.

Leading causes of Suicide 

Loved ones may never know why someone took their own life; Sadly we can only make assumptions. Though it is an unfortunate thing, Suicide, there are various reasons why someone would commit it. Suicide varies from person to person, from those who have a mental illness to chronic pain to even accidentally. In this section, we will cover some of the leading causes;

Mental Illness is a leading cause, it is the form of emotionally overthinking, that affects mood and behavior but it is not limited to just this, it expands to depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and anxiety. it affects the mind emotionally in some cases physically as well.

Traumatic Stress: There is an endless array of traumas that puts someone at risk. Those that have gone through a traumatic experience, such as physical or mental abuse, rape, or even those that are experiencing PTSD. This includes childhood experiences as well.

Substance Abuse: Drugs and alcohol can play a role in increasing one's thoughts of suicide if they are depressed for any reason. With drugs and alcohol, it impairs the mind making them more impulsive on such thoughts.

Loss: Despite circumstances of one's life a single loss can turn even the happiest, to a thought or an attempt; Loss can be defined as anything someone literally loses, be it by financial problems, end of a friendship or a romantic relationship, job loss, academic failure and even death of a loved one. Whatever the "loss" is, it creates a hole in their being, with the thought of not being good enough, the feeling of loss overshadows all the good in their life making them believe loss is all they have.

Physical Pain and Illness: Much of the time if a person is diagnosed with an incurable health problem such as chronic pain, for instance, such as lower back pain, constant migraines, or an illness like cancer, they will attempt suicide, as the individual feels there is no hope left for them. Despite advances in healthcare, the reassurances may not be good enough.

Accidental Suicide: We should hope and pray this never happens but there is such a thing as an "Accidental Suicide" such as someone simply cleaning their gun and it accidentally goes off. The same can be said for small children as well, who play with a gun because of curiosity. According to Aftermath Services, 70% of unintentional shootings are caused by children in the home.

   Statistics 

"In 2020, the suicide rates were higher among adults ages 25 to 34 years (18.35 per 100,000) and 75 to 84 years (18.43 per 100,000), with the rate highest among adults ages 85 years or older (20.86 per 100,000). Younger groups have had consistently lower suicide rates than middle-aged and older adults. In 2020, adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 14.24." (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

"The age-adjusted suicide rate in California is 9.98 per 100,000 individuals, which is higher than the national average." (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) 

The statics shown online may just be a number and may in fact be on the decline, but the reality of the situation is these are the people we will never see again. They had families, loved ones, friends, a future, they had a name.

Who is affected afterward?

After someone commits suicide the ones that are affected the most are friends and family. Sometimes after losing a loved one to suicide, the living can become suicidal too. We'll feel an emptiness, forgetting to take care of ourselves while we grieve. Loss of hunger, sleep and an inability to function may set in.

Outbursts of anger may overtake our own emotions and the feeling of guilt can invade the mind. Looking back and regretting the things you did or did not do with that person while they were alive can be a struggle, this is a normal sign of the grieving process. Don't forget to surround yourself with the ones that are still here. In time the feelings of being helpless will reduce and you will start to find meaning in your own life again.

Prevent this Disease!

Suicide can be prevented, though we may never know why someone took their own life, we all play a role in helping prevent it. The suicidal and the people that are affected may be feeling lost and in need of someone to speak to, if you experience this issue, consider talking to trained professionals or joining a support group https://afsp.org/find-a-support-group/ is an excellent website for finding local support groups. If an in-person support group is too much, consider joining an online support group http://www.depression-chat-rooms.org/depression-chat.htm are a friendly bunch, sometimes online interaction can be a safer space for some. Surround yourself with the ones you love, speak to your family and friends about how you are feeling and how they are feeling, and check in on them too. The problems that you are going through are not a burden to the ones that love you.

You are allowed to be hopeful.

Thoughts of Suicide can be a struggle, putting on a happy face for those that you love can be breaking. But genuinely think about the ones that will miss you if you take your own life. You are not a burden, you are not a problem. Don't let your mind trick you, depression is something that can be difficult to overcome, but be sure to do the things that make you happy, surround yourself with everything and everyone you love.

You deserve to be happy, people will listen to what you have to say.

