How to cope with 'body grief'

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( ['Body grief' can happen after a weight change. Here's how to cope]( By Angela Haupt Health and Wellness Editor I haven't weighed myself in more than a decade, and I don't need to in order to tell you I gained weight during the pandemic. So did [nearly half of American adults]( which should help me feel less alone—but doesn't. Mental-health experts have coined a term for what I'm experiencing: body grief. It means mourning, and eventually letting go of, our previous bodies—or those we envisioned ourselves one day having. This anguish typically revolves around a deep sense of loss, and can be triggered by weight gain due to factors like age, pregnancy, and mental or physical health challenges. The experts I talked to shared a few ways to cope with body grief: - Lean into it. Sit with your discomfort, and acknowledge what you’re feeling and why. (For example: "I'm really sad that I don't fit into my favorite outfits anymore.") This might sound counterintuitive, but it helps the healing process. - Consider the cost of maintaining your previous body. If catching a glimpse of an old photo of yourself ruins your day, rejigger your perspective. Maybe your arms were so toned, for example, because you were heavily restricting your diet, downing gross protein shakes, or spending a fortune on gym classes you hated. - Diversify your social-media feeds. Unfollow social-media accounts focused on diet or “fitspo,” or others that make you feel bad about your body. Then, populate your feed with accounts that are inclusive of all body types, especially those similar to your own. Doing so will help normalize your shape while delivering a sense of belonging. [READ MORE]( Share This Story What Else to Read [Almost a Third of High-School Girls Considered Suicide in 2021]( By Jamie Ducharme A new federal report reveals staggering numbers. [Read More »]( [The Biggest Ob-Gyn Group Donates A Lot to Anti-Abortion Politicians]( By Haley Weiss Nearly 40% of ACOG's political donations go to anti-abortion candidates, new data find. [Read More »]( [A New Study Shows How Seriously Air Pollution Can Affect Your Heartbeat]( By Jeffrey Kluger A new study out of China shows the immediate impact on heart health of exposure to air pollution from burning fossil fuels. [Read More »]( [If Someone You Love Has an Abortion, Give Them a Gift]( By Hannah Matthews Friends and neighbors made a complicated moment of my life a little brighter, warmer, easier, and less lonely. [Read More »]( [Why Do You Get Sleepy After Eating? These Are the Top Theories]( By Markham Heid Researchers have turned up evidence of "food coma" in insects, snakes, worms and rats. (Originally published in 2019.) [Read More »]( AN EXPERT VOICE "If you're feeling disconnected or lonely, don't look for a best friend. Look for a few regular points of contact every week and then genuinely, over time, seek out ways to get to know them." —Constance Hadley, organizational psychologist and lecturer at the Boston University Questrom School of Business --------------------------------------------------------------- If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Angela Haupt and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Mandy Oaklander. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.