SUBTLE SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS STRUGGLING WITH BODY IMAGE

The Mayo Clinic, describes body dysmorphia as an obsessive focus on a perceived flaw in appearance. The flaw may be minor or imagined, but the person may spend hours a day trying to fix it. Although body dysmorphia in children usually occurs during the adolescent years, per Contemporary Pediatrics, some children as young as five-years-old have been diagnosed. According to the experts in a recent interview with HuffPost, here are some subtle signs to help you know if your child is struggling with body image and ways to intervene.& Girl judging herself in the mirror. ADOBE STOCK IMAGES 1. They isolate themselves. “If a child becomes less social or intentionally isolates it could be an early warning sign that fear of judgement/criticism has gotten so intense, they choose to be alone,” Crystal Williams, a psychologist in California, told HuffPost in the interview. How can parents intervene? To determine if this rings true for your child, consider asking them open-ended questions about their reasons for avoiding a specific social event or gathering. 2. They make a radical change in their diet. Sudden switches in the way that your child is eating could be a sign that they are struggling with body...