Body shaming is bad. Period.
Dealing with body shaming when you have any kind of illness, especially those that cause uncontrollable fluctuations in weight, is a 'smdh' kind of problem.
A person's worth has nothing to do with their appearance - and especially not their weight. Sometimes, sure, the weight or appearance of a person may reflect on their personality, but that does not make them worthless and is only one part of an entire human being.
Body shaming is not okay.
I've been watching a bit of the drama going on surrounding Selena Gomez - a brilliant recording artist who has Lupus - and the body shaming she has had to endure. What's sad is that body shaming has kind of become an expected part of the culture that comes with fame - perpetuated by the use of social media and this human desire to look a specific way. We all know and realize that it's toxic, and yet we perpetuate it all the same.
Not only that, but we don't just do this to other people. No. I know for me, I body shame myself every day. I try not to, and I remind myself constantly to be kind, but I have those intrusive thoughts all the time.
It's tough enough to be so worried about body composition, image, fitness, appearance, size, shape, etc... but then if we add on chronic illness, it's an entirely new beast.
Many chronic illnesses wreak havoc on our internal organs, and when our internal organs aren't functioning like they are supposed to, there are going to be some external signs. It may be weight gain, weight loss, swelling, acne, rashes, dark circles, hollowed cheeks, puffy eyes, hunched posture, a limp, muscle weakness, muscle loss, thin skin, water retention, stretch marks, loose skin, scars, or a multitude of other by-products of dealing with illness.
But that's not all.
Then there are the medications that are absolutely necessary for many chronic illness sufferers. These medications can do all of the above and more.
And none of it is our fault. It's not under our control.
What ends up happening is this volatile and constant fluctuation of various internal and external signs of disease. This constant battle between our own immune systems and the medications trying to tone down the severity of the diseases. It changes monthly, weekly, even daily.
Did you know that 70% of people placed on a corticosteroid like Prednisone will gain weight? And that people placed on low doses (5-10mg) will gain approximately 10 pounds?
Higher doses will yield higher levels of weight gain, naturally. Not only does it increase water retention and cause what is commonly referred to as 'moon-face', but it also severely, and painfully, increases appetite - so that no matter how large of a meal you eat, your stomach continues to tell your brain that you are starving - including painful stomach cramping from being overly hungry. It can be an excruciating side effect of an often life-saving medication.
So in an image obsessed world, now we add in disease to an already ever-changing body.
Do you know what it's like for someone to literally have no control of their weight (gain or loss)? Or to have no control over how their bodies look? And to be criticized, shamed, scrutinized, and bombarded with cruel messaging telling them that they are not worthy as a human being because of it? And then, if those people develop disordered eating or unhealthy fixations on appearance, they are criticized further?
I have been body shamed. I am also guilty (in my younger years) of body shaming others, and continuing to body shame myself.
I have also been body shamed by people who knew exactly what medical reasons explained those bodily changes.
For those of you who have chronic illness, have you or are you being body shamed? How do you respond to those people? And how do we stop this cycle of obsessive fixations on size and appearance?
And OMG do we ever have SO MANY BIGGER THINGS to worry about than if what we look like is pleasing to others.
I mean, seriously.
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