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This essay discusses the influence of internal and external factors on increasing body dissatisfaction among the female population. Some points discussed include how  unrealistic beauty standards, social media, shrewd marketing, body distortion, and changing social expectations  demoralize women. It emphasizes the harm it can induce.

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This cover letter mentions the pros and cons of the essay on Body Image. Some highlighted points includes avoiding redundancy during the writing process, being consistent with organization. Feedback was incorporated into the essay as well.

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This journal, and formal source, assesses the role of advertising over the past decades and analyzes the influence of marketing strategies of various companies. It emphasizes that there are drastic ramifications to these techniques, such as increased body dissatisfaction and lowered self esteem.  It addresses that many of the marketing strategies are not health oriented, rather it concentrates on aesthetics, further exacerbating the problem of dissatisfaction.

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This interview discusses the experience of someone with seasonal depressive disorder. There are often  mental challenges due to social pressures, but it also emphasizes the negative impact of obsessive self scrutiny as well. As someone who also suffers from body dysmorphia, she explains how it had played into her seasonal depressive disorder during the summer in particular.

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This blog, or informal source addresses the issues with the popular chain store, Brandy Melville. It analyzes the marketing strategies used to attract consumers, in turn, also discussing the negative impact it has on young women in America. It’s main argument focuses on Brandy Melville’s notorious marketing claim that “One Size Fits All,” and how this claim hurts body image of girls’, no matter the size of the girl.

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Since when did it become OK for clothes to be produced solely in certain sizes? You might not be able to afford the most sought-after items because price has often been the deciding factor on exclusivity in the material world, but to not be included because of your size? When did it become conventional for retailers to drive their marketing campaigns to just fit a small audience? With popular brands such as Brandy Melville, American Apparel and Victoria's Secret carrying one size fits all sizes, there is no question in the female mind that the ideology they should all fit such a size has become a standard theory. The message they are sending to consumers is, "Hey, if you can't fit into our clothing, don't even bother shopping here," - and their consumers are mainly young girls. So ladies listen up - this philosophy is anything but normal.

Brandy Melville, an Italian brand, received fame for its Los Angeles style and "one size fits most" merchandise. The brand has become popular among many female youths, which sparks the question: With such a diverse consumer population, how do they expect one size to fit all?

The Los Angeles Times reported the "average U.S. woman, who's 162.9 pounds and wears a size 14, is treated like an anomaly by apparel brands and retailers."

So Brandy Melville, you are telling me that your "one size fits most" ideal can fit a women wearing a size zero and a woman wearing a size 14. No, one size does not fit "most." I myself have been in a Brandy Melville store and failed to find an article of clothing that fit comfortably and was flattering - and I'm a size 4 . Feeling like an "anomaly" was an understatement. This size leaves teenage girls with a sense of body dissatisfaction. If they were trying to thinspire teenage girls to fit into a certain mold when they implemented this bogus fad, congratulations because they have succeeded at just that.

The National Eating Disorder Association found that about 20 million women suffer from some sort of eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders are no longer just anorexia and bulimia but extreme dieting with a "drive for thinness." Thirty-five to 57 percent of adolescent girls engage in a form of crash dieting.

While one-size clothing is likely not the leading cause to this number, I have to say that clothing companies have contributed to the alarmingly high statistic.

Some of the most desirable fashion trends are within the stores where they tell girls they should fit a certain size. The media is constantly criticized for the pressure they put on adolescents to look a certain way with their songs and images. However, retailers have sunk to a new low creating physical and material pressure girls cannot avoid. Without even fair warning, women are subject to judgment when they walk into these stores. There should be a disclaimer outside the building that says "only come in if you want to be ridiculed."

One brand even took this desired skinny fad too far. Urban Outfitters produced a shirt with the words "Eat Less" printed across the front. I mean come on, what were they even going for when they produced that shirt?

Actress Sophia Bush took a stand against this ghastly T-shirt by declaring war on the popular clothing chain.

"You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women's organization that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted 'yes' on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It's like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better," she said in a letter to the company.

Preach, Sophia Bush, because you are spot on. "One size fits all," when printed on tags, is not a size. It's an attempt to drive a brand's consumerism to a certain population. While these brands didn't come out and claim exclusivity like Abercrombie & Fitch Co. CEO Mike Jeffries, their marketing screams loud and clear they have an intended target in mind. So ladies, if you find yourself not fitting into the "most" or "all" category, don't sweat it because very few women meet that. Be who you are and wear your size loud and proud because unlike what these stores might portray, it is welcomed everywhere.

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Opinion: 'One size fits all' tugs at body image of young girls, women

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Since when did it become OK for clothes to be produced solely in certain sizes? You might not be able to afford the most sought-after items because price has often been the deciding factor on exclusivity in the material world, but to not be included because of your size?

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Eagleman, David. The Brain: the Story of You.

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Eagleman, David. The Brain: the Story of You.