 Never forget you are loved.

sources:

Kent, Mary. "In U.S., Who Is at Greater risk for Suicides?" 17, Nov. 2010. https://www.prb.org/resources/in-u-s-who-is-at-greatest-risk-for-suicides/

Accessed 19 Mar 2022.

Examining Accidental Gun Death Statistics | Aftermath". Aftermath Services | Crime Scene Clean Up & Death Cleanup Professionals, 2018, https://www.aftermath.com/content/accidental-shooting-deaths-statistics/. Accessed 19 Mar 2022.

"Suicide Statistics". American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, 2019, https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics/. Accessed 19 Mar 2022.

Suicidepreventionlifeline.Org, 2022, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Accessed 19 Mar 2022.

Retreatbehavioralhealth.Com, 2022, https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com/suicide/. Accessed 19 Mar 2022.

Effects That Stress Has On Students

 Effects That Stress Has On Students

Christina Banh

What Is Stress?

We have all felt stressed at some point in our life. It is not a feeling that anyone wants to have. But what is stress? Stress is our body's response to what is challenging or having pressure in our life. Examples of stress could be being laid off from work, time crunch, anxiety, relationship problems, and plenty of others that we all have experienced before. Stress can also take a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional health. Students especially feel stress when it comes to school work, having a job while going to school, studying for exams, and many more.

Causes of Stress for Students

Students could be stressed for numerous reasons with these highlighted to be the most common causes of stress for these individuals:

• Too much homework

• Time management

• Participation

• Exams

• Studying

• Conflicting work schedule

• Financial issues

• Pressure from parents

According to Anjali Rana, Renu Gulati, and Veenu Wadhwa, in the article, "Stress among students: An emerging issue," there are three types of stressors, and being a student is considered to be an enduring life strain. Meaning, that there are pressures that are associated with the performance of roles. The causes of stress for students are primarily academic-related, making it understandable due to the heavy emphasis on school-related success in the majority of households. Students have the role of going to school and then finding a job that relates back to what they are studying for, which can be stressful because they do not know whether or not they are able to land a job in their field of study. Test-taking/exam testing is stressful to students as well because it forces students to perform under pressure and the test indicates how well the student understands the material. These are common causes of stress for students... and with causes comes its effects.

 

Effects of Stress on Students

Stress can be harmful to students because it can take a toll on the students' mental health, physical health, and sleep – to name a few. More specific reasons that stress has on students are as listed:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Increase in alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Decrease in sleep quality
• Decrease in number of hours of sleep needed
• Weight gain
• Problems with bowel movement
• Exhaustion
• Poor grades
• Attention span is lower

According to the article, "The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education," written by Michaela C. Pascoe, Sarah E. Hetrick, and Alexandra G. Parker, reports how stress levels are higher in students and what effects that stress has on them. The article states, "The prevalence of anxiety is as high as 35% in tertiary students and the prevalence of depression is 30%," (Pascoe, Hetrick, and Parker). When students have anxiety or depression, it can be seen in their incomplete school work, receiving poor exam scores, and other outcomes that stress does to a student. Studies have shown that students who do not have enough sleep due to academic-related stress can not or have difficulty paying attention in class which also impacts the students' well-being. Students will also turn over to substance use to help them fall asleep. Stress can put students at risk trying to prevent any health problems they may face in the future. This can increase a person's appetite which then results in weight gain and potentially having other health concerns. The effects that stress has on a student could be detrimental to their mental, physical, and emotional health.

 

Personal Thoughts

This social issue of stress is important to me because I myself (a full-time student) experience stress nearly every day. My own experience with developing stress stems from many different aspects, specifically pressure from parents who underwent the turmoil of immigration — focusing now on providing a successful future for myself. However, not only pressure from my parents but also participation is another main cause of stress. Participation can be difficult for me because I do not want to provide the wrong answer during class; if I do give out the wrong answer, knowing there are eyes towards me makes me feel more stressed and anxious. I want to let others know that it is okay to be stressed because that is something that we can control. If it means taking it easy and doing one thing at a time, that is completely okay. Taking a walk, having a healthy snack, drinking water, and breaking up tasks into different days or times are some of a few ways that I manage stress. I have friends who manage their stress by going out for a run, baking cookies, or even taking a small nap. I can not completely say that how I manage stress is going to be the same for everyone else because everyone copes with stress in their own ways. Stress is inevitable, but we can find ways that we can minimize stress so that we can continue to do life our way.

