"I have no clue how to help her because every time I say that she is beautiful, she says I'm only saying that because I'm her mother. She is surrounded by social media images, unrealistic beauty standards and constant comparisons, and I fear that these influences have shaped how she sees herself way more than I ever could. I feel helpless watching her struggle with such intense self-criticism at such a young age."
"She is surrounded by social media images, unrealistic beauty standards and constant comparisons, and I fear that these influences have shaped how she sees herself way more than I ever could. I feel helpless watching her struggle with such intense self-criticism at such a young age. I worry about how deeply rooted these feelings are and whether they will follow her into adulthood. I don't know how to support her in a way that reaches her without making her feel dismissed or misunderstood."
Send a brief, upbeat birthday text to an ex, ask for nothing, and respect his distance rather than attempting to reignite the relationship. A 19-year-old daughter is struggling with severe insecurity about her appearance, dismissing maternal compliments and refusing therapy. Social media's unrealistic beauty standards and constant comparisons appear to have intensified her self-criticism. The parent feels helpless and worries these feelings will persist. Practical steps include exposing the daughter to broader representations of beauty, such as museum visits and exhibitions that showcase diverse people. The piece also suggests using AI as a supplemental tool to expand the daughter's visual environment.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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