Having a Hard Time Existing in Your Body? This Is for You.

Right now, many of us are struggling to hold space for the complexities of being in our bodies. This challenge is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding that many of us have been conditioned to accept: that our bodies are merely tools for the mind, objects to criticize, mold, and control based on societal standards.

From a psychoanalytic perspective, our relationship with our bodies is deeply intertwined with our unconscious mind. The body often becomes a battleground where unprocessed emotions manifest as physical discomfort or dissatisfaction. Feelings of "fatness" or "grossness" are not true emotions but rather expressions of deeper, unresolved psychological conflicts. These feelings are often a disguise for a desire to feel in control, to impose order on the chaotic inner world.

Our bodies are not just physical entities but conduits for our emotions and unconscious drives. When we experience difficult emotions that we cannot consciously process, they often express themselves through our bodies. This can lead to a distorted self-perception, where the body is seen as "wrong" or "ugly." This is particularly true for those who have experienced trauma, where dissociation—leaving the body—becomes a survival mechanism. The body, in this case, is not just a vessel but a site of conflict, holding within it the traces of unresolved trauma.

Yet, dissociation is not just a response to past trauma but can be reactivated during moments of collective or personal crisis. It’s a way the nervous system attempts to protect itself when the present moment feels too overwhelming. While this response is understandable, the key to healing lies in learning how to return to the body.

Returning to the body does not require a constant state of loving or even liking its appearance. Rather, it requires a practice of respect and care, regardless of how comfortable or uncomfortable it feels to inhabit the body at any given moment. The process of coming back to the body—of grounding oneself in the present, of acknowledging the body’s needs, and of practicing self-compassion—is an ongoing journey.

This journey involves repeatedly leaving and returning to the body, gradually building a habit of presence and acceptance. Over time, this practice can transform our relationship with our bodies, allowing us to live more fully within them, despite the discomfort that may arise.

Welcome to the journey of living in your body.