Resources

Pascoe, Michaela C., et al. “The Impact of Stress on Students in Secondary School and Higher Education.” International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, vol. 25, no. 1, 2019, pp. 104–112., https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1596823.

Rana, Anjali, Renu Gulati, & Veenu Wadhwa. "Stress among students: An emerging                         issue." Integrated Journal of Social Sciences [Online], 6.2 (2019): 44-48. Web. 11 Apr.             2022

SLUT SHAMING

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been labeled a slut. When my boobs grew quicker than others, I was called a slut. When I had a boyfriend (even though we weren’t having sex at the time), I was called a slut. When I dared to speak openly about sex, I was called a slut.  When I wore clothing that clung to my natural curves, I was called a slut.The term “slut” never seemed to go away. As a matter of fact, research from Westcott (2011) states that the term was first mentioned in 1402. When Thomas Hoccleve portrayed someone as slovenly or dirty in the Letter of Cupid. Even though the word is so old, it still continues to carry such a powerful significance in our culture today. Given its wide use, the word “slut” is rarely used in regard to men. Women are subjected to slut-shaming at a rate of 50%, while guys are subjected to it at a rate of 20% (Endendijk et al., 2019). When it comes to sexual appetite, men are just not judged in the same way that women are. Men who have lots of sex with lots of people are commonly labeled in a less derogatory manner. They are often labeled as studs, pimps, and players but never sluts.

Rosea Lake – “Judgements” (2013)Rosea Lake via roseaposey.tumblr.com

Slut-shaming is based on men establishing and upholding sexual double standards to the detriment of women. In order for women to be deemed respectable, they must be passive participants, silent on behalf of their own sexual pleasure, and their own sexuality must be used solely in a monogamous and marital/committed relationship (Armstrong et al., 2014). In recent studies, it has been found that when examining perceptions and cultural biases in regards to male and female sexual behaviors, there are traditional beliefs that support the sexual double standard. When comparing men and women, behaviors related to high sexual activity were predicted more and rated more positively (or less negatively), whereas behaviors associated with sexual passivity were expected more and rated more positively (Endendijk et al., 2019). Thus, slut-shaming supports male dominance and female inferiority. According to the “doing gender” tradition, slut stigma influences the way in which women participate in their own doing. Labeling women as “good” or “bad” is all about status. Men have an important role in creating this rank by rewarding certain femininities (Armstrong et al., 2014). Women are punished for failing to perform femininity in a way that is acceptable. This implies that the slut stigma is more concerned with managing public gender performance than with regulating private sexual activities (Armstrong et al., 2014)

You can click on this link to learn more about the effects slut-shaming has on young girls. It details the different forms of slut-shaming and how slut-shaming culture can contribute to high suicide rates. https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-effects-of-slut-shaming-on-teen-girls-460586

Be a Slut / Grab Them. (2017, January 21). [Still image]. https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:m043vr48g

Misogyny is at the root of slut-shaming. It’s all about shutting down women. It’s all about hating women. It’s all about keeping them quiet. These ideas are societal constructions established on years of sexist structures that continue to fuel the patriarchy. The patriarchy is a system of societal structures and behaviors in which cisgender heterosexual males oppress individuals of various gender identities and disadvantaged sexualities. The prevalent gender ideology concerning sexual differences is central to patriarchy: the notion that physiological sex differences between males and females are connected to differences in character, attitude, and abilities. These differences are utilized to legitimize a gendered division of social obligations as well as inequitable access to rewards, positions of power, and privilege (Lumen Learning, n.d.). Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights, and gender is the central focus of this theory. “Feminism is about an emancipatory commitment to change: the conditions of life that are oppressive for women need to be transformed”(Lumen Learning, n.d.). In the mid-1990s, the third wave of feminism arose. It was driven by Generation X. Although they benefited greatly from the legal rights and protections achieved by first- and second-wave feminists, they also criticized the views and unfinished business of second-wave feminism (Prine Pauls, 2009). Third-wave feminists aimed to challenge, take back, and reinvent the ideas, concepts, and symbols that have propagated perceptions about womanhood, gender, aesthetics, sexuality, femininity, and masculinity (Prine Pauls, 2009). Most importantly, it is all about leveling the gender playing field and ensuring that everyone is granted the same opportunities regardless of gender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsGRUUHosq4

