Have you struggled with body image throughout your life?
Have body image issues been persistent?
Have you had periods when your body image was positive, but then took a turn?
Body image is a concerning thing for many of us across the globe regardless of culture, background, and experience with recovery. Often, we think it’s a thing of the past and we don’t notice it anymore. But we do! And it forces us to look inward. Although many factors contribute to body image, one of them is a history of addiction. Some people who are under the influence of a particular drug or alcohol may change their perception of their body and how they look at themselves. In other cases, the poor body image was a driver of the substance use.
How many times do you see yourself in the mirror? Treatment for body image in addiction recovery may involve a myriad of factors. But there are multiple ways an individual can heal. This may include proper nutrition, spirituality, addressing it with a clinical or professional approach, or simply listening to addiction recovery podcasts.
In a recent Podcast The Truth About Addiction with Dr. Samantha Harte, she interviews Dr. David Wiss in an episode called “Body Image in Recovery: Can We Fall in Love With the Body we Have Instead of Being at War With It?” Listen on Apple Podcast or on Spotify.
This is one of the best addiction podcasts you will hear on body image. In this episode of the addiction podcast, David tells his personal story of recovery from drug addiction and then segues into a rich discussion about body image. Several tips for improving body image are offered in this episode:
- How to stop overexercising and find balance by switching up your routine.
- Facing the trade-off between physical and mental health.
- How to lean in to “trust” and make peace with the body that you live in.
- The importance of finding ways to build self-confidence in ways other than changing your appearance.
- Exposure therapy for body image.
There are no instant cures to help promote a positive body image. You can take the initiative to participate in activities that promote a healthy body image. This recovery podcast is an example of an activity that can help you heal.
So, do not miss this podcast about addiction and body image. Do you have personal experience recovering from body image disturbance? Share with us what works for you!
David Wiss
David became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in 2013 and founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice of RDNs specializing in treating eating and substance use disorders. In 2017, David received the “Excellence in Practice” award at the National Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. The California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics awarded him the “Emerging Dietetic Leader Award” in 2020. He earned his Ph.D. from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health in the Community Health Sciences department (with a minor in Health Psychology) by investigating the links between adverse childhood experiences and various mental health outcomes among socially disadvantaged men. His treatment philosophy is based on a biopsychosocial model which incorporates an understanding of biological mechanisms, psychological underpinnings, and contextual factors that integrate the social determinants of health. Wise Mind Nutrition's website offers a fully online interactive treatment program in Spring 2023.