Impressionable Thoughts

Fear is powerful as is the feeling of compassion that is created in some of us.  Research shows that children are at risk for becoming non responsive to compassion and that they do not recognize fearful faces as well.  There is a lack of an amygdala response to other people’s fear which is an important link in the chain in experiencing fear.  If a child is not able to experience fear due to their amygdala not working properly, why would they have an emotional response to someone else’s fear or be motivated to alleviate their suffering?  Having parents recognize emotional reactions in themselves and in their children can help set healthy impressions at young ages when nurturing is key.

 

What Selfies Are Doing to Self-Esteem

APRIL 12, 2020 · LEAVE A COMMENT · EDIT

How they can exacerbate insecurity, anxiety and depression

In case you’ve ever wondered how much time your daughter spends taking selfies, a poll in 2015 found that the average woman between 16 and 25 years old spends over five hours a week. It sounds like a lot unless you’ve tried to take selfies yourself and know what an elaborate process it can be. Women take an average of seven shots to get one image, according to the poll; Kim Kardashian said it takes about 15 to 20. Then there are the filters, not to mention real-life alterations like changing lighting or touching up makeup. There are also apps you can use for more drastic procedures like changing your bone structure, slimming your waistline, erasing pimples, and more.

Selfies can be silly and lighthearted, of course, notes Alexandra Hamlet, PsyD, a clinical psychologist. But she also recognizes the darker side, when photos become a measure of self-worth. “With makeup, with retouch, with filters, with multiple, multiple attempts, it’s almost like you’re never going to stack up,” says Dr. Hamlet, “And that is where I think it gets dangerous.”

Research backs this up. The Wall Street Journal recently uncovered secret research conducted over several years by Instagram and its owner Facebook that found that “thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse.” They also found that comparisons on Instagram “can change how young women view and describe themselves” and that teens blamed Instagram for increases in their anxiety and depression.

Parents and experts are understandably worried about what this means for kids’ self-esteem and mental health as teenagers increasingly turn to social media apps for entertainment and to feel connected to peers.

Seeking perfection

If you’ve been telling your daughter that she’s beautiful just the way she is, she’s getting a different message when she opens up Instagram and sees filters and lenses that alter appearances. Pictures used to be final; now we have post-production.

Dr. Hamlet acknowledges that some of the filters are fun and distort in amusing ways, but also points out there are “pretty filters” on Instagram and Snapchat. Beautifying filters are used almost reflexively by many, which means that girls are getting used to seeing their peers effectively airbrushed every single day online. There are also image altering apps that teens can download for more substantial changes. Facetune is one popular one, but there are many, and they can be used to do everything from erase pimples to change the structure of your face or make you look taller. One app called RetouchMe gives your photo a “professional retouch” using a photo editing team for under a dollar.

The possibilities can be overwhelming, particularly since girls know they are scrutinized on their appearance — as, of course, they are scrutinizing their peers.

Too much comparison

Self-esteem often takes a hit when you start comparing yourself too much to other people, which is something social media seems to be made for. One study found that frequently viewing selfies led to decreased self-esteem and decreased life satisfaction. Another study found that girls who spend more time looking at pictures on Facebook reported higher weight dissatisfaction and self-objectification.

In her book Enough As She Is, Rachel Simmons writes about pressures facing girls, including comparing themselves to peers on social media and feeling that they were coming up short. One 18-year-old girl told her, “I don’t hate myself when I’m alone. I just hate myself in comparison to other people.”

Thanks to social media, that time alone in your head that most adults grew up with has been eroded. Any spare moment she has, a young woman now might easily open up Instagram or Snapchat, which means that she starts playing the comparison game.

Even if the pictures a girl posts on social media get plenty of likes, she might still feel insecure — especially if she’s an adolescent who is already feeling insecure and trying to make herself feel better, Dr. Hamlet notes. That’s because humans tend to be very “mood consistent,” she says. “It can feel icky to do something on the outside that is inconsistent with how we feel on the inside.” That’s why if you’re feeling sad, you might be more likely to want to listen to sad music instead of watch a comedy. And in the same way, if you are feeling judgmental and negative about yourself, it generally takes more than a good selfie to pull yourself out of that trap.

Mental health consequences

While social media might not be causing a mental health disorder, it can pull some kids closer into a diagnosable range if they are already struggling. “If you’re depressed or anxious, you’re probably going to be comparing yourself to others more, or devaluing yourself more,” explains Dr. Hamlet. “Maybe you’ll be striving even harder to try and ‘catch up,’ which is basically an impossible feat.” For some teens the focus on appearance and perfectionism may contribute to an eating disorder.

The problem of selfies has even attracted the attention of various professional journals for plastic surgeons, which have been posting articles about increasing requests for plastic surgery coming from young people. A poll from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons found that 42% of surgeons were asked to perform procedures for improved selfies and pictures on social media platforms. The journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery published an article called “When Is Teenage Plastic Surgery Versus Cosmetic Surgery Okay?” exploring the safety and ethical considerations of performing different procedures and providing “cosmetic medication” like Botox and fillers to adolescent clients.

There is even a term for kids who are fixating on their appearance because of social media — selfie dysmorphia, which is also sometimes called Snapchat dysmorphia. While this isn’t a real diagnosis, it is a term that recognizes that more people are experiencing a dysmorphia, or idea that there is something fundamentally flawed in their appearance.

It also gestures to a diagnosis that is real: body dysmorphic disorder, which is a mental health disorder related to OCD. People with body dysmorphic disorder are obsessed with what they perceive to be a disfiguring flaw, like a large nose or ears, a blemish on the skin, or underdeveloped muscles. These flaws might be imagined or very minor and blown out of proportion.