Jesse Lee Peterson interviews model Samirah Raheem at Slutwalk 2017. The video was shot at Amber Rose's 2017 Slut Walk, an event aimed at raising awareness about rape culture and victim-blaming. This clip went viral after being put on the internet. The ultra-conservative celebrity and preacher Jesse Lee Peterson stopped her on the street and questioned her about her attire and "sluttiness".  The model began educating Peterson about the term and why she proudly reclaims it. Raheem states, “I own my body. My body is not a political playground. It’s not a place for legislation. It’s mine, and it’s my future.” She sarcastically informs Peterson that "everyone's a slut" since guys call women sluts without knowing anything about them or their personal lives. She embodies the attitude of a third-wave feminist.

Of course, everyone is entitled to have their own opinion on this matter. Each person’s individual beliefs about sex are entirely valid and none of anybody else’s business. All I’m proposing is that women should be able to have sex and talk about it in the same way that men do. Trying to live up to someone’s unrealistic version of what a woman should be is truly exhausting. It appears that no matter what we do, we will disappoint someone, so why not be the most authentic version of ourselves? Be a slut; do whatever you want (as long as you’re not harming anyone in the process).

References

Armstrong, E. A., Hamilton, L. T., Armstrong, E. M., & Seely, J. L. (2014). “Good Girls.” 

Social Psychology Quarterly, 77(2), 100-122.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0190272514521220

Endendijk, J. J., van Baar, A. L., & Deković, M. (2019). He is a stud, She is a Slut! A Meta-Analysis on the Continues Existence of Sexual Double Standards. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 24(2), 163-190.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868319891310

Lumen Learning. (n.d.). Reading: Feminist Theory | Sociology. 

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-sociology/chapter/reading-feminist-theory/

Prine Pauls, E. (2009). The third wave of feminism. Britannica. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/feminism/The-third-wave-of-feminism 

Prison Systems Are Nothing But Inhumane

The Prison System: 

Source: Fordham Journal of corporate & financial law

    There is different opinions about how we all view and define the term prison. The general term of prison is a place that holds and punish people who have committed felony crimes. Some people may see the prison system as beneficial for keeping criminals locked away. However, to many including myself, the prison system is nothing than a place that is inhumane and rips apart peoples’ sanity. There is so many issues within our prison systems that many do not seem to acknowledge. Majority of these correctional facilities are not making any effort to improve or change these conditions to improve the quality of life for these inmates. 

The issues within our Prison System:    

    The main issues within the prison system is the increase in violence, overcrowding, and drug increase.

Increase in Violence: 

    The increase in violence is a major issue because it puts the risk of inmates for serious injury or death. “Participants in Novisky and Peralta’s study discussed graphic, horrific acts of violence they had witnessed during their incarceration: stabbings, beatings, broken bones, and attacks with makeshift weapons”(Prison Policy Initiative). The increase in violence causes inmates to be traumatized, increase in anxiety, depression, suicide, and flashbacks. Even when they leave the facilities to return back into society, many are still having flashbacks from the violence they have witness. The increase of violence are either physical or sexual that leaves many of the inmates to be victimized. Even with the cart showing the statists of men and women who encounter physical and sexual violence. It does not show the most accurate data since not many of the violence is not reported, which is really concerning. 

Overcrowding: 

    Overcrowding is a huge issue because it is the main cause of the poor conditions. These facilities are not meeting the requirements to hold the amount of people in the cells. For example, the facilities may try to place three inmates in the same cell when it is meant for one person. The criminal justice systems are the main cause of the overcrowding because they are sending people to prison for minor crimes. Which increases the population rates that enter into the prisons. “Prisons in over 118 countries exceeded their maximum occupancy rate, with 11 national prison systems at more than double their capacity”(Penal Reform International). Overcrowding causes issues for inmates such as self harm, suicide, increasing in violence, lack of privacy and resources. 

