Regulate Your Nervous System, Reframe Your Reflection: A Guide to Somatic Body Image Healing

I've been through a similar trajectory that so many have in food and body image recovery. 

In my twenties, I got to a place where food was less of a concern. I wasn't skipping meals anymore and I was balancing those meals and eating all macronutrients. I felt much more grounded and regulated. 

But, the body image struggles continued to hang around. I felt good in my body but I still hated the way my body looked. So, I tried every mainstream approach. I tried the stronger over skinny approach where I lifted a lot of heavy weights and gained a lot of muscle. Yet still, it felt like it was never enough. 

So, I tried the unconditional body love approach and tried to love my body as it was. No matter how much I tried to challenge my internalized beliefs about my body, nothing would budge. 

I still looked in the mirror every day and internally said, "ick". 

When I started somatic therapy, it wasn't with the intention of trying to heal my body image. I was focused on healing from a trauma response. What I wasn't expecting was that I would find myself caring less and less about how my body looked the safer I felt. 

In this week's episode, I chat about: 

• A somatic, nervous system, attachment perspective to body image struggles 
• Research that points to body image struggles are more about alterations in your brain and nervous system than it is about your body 
• Strategies to increase interoception, a key part of body image recovery

You can read the transcript to this episode here: https://www.stephaniemara.com/blog/reframe-your-reflection

I've opened the doors back up for the next 48 hours until midnight on Tuesday 5/26 to the Somatic Eating® Program. 

The first class has already occurred so you will be able to watch the replay of the first class and reach out in the already active community to ask questions and receive support. 

Something I wished I had as I navigated my food and body image interactions was someone who would have guided me on how to listen to myself, rather than give me a bunch of advice that didn't work for my body. That is what I do in the program: support you in cultivating trust in yourself that you know what is best for you and how to discover that for yourself after you've been away from your body for years. Join now here: https://www.somaticeating.com/#ready

If you have any questions, respond to this email anytime! 

With Compassion and Empathy, 

Stephanie Mara Fox