Body Image

This week's reading made me think about how important it is to address body image concerns in the context of sexuality. Nearly all people have had body image concerns at some point in their lives, and it is very easy to imagine those concerns being carried over into the bedroom, during one of the most intimate, sensitive, and personal moments of a person's life. I think the reason this section stuck out to me more than any other we have read is for two reasons. First, it is something that everyone can relate to on some level. Second, body image concerns are often one of the underlying causes that present as another sexual issue, such as low desire or erectile dysfunction.

I noticed that most of the facts and assumptions about body image issues listed in the book matched up with criteria for anxiety. If I were to treat someone with body image concerns who was not presenting it as a sexual problem, I would likely use treatment methods for anxiety and self-esteem. The fact that this is a sexual issue tells me that there should be more of a relational component to treatment, but that ultimately treatment should be focused on the same themes.

This makes me think about the idea of self-differentiation in a relationship, and I would almost be more inclined to treat such a person alone rather than as a couple. My reasoning for this is because a body image issue is likely stemming from skewed beliefs about beauty and appearance, or from a lack of self-esteem and confidence. These are things a person should be able to learn about and adjust to on his/her own without using the partner as a crutch for other-validated intimacy. When we read earlier in the year from the sex crucible, we learned about the value of knowing oneself and being able to be happy and validated from within rather than from someone else's opinion or words. I think that this connects to the idea of body image because people who have issues being comfortable with sex due to body image concerns are likely unable to validate themselves from within, and therefore are overly concerned with how they look, either comparing themselves to those they have seen in the media or a perceived relationship threat.