Drug Increase: 

    In the majority of state prisons, most of inmates are struggling with addition. The main drugs that the inmates use in the prisons are opioids, synthetic marijuana, and methamphetamine. The reason it is a big issue because drugs are being brought in and out of the prison. The inmates would either swallow the drugs or put them inside their bodies.    By the increase of drugs in the prisons, it leads many of the inmates to die from overdosing. ”From 2001 to 2018, the number of people who have died of drug or alcohol intoxication in state prisons increased by more than 600%, according to an analysis of newly-released data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In county jails, overdose deaths increased by over 200%”(The Marshal Project). The prisons are not giving the proper treatment to help these inmates to recover. They are not searching enough to find these drugs and confiscate from them. 

Why this issue is important to me: 

     This issue is relevant to me because my older brother was part of the prison system for the last 15 years. He was been in there since he was 15 years old due to gang related charges. He was recently released from prison about a month now, he is currently 30 years old now. I barely met him for the first time in person a few weeks ago. Even though I barely met him in person, I have been in contact with him through letters, video calls, and phone calls for the past six years. Before us getting into contact, I had no idea that I even have a brother. He was the one that reached out to me when I was 16 years old. He wanted to be part of my life anyway that he can. It was honestly scary at first to let him in but no matter what he is my brother. Since then, we both took the time to get to know each other and build our relationship as brother and sister. I am beyond happy that I finally met him and he is back home after all these years. I’ve felt a sense of peace since he has returned home. I am no longer worried about him being locked away. I can put that part of my life to rest and continue to be in his life. 

     He has told me his experience of the mistreatment and horrible conditions during his time in prison. One of his experiences of the mistreatment is that he was not taken seriously when he injured his back. He randomly started noticing that he was not able to walk properly and had horrible pain in his lower back. He was not taken to go see a doctor until months later after he had to keep repeatly telling the prison guards multiple times about his conditions. Once he went to the doctors, they did not think anything was wrong with him. Even though he kept trying to tell them that he feels like there is something wrong. It wasn’t until another few months later he was able to return to the doctors and get a MRI that showed that there was fluid in spine due to a dislocated spine disk. It basically took a whole year for the prison and doctors to do any type of treatment for him. Even though that incident was a few years ago, he is still not able to do certain physical activities due to the risk permanently damaging his back. This is mainly caused by not getting the proper treatment immediately. Hearing about this just made me really upset. The way that the prison system treats people is inhumane. No one like my brother should be denied of receiving health treatment just because they are in prison. It is important to me to spread information and experiences of the mistreatment because I do not want anyone else to have to go through what my brother went through. 

My brother (Covering up his face for privacy)

Sources:

Initiative, Prison Policy. “No Escape: The Trauma of Witnessing Violence in Prison.” Prison Policy Initiative, 2020, www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/12/02/witnessing-prison-violence/. 

“Prison Conditions: The Issue.” Penal Reform International, 6 Aug. 2020, www.penalreform.org/issues/prison-conditions/issue/.

Schwartzapfel, Beth, and Jimmy Jenkins. “Inside the Nation's Overdose Crisis in Prisons and Jails.” The Marshall Project, The Marshall Project, 15 July 2021, www.themarshallproject.org/2021/07/15/inside-the-nation-s-overdose-crisis-in-prisons-and-jails. 

Food Desserts In LA by Eduardo Romero

Food Deserts In Los Angeles

What is a food desert 

Food Deserts are areas where most of the community does not have access to a grocery store that sells fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthy foods at an affordable price. Within those areas it will be easier to access fast food stores, corner stores and liquor stores.

Identifying The Problem 

• Some of the issues that come from being in a food desert are low access to healthy foods. 

• Members of the community have to travel far to acquire groceries 

• Members of the community suffer from heart disease, diabetes and other obesity related diseases. 

• High childhood obesity rate

I found the USDA has research on food access, food nutrition and assistance, diet quality, and much more. A Low Income census was done by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program in 2019 and from that we can determine that low income communities are more likely to have a food desert. 

“Low access to food stores is characterized by the number (at least 500) and share (at least 33 percent) of people at different distances from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store, as well as the number of housing units in the areaa without access to a vehicle and that are more than 0.5 mile from one of these stores.”

-USDA Food Access Research Atlas

 

Blue is Low Income

Green is Low Income and Low Access at 1 and 10 miles

Orange is Low Income and Low Access at 1/2 and 10 miles

Red Square is Los Angeles

To access this interactive map click here or copy & paste the link below.. There is a Guide available that gives an overview of the atlas. 