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This book emphasizes the complexity of the human brain. It explains how and why the brain is flexible, and able to adapt to exterior changes inflicted upon. Eagleman provides various examples and references experiments to inform readers about the wide range of roles of the brain.

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Locked in the silence and darkness of your skull, your brain fashions the rich narratives of your reality and your identity. Join renowned neuroscientist David Eagleman for a journey into the questions at the mysterious heart of our existence. What is reality? Who are "you"? How do you make decisions? Why does your brain need other people? How is technology poised to change what it means to be human? In the course of his investigations, Eagleman guides us through the world of extreme sports, criminal justice, facial expressions, genocide, brain surgery, gut feelings, robotics, and the search for immortality.

"A magical, mystical tour of the brain showing how life shapes your brain and your brain shapes your life." - Parade

"He is a gifted educator with considerable communication skills... Eagleman is a convincing tour guide, and his unstated goal of being an ambassador of neuroscience - a public intellectual taking on subject matter some may consider too esoteric or controversial for widespread dissemination - is laudable in a time when so much new knowldge may prove valuable to society." - Neurology Today

"In the fine tradition of Carl Sagan, Eagleman shows that science is captivating without hyped embellishment, and, if you pay attention, you'll find yourself immersed in it." - Forbes

"An ideal introduction to how biology generates the mind.... structured around crucial and wide-ranging questions, saturated with personal and social relevance. And Eagleman's answers are consistently clear, engaging and thought-provoking." - Nature

"An intellectual thrill-ride. Plus, Eagleman isn't merely a brilliant guide, he can turn a phrase, too." - Newsday

"The show and its companion book by Eagleman, "The Brain: The Story of You," are testaments to the neuroscientist's fervent belief in the relevance of his field to ordinary people." - NY Magazine

"This ranks as the most fascinating and unsettling science series of the year, setting out the state of contemporary research into the human brain in terms that any interested layperson can comprehend." - OC Register

"David Eagleman's wide-ranging roundup of the current state of knowledge about the brain is concise, accessible and often very surprising. It's a strange new world inside your head." - Brian Eno

"David Eagleman's The Brain its an astonishing read. On every page there is a revelation so fantastic as to make one gasp. It would be impossible to take in if we didn't all possess that impossibly extraordinary thing, a brain. Eagleman comes closer than anyone to solving the mystery of how to find the self inside the grey electric mush between our ears." - Stephen Fry

"David Eagleman makes it easy to comprehend the most complex collection of cells in the Cosmos - our brain. If neuroscience had a rock legend this would be him." - Ruby Wax

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Brain and Behavior: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective addresses the central aims of cognitive neuroscience, seeking to examine the brain not only by its components but also by their functions. It highlights the principles, discoveries, and remaining mysteries of modern cognitive neuroscience.

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This informal source reports statistics regarding body image across genders, and age across America. It considers popular opinions on body positivity movements, the influence of social media on body image, the influence of the fashion industry on body image, and double standards for appearances. Furthermore, it is apparent that many Americans believe that women are held up, rather unfairly, to a high beauty standard.

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Data from the YouGov Body Image Study 2021 finds nearly nine in 10 (89%) Americans agree that physical appearance at least somewhat matters in today's society. But many also believe that ideals around physical appearance are influenced by media and by the fashion industry, and that these standards may be unrealistic for the average person.

Do Americans think the media promotes an unattainable body image?

Three-quarters of US adults (76%) say that the media promotes an unattainable body image for women. Majorities of men (73%) and women (78%) both say that this is that case. Though majorities in all age groups believe the media does promote an unattainable body image for women, those who are older are more likely to believe this. Two-thirds (65%) of 16 to 34-year-olds believe this; this figure rises to 79% among 35-to 54-year-olds and 81% among those who are 55 or older.

About half (52%) of Americans also believe that the media promotes an unattainable body image for men. One-third (34%) don't think the media does this, and 14% are unsure. Men (56%) are more likely than women (48%) to say the media does promote an unrealistic body image for men.

Most Americans believe fashion companies have had a negative impact on body image

The fashion industry has often been criticized for failing to represent different body sizes on the runway or in advertisements. Americans have noticed, and most believe that these companies are having a negative impact on body image.

Just one in nine (11%) Americans says that fashion companies have had a positive impact on the perception of body image. Far more (69%) say that the fashion industry has had a negative impact in this area.

Majorities of both men (66%) and women (72%) believe this is the case. Among age groups, majorities say fashion companies have had a negative impact, though those over 55 (72%) and those who are 35-to 54-years-old (73%) are more likely than 16-to 34-year-olds (59%) to say this.

What Americans think of the body positivity movement

In recent years, the body positivity movement - the idea that all people deserve to have a positive body image, regardless of societal standards and ideas around weight and appearance - has become more prominent.

