“Buying this Instagram workout will give me my dream body"
If there’s one thing social media does really well, it’s sell dreams – and products to “help” you achieve those dreams. But rarely will you find what you’re lacking by poring through other people’s feeds and timelines, Dr. Talley says. And if you’re looking to lose weight, chances are it’ll mainly be your wallet that ends up lighter. “My advice for someone who struggles with this is to do a ‘cleansing fast’ of Instagram, Facebook, and the like then use that extra time to build deep, genuine relationships with a small number of people in real life,” he adds.
Reframe it: “There aren’t any shortcuts. It will take hard work to get what I want, but I can do it.”
“I’m a hideous, fat slob”
“The unrealistic and unattainable beauty ideals in our culture have led to 91 percent of women being unhappy with their appearance at one point in their lives,” says Susan Edelman, MD, psychiatrist, and author of Be Your Own Brand of Sexy. And it’s not just women – many men feel self-conscious about their looks as well. This can lead to dangerous dieting behaviours, depression and anxiety.
Reframe it: “I want to be healthy and happy, not be a certain number on the scale.”
“I have to look like a model or I won't get a partner"
Let’s be honest: Most of us don’t look like models! And that doesn’t make us unworthy of love or a happy relationship. “How you treat people is much more important than your appearance,” Dr. Edelman says. “Being kind, generous, or a good listener is much more likely to help you to attract and keep a nice partner.”
Reframe it: “We’re all going to look different, that’s part of what makes us who we are.”