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/

This Matters to me

This is important to me because I am directly affected by food desserts. Growing up I would have to travel far to go to a grocery store, I was surrounded by fast food and corner stores. This made my choice of food very unhealthy at a young age and it made it feel like a struggle to get healthy food. I have a family who are also in a food desert. What had happened in their area was the local market closed down which made the distance of the nearest grocery store much farther away. Food deserts exist throughout the city, some of the communities affected are in South Central and the EastSide of Los Angeles.

In my research I found Project MercadoFresco that are transforming local markets into cornerstones of the community. Ramirez Meat Market was the second project they have done and is local to me. I was able to see its transformation first hand and it is amazing for the community. If you click the link you can watch a youtube video on their makeover. 

Market Makeovers: NextGen Leaders 

Market Makeovers: NextGen Leaders

Works Cited 

Food Access Research Atlas. USDA ERS - Food Access Research Atlas. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/

The issue: Oklahoma is hungry ⋆ hunger free oklahoma. Hunger Free Oklahoma. (2021, February 15). Retrieved from https://hungerfreeok.org/theissueoklahomaishungry/

M.M. – East LA + boyle heights // ramirez meat market. Public Matters. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://publicmattersgroup.org/projects/marketmakeoverseastlaboyleheights/ramirez/

What is Food Justice? What Is Food Justice? | Community Service Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bu.edu/csc/edref/what-is-food-justice/

More Than Just a Body

Body Dysmorphia

(a Societal Effect)

    Perfection is defined as a person perceived as an embodiment of perfection without flaws. 

However, if someone suffers from body dysmorphia, they will likely lack the knowledge

 that perfection is not everything. This brings us to the question of who indeed suffers from body 

dysmorphia. Body dysmorphia is a common disorder among 12 to 13-year-old girls and boys. 

This results from the social comparison that occurs within that age range. Social comparison 

is defined as how children compare themselves to their peers about their weight, their

 looks, or the brands they cannot afford. However, as much as society acknowledges women for

 this disorder, men obtain this from being obese or excluded by everyone else. Between 1.7% to

 2.4% of the population in Los Angeles deal with this disorder, whether it is a man or woman 

(knight, 2019). This disorder begins with the idea that women do not fit society's expectations 

of what a 'perfect' woman is. As well as men not meeting the expectations of the 'perfect' man. 

Body dysmorphia is defined as a mental health disorder in which the individual picks at every 

'flaw' their body contains. Such as being overweight, being too tall, being too short, being too 

skinny, or being too dark skin. 

   But what body truly defines perfection? The answer is EVERY BODY. The individual who suffers 

from this disorder believes they cannot control the minor 'flaw' because everyone can see what 

they see. According to Bray in the article, Gender Dysphoria, Body Dysmorphia, and the 

problematic of Body Modification, it is a notion of discomfort in one's body. Bray discusses the 

role essentialism that has led to the medical sanction of hormonal interventions or gender 

reassignment surgeries. Bray acknowledges that people try to change who they are for someone 

they want society to accept. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Negative Effects

    Body dysmorphia can be seen as a disorder that can be improved, however, the process takes

 time. An individual who suffers from this disorder needs to find alternative ways to cope and 

help their loved ones understand their emotions. This means that keeping loved ones in the 

circle will help them learn precautions to take when the individual's disorder becomes severe. 

According to Mayo Clinic (2019), some negative effects with having this disorder are:

    *Depression or mood disorders

    *Suicidal behavior (thoughts, self-harm, etc.)

    *Anxiety (social anxiety, social phobia, etc.)

    *Obsessive-compulsive disorder

    *Eating disorder (anorexia nervosa, binge eating, rumination disorder, etc.)

    *Health problems

Ways to Help Someone in Need

    There are different ways you can help someone who suffers from body dysmorphia (Knight, 2019):

  1. Accept the individual's feelings. When the individual talks about what they are feeling, they are 

trying to cope with the emotions that are hard for them. Do not judge what they cannot control just 

because you cannot see it, and do not try to debate about their appearances. 

  2. Listen. Help the individual understand that they can come to talk to you when they need you. Please 

give them a no-judgment zone. This will cause them to be more open about their emotions to you.

  3. Learn about treatments located around you. In familiarizing yourself with these disorders and 

treatments that help, you are doing a lot more than you think. Finding therapy groups near

 them can come in handy when the individual who suffers from this disorder needs it.