While most children won’t develop body dysmorphic disorder, or even so-called selfie dysmorphia, they can still exist somewhere on the spectrum of fixating on their appearance, just as they might be struggling with anxiety and depression, whether or not they are at a clinical level.

Being more mindful about social media

Parents who want to provide a healthy counterbalance to the pressures of social media can start by evaluating how they use social media themselves. Make sure you aren’t talking too much about the pictures you post or see, or ask your children to take too many pictures. The occasional photo is fine, of course, but make a point of prioritizing being in the moment, too. “If you’re taking your kid to a concert, don’t allow them to film the whole thing and see it only through the eyes of the camera,” says Dr. Hamlet. “That’s reinforcing this concept that just being here is not good enough.”

Dr. Hamlet also recommends that parents encourage teens to become more mindful about how they use their phones — and model doing this, too. “Before you pick up your device, understand why you’re picking it up. What emotional state are you in? Are you anxious? Picking up that phone to check to see what’s on social media is probably going to heighten that anxiety. The same with sadness. It’s just going to make it worse.”

Try having a plan for what you’re going to do on Instagram or Snapchat. This might include how long you’ll be using it and what you want to see. And while you are using social media, observe how it makes you feel, and be ready to put it down if it starts making you feel bad.

Building self-esteem

Prioritizing a girl’s appearance is nothing new in society, but with selfies girls are getting inundated with the feedback that how they look is important. That’s why it is up to parents to make sure girls are getting the message that what women think and do is even more important. Don’t hold back from complimenting your daughter on her appearance, but make an effort to compliment her at least as much for the things she does and how hard she works.

While it is good for anyone’s self-esteem to like the way they look, it is crucial to have many sources of self-esteem. For a young woman’s long-term happiness, it will be more deeply rewarding for her to find things that she cares about and practice doing them. Dr. Hamlet calls this “developing mastery and accumulating positives in your life.”

Having a personal interest in something and seeing how your skills grow with time and effort makes you feel proud of what you can do, and takes the focus away from achieving perfection, which is impossible. It also encourages girls to look inside themselves for their self-esteem (and not just to compliments from others) which is an important part of growing into a happy, confident woman.

Written by Rachel EhmkeRachel Ehmke is managing editor at the Child Mind Institute.

Hints for Staying Home

APRIL 12, 2020 · LEAVE A COMMENT · EDIT

STAY CALM, LISTEN, AND OFFER REASSURANCE

We are models for our children. Be an example for them and accessible for them. By being available to discuss COVID-19, we an help detour children from stress and help ensure they are being safe and doing everything to keep loved one safe and well. Carefully listen to your child(ren) and help them process their thoughts of what is going on in their world with the truth and reassurance.

Be sure to explain social distancing. This can easily be done with a hula hoop example. Many children, and adults, have bubbles for personal safety zones. By talking to them about following the guidelines of health experts, we can do our part by keeping others outside of our hula hoop and personal bubble. Older children can have more reasoning from the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Children strive with predictable schedules as well as nurturing adults in their lives. This helps us all to remain in control of our day as well as emotions. Have your child help create a daily schedule and post it somewhere visible in the house so that it is a reminder for all the importance of chores, work, and play. These events should include structured and unstructured routines.

Practicing mindful activities with our children can help keep us regulated. This can be taking walks, playing games, and even practicing the Conscious Discipline breathing many children know from school. (Star, Pretzel, Faucet, ect…) Create crafts that can be used as stress balls or texture relievers. This can be a great time to turn recycling products into the best inventions!

MONITOR TELEVISION VIEWING AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Ensure to monitor television, internet, and social media use for yourself and your child. These types of media an increase anxiety in all of us and will encourage more couch time which can lead to depressive thoughts. There are many rumors and information leads that may not be true. Ensure you are talking to your family members about factual disease information and find ways to provide alternative activities when you notice them being overwhelmed. Go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlfor additional factual information.

TAKE TIME TO TALK

Answer your child’s questions as they come without unnecessary information. Children may be confused and will hold back on talking about their concerns or they may not want to worry loved ones. Young ones understand information in small amounts. You may get more conversation while playing. They ask questions, and listen while playing and this is repeated. Children feel empowered when you follow their lead and they and control the action while they ask questions. This sense of control can help reduce their fear.

BE AWARE OF YOUR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH

Most children will manage well with the support of parents and other family members, even if showing signs of some anxiety or concerns, such as difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Some children, however, may have risk factors for more intense reactions, including severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors. Risk factors can include a pre-existing mental health problem, prior traumatic experiences or abuse, family instability, or the loss of a loved one. Parents and caregivers should contact a professional if children exhibit significant changes in behavior or any of the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks.

Preschoolers—thumb sucking, bedwetting, clinging to parents, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, fear of the dark, regression in behavior, and withdrawal.

Elementary school children—irritability, aggressiveness, clinginess, nightmares, school avoidance, poor concentration, and withdrawal from activities and friends.

Adolescents—sleeping and eating disturbances, agitation, increase in conflicts, physical complaints, delinquent behavior, and poor concentration.

The Journey Begins

MAY 13, 2018 · LEAVE A COMMENT · EDIT

Starting therapy can be anxiety provoking.  Connections Therapy would like to be there to help walk you through life’s journey.  Consider us a place to put pieces of the puzzle of life together.  Therapy should be a safe place where you can work on areas of life that need concentration.  Finding support in an environment that is encouraging and helpful can be a life altering experience.  Please allow us to help you learn to function in new and improved ways.

The journey will begin with an assessment of your current skills and we will work together on how daily life affects your habits and behaviors and empower you to live the life you want.  We look forward to working with you, your loved ones, and seeing the changes you desire!

Behavior is defined by the person most annoyed by it….Anonymous