Every day we turn our TV on, log on to our various social media platforms or turn on the radio, we are immediately bombarded with messages that only reinforce our insecurities. Nowadays, as commercial or infomercial campaigns continue making empty promises, we, as consumers, grow even more dissatisfied with ourselves. It is up to us all to learn how to love ourselves again, and self-love can only be achieved when we learn to say no to things that are inherently bad for our mental and emotional wellbeing.
While many commercials or infomercials are inherently dishonest, it is our surroundings that have become poisonous to both our physical and mental health. Society has been tacitly conjuring this “ideal of perfect self” that we aspire to achieve. We are celebrated more for our looks than for our powerful brains or the way we treat people. We are celebrated more for how we look than when we fight and demand justice for all. We are celebrated more for the way we look than when we speak with authority, confidence, and compassion. We are celebrated more for the way we look than when we bravely demand accountability from those in power.
The devaluation of our innate qualities over our physical appearances is the root of our increasing unhappiness. These negative environmental influences commandeered by both the beauty industry and in the media such as movies, magazines, and televisions have contributed to an increase in anxiety and major depression.
What is The War on Natural Beauty and Why Has it been so Gut Wrenching for Our Mental Health?
Many people are concerned with their physical appearance. They want to look young and attractive for as long as possible. In some cases, this leads them to engage in risky behaviors like taking supplements or eating only diet foods that may not be healthy for them in the long run. It also leads many people to take drastic measures like cosmetic surgery which can have severe repercussions if done improperly.
Over the years, there has been an increase in addictive behaviors that have proven deadly. Plastic surgery, for example, has been another form of “crack pandemic” in the United States.
Because of the pressure to look young and beautiful (whatever that means), those who do undergo surgery to achieve this “ideal perfection” oftentimes end up becoming addicted to cosmetic procedures. According to the Addiction Center, plastic surgery addiction is a form of behavioral disorder that causes a person to constantly seek to change their appearance by undergoing plastic surgery. This disorder is not only costly, it can become deadly, if not treated.
It is worth noting that this behavioral disorder is promoted by the beauty industry and the media as people are forced to relive their insecurities every second. Everyone experiences some form of insecurity at some point in their lives, but when insecurity becomes obsessive and toxic skin and body habits become the center of that person’s life, it is time to seek happiness from within.
The Link Between Beauty and Mental Disorder
People are willing to take these life altering risks for many reasons. For some, plastic surgery is their only chance to stick it to society by beautifying features that were once perceived as unattractive. For other, plastic surgery is a coping mechanism, a way to escape reality. Unfortunately, plastic surgery can only mask the symptoms of a much bigger problem. Just like someone suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction, the high those people experience from those procedures only provide them temporary relief. Those who use plastic surgery to cope with hopelessness and unworthiness tend to suffer from chronic depression, which may manifest itself into narcissistic personality disorder.
The more we are reminded of our imperfections, the more vulnerable we become. This reminds us of our imperfections on a daily basis. The beauty industry and the media have found ways to monetize our insecurities and such all the happiness out of us like blood sucking vampires. Those features we find unattractive have caused us to become mentally vulnerable as we become discontent and disconnect from reality as we are unable to satisfy our insatiable thirst for perfection.
Sadly, happiness cannot be bought or created with a knife or an injection. This is why it is important for each and every one of us to understand the physical and emotional tolls the war on natural beauty has had on our mental health. Moreover, our growing dissatisfaction with our body image is an impediment to spiritual evolution.
The Classifying Cosmetics Procedures
Cosmetic procedures are classified into two categories: invasive and non invasive. Non Invasive surgical procedures include Botox injections, microdermabrasion treatments, hyaluronic acid injections, chemical peels, dermal fillers, fat injections, etc.… Invasive cosmetic procedures, on the other hands, are face lifts, fat reductions, breast augmentation, brow lift, and body lift to name a few. Simply put, invasive means to cut open.
The war on natural beauty is detrimental because it increases mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders which are all too common today. More importantly, many of these procedures can result in death.
What Can We Do to Reduce the Mental Health Effects of War on Natural Beauty ?
The War on natural beauty has been a topic of debate for quite some time. It has become a popular discussion point in the media, and in recent years, it is also becoming one of the most discussed topics in academia. Understand that your natural look is not a death sentence. Remember that nothing is better than the original blueprint.
Both the beauty industry and the media will never stop pushing their propaganda. So what can we do to lessen its physical and mental impact? Well, the only thing we can do is accept things that cannot be changed.
We were not meant to be perfect. We should embrace the idea of taking care of our skin and changing our bad habits as part of our mission to keep ourselves from becoming too vulnerable to certain preventable diseases. Skin health is self-care, and self-care is part of the long fight for a healthier, happier version of ourselves. Let’s not get so caught up in this war on imperfection as to lose focus on what truly matters: how you see yourself.
We must remember the more imperfections a diamond has, the more valuable it is. We must train ourselves to view our imperfections the way we see a diamond. Yes, we should never give up on ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we should engage in bad, if not deadly habits, to achieve the unattainable. There is always a cost with everything we do. Remember this, money is neither good health nor true happiness. Happiness comes from self-acceptance and self-love. When you try to stop the inevitable, you only rob yourself of true happiness.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any symptoms or illnesses. If you are feeling sad or depressed, please contact the emotional support hotline in your state.
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