  4. Acknowledge their accomplishments. Achieving to eat more than one meal a day is a significant 

accomplishment for someone who suffers from this disorder. Any little win that we help celebrate with

 this individual can help let them know that they can overcome it with your support. 

      In the process of helping someone, it may become very challenging; however, the small amount of 

support you give to the individual will help in the long run.

Personal Issue

    I can personally connect to the issue of body dysmorphia. Since middle school, I have dealt with it due 

to constantly comparing myself to other girls my age. I still suffer from this disorder today by checking 

myself in the mirror, trying to 'morph' my body into the body I want, and constantly prohibiting myself 

from eating more than one plate a day. I dressed in oversized shirts and sweaters to cover my stomach 

during my high school years. However, it just lowered my self-esteem. I had dealt with not only weight 

but my height too. I have always been taller than my friends, and because I am tall, my weight is affected 

by my bones having a little bit more weight. I continued to tell myself, "you are not worthy, you are not 

pretty, and you are not capable of losing weight because you will forever be fat." One night, around 2 in 

the morning, I sat on the floor in front of the mirror, and I sat there looking at myself. Looking at what I 

could change, what I hated, and what I believed others saw first. Dealing with this disorder leads to the 

constant fear of gaining weight. That is why I prohibit myself from eating more than once so that I do not 

gain that weight.

    Body dysmorphia has continued to affect me in the long run. It has affected my friendships, my 

relationship with my partner and my relationship with food. Body dysmorphia has filled my head with the 

constant thoughts about my friends being skinnier, or prettier. I have so much love for my friends but I 

cannot deal with the issue of looking 'bigger' than my friends. This connects to my relationship with my 

partner too. I have constant thoughts of looking 'bigger' or not being attractive like my partner. Due to both

 of these issue, it leads to my relationship with food being nonexistent. It is a horrible disorder to 

experience and I continue everyday to meet goals of eating twice a day or telling myself that I AM 

ENOUGH.

Body Acceptance

    According to Mayo Clinic (2019), there are ways to help your process of body acceptance:

    1. Begin a journal. Having a journal where you can write your emotions will help you better cope with 

         them. As well as acknowledge the negative thoughts.

    2.  Do not isolate. It feels like isolating yourself would better help with the comparisons, however, you 

need to surround yourself with people who you love and who love you. It helps you feel their support and

 their care for you.

    3. Create goals. Creating goals will help you stay focused and motivated. It is an on going process but it

 will be worth it.

    4. Find ways to manage stress. Making decisions during your stressful times may not result in a 

positive way. Take your time, breath, and understand what decision is best for YOU.

Image by: Tyler Feder

Helpful Hotlines

    If you or someone you know suffers from body dysmorphia, here are some available hotlines:

    1. CalHOPE: It is a support group developed by California Consortium for Urban Indian Health. They

 as well have a live chat if you are not comfortable speaking.

Hotline: (833) 317-HOPE (4673)

https://www.calhope.org/pages/current-services.aspx#cs2. 

    2. NewVista: 24-hour hotline available to those who suffer from Body Dysmorphia:

Hotline: 1(800) 928-8000

Newvista.org. https://newvista.org/sites/default/files/one-page-handouts/Mental%20Health/Schizophrenia.pdf.

   Reference

    “Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 29 Oct. 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938.

    Bray. (2015). Gender Dysphoria, Body Dysmorphia, and the Problematic of Body Modification. The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, 29(3), 424–436. https://doi.org/10.5325/jspecphil.29.3.0424

    “Current Services.” CalHOPE Current Services, https://www.calhope.org/pages/current-services.aspx#cs2. 

    Knight, Clare. “How to Support a Loved One with Body Dysmorphia.” News, 5 Sept. 2019, https://www.news-medical.net/health/How-to-Support-a-Loved-One-with-Body-Dysmorphia.aspx. 

    Mayo Clinic Staff. “Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 29 Oct. 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353944. 

    Taqui, Ather M, et al. “Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Gender Differences and Prevalence in a Pakistani Medical Student Population.” BMC Psychiatry, BioMed Central, 9 Apr. 2008, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2329619/

    24 -Hour Helpline 1.800.928 - Newvista.org. https://newvista.org/sites/default/files/one-page-handouts/Mental%20Health/Schizophrenia.pdf.