How psychedelics can help us in our journey to love our body

From very underweight catwalk models to obesity being portrayed as the new beautiful. Society’s beauty standards are ever changing though not always based on what is healthy for the individual. It can invoke eating disorders in some and comfort others in their bad habits. Psychedelics, in this situation, can be a very potent tool for people to realize, on one hand, that their eating habits might be detrimental to their health and at the same time learn to love and accept their bodies, with all its flaws, for the miracle vehicle that it really is.

It has unfortunately become normalized to reject our bodies — to poke at them and point out what we would change — forgetting that they are the miracles that mean we physically exist in the world. This kind of negative self image can lead to low self esteem, depression and more.

This is where psychedelics can come in. Studies have already shown that psilocybin (the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms), MDMA and ketamine can all be effective treatments for eating disorders, such as anorexia. It has also been found to treat depression and other mood disorders, as well as generally improving feelings of well-being. These abilities make it ideal to aid us in taking ownership of our bodies, reclaiming them, and rejecting negative body image. 

What is Negative Body Image?

Body image is not as simple as just ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’ our own bodies. It is a complex system of feelings, perceptions, and beliefs about how our body looks to ourselves and others, as well as what it is capable (or not) of doing. 

This system can start to build itself from as early as 5 years old. The way gender and appearance are shown both in society, and the media we consume growing up, has a huge impact on our expectations and beliefs. Changes to our bodies caused by the onset of puberty can also trigger negative feelings. 

Excessive concern for the physical look of the body is called body dysmorphia. This is a psychological disorder which causes a person to hyper-focus on and over-value imperfections, or even imagine them. This can understandably lead to eating disorders and other conditions such as depression. Although men, women, and anyone in between can experience eating disorders or body dysmorphia, women are three times more likely to be afflicted by them. 

How Can Psychedelics Help? 

Studies show that psychedelics, like psilocybin, give us the ability to break out of ingrained behavioral patterns, such as those that characterize an eating disorder or negative body image. This is because they impact the Default Mode Network (DMN) in the brain. In those suffering from psychological disorders from anxiety, to anorexia, to depression to OCD, this part of the brain (which handles communications between brain regions) appears to be hyperactive. This creates repetitive negative thoughts and feelings. By reducing the dominance of DMN, and thus the ego, psilocybin gives sufferers the ability to create new patterns and beat fresh paths. 

When coupled with psychotherapy, psychedelics can help a person get to the root of their condition, and discover its source. When used alone, traditional psychotherapy often stays in the arena of the mind. A patient may understand rationally that their behavior is harmful, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are able to stop it. When psychedelics are added to the mix the possibility of real embodied change is introduced. The experiential shifts caused by a psychedelic usage can trigger sustainable internal and external changes. 

How To Use Psychedelics for You Body Positivity Journey

You do not have to struggle with an eating disorder to want to improve your relationship with your body. Most of us struggle with aspects of negative body image — whether it’s every day, every week, or the odd random moment.  

Learning to love yourself is not an easy, quick-fix task. It’s a relationship that takes time, and can be messy, just like any other. Unlearning the pressures dumped on us by society is also a slog. But it’s a worthwhile one. 

Psychedelics can remind us that our bodies are a miracle of nature, just like the birds we see flying overhead, and the trees waving in the breeze. They are our physical homes — to be celebrated and loved; not hated, punished and deprived. Whether you microdose or take a full trip, try to hold on to the feeling of love for yourself — for your body that makes this feeling possible — and keep that warmth glowing within.