Two-thirds (67%) of 16-to 34-year-olds say they are at least somewhat familiar with the body positivity movement. Half (50%) of 35-to 54-year-olds say the same, and about one in five (22%) adults over 55 is similarly familiar with the movement.

Among those who are familiar with the body positivity movement, 58% view it as a good thing for society. One-fifth (19%) say it is neither a good nor bad thing, and 12% think it is a bad thing.

About three in five (63%) 16-to 34-year-olds familiar with the movement say that it is a good thing. Among 35-to 54-year-olds, 57% agree. Just over half (53%) of those 55 and older say the same thing.

Among those familiar with the movement, women (64%) are more likely than men (52%) to say it is a good thing for society.
See full results here.
Related: How Americans feel about their bodies

Methodology: Total sample size was 1,302 US respondents 16+. Fieldwork was undertaken between April 26 - 27, 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of US respondents ages 16+.

Image: Gender Spectrum Collection

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Most Americans believe the media promotes an unattainable body image for women | YouGov

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Data from the YouGov Body Image Study 2021 finds nearly nine in 10 (89%) Americans agree that physical appearance at least somewhat matters in today's society. But many also believe that ideals around physical appearance are influenced by media and by the fashion industry, and that these standards may be unrealistic for the average person.

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This informal source mentions the common symptoms of a failing mental health due to social media. The emphasis here is on how the media can influence people to be more self absorbed, which can lead to narcissism. Some other negative aspects inlcude potential cyberbullying, or fear of missing out.

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teen issues
While many of us enjoy staying connected on social media, excessive use can fuel feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, and FOMO. Here's how to modify your habits and improve your mood.

The role social media plays in mental health

Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your mental and emotional health.

In today's world, many of us rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to find and connect with each other. While each has its benefits, it's important to remember that social media can never be a replacement for real-world human connection. It requires in-person contact with others to trigger the hormones that alleviate stress and make you feel happier, healthier, and more positive. Ironically for a technology that's designed to bring people closer together, spending too much time engaging with social media can actually make you feel more lonely and isolated-and exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

If you're spending an excessive amount of time on social media and feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness are impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance.

The positive aspects of social media

While virtual interaction on social media doesn't have the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact, there are still many positive ways in which it can help you stay connected and support your wellbeing.

Social media enables you to:

Communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around the world.

Find new friends and communities; network with other people who share similar interests or ambitions.

Join or promote worthwhile causes; raise awareness on important issues.

Seek or offer emotional support during tough times.

Find vital social connection if you live in a remote area, for example, or have limited independence, social anxiety, or are part of a marginalized group.

Find an outlet for your creativity and self-expression.

Discover (with care) sources of valuable information and learning.

The negative aspects of social media

Since it's a relatively new technology, there's little research to establish the long-term consequences, good or bad, of social media use. However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts.

Social media may promote negative experiences such as:

Inadequacy about your life or appearance. Even if you know that images you're viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what's going on in your own life. Similarly, we're all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives, rarely the low points that everyone experiences. But that doesn't lessen those feelings of envy and dissatisfaction when you're scrolling through a friend's airbrushed photos of their tropical beach holiday or reading about their exciting new promotion at work.

Fear of missing out (FOMO). While FOMO has been around far longer than social media, sites such as Facebook and Instagram seem to exacerbate feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives than you are. The idea that you're missing out on certain things can impact your self-esteem, trigger anxiety, and fuel even greater social media use. FOMO can compel you to pick up your phone every few minutes to check for updates, or compulsively respond to each and every alert-even if that means taking risks while you're driving, missing out on sleep at night, or prioritizing social media interaction over real world relationships.

Isolation. A study at the University of Pennsylvania found that high usage of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram increases rather decreases feelings of loneliness. Conversely, the study found that reducing social media usage can actually make you feel less lonely and isolated and improve your overall wellbeing.

Depression and anxiety. Human beings need face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to-eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you're at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Cyberbullying. About 10 percent of teens report being bullied on social media and many other users are subjected to offensive comments. Social media platforms such as Twitter can be hotspots for spreading hurtful rumors, lies, and abuse that can leave lasting emotional scars.

Self-absorption. Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-centeredness and distance you from real-life connections.

What's driving your social media use?

These days, most of us access social media via our smartphones or tablets. While this makes it very convenient to keep in touch, it also means that social media is always accessible. This round-the-clock, hyper connectivity can trigger impulse control problems, the constant alerts and notifications affecting your concentration and focus, disturbing your sleep, and making you a slave to your phone.

Social media platforms are designed to snare your attention, keep you online, and have you repeatedly checking your screen for updates. It's how the companies make money. But, much like a gambling compulsion or an addiction to nicotine, alcohol, or drugs, social media use can create psychological cravings. When you receive a like, a share, or a favorable reaction to a post, it can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, the same "reward" chemical that follows winning on a slot machine, taking a bite of chocolate, or lighting up a cigarette, for example. The more you're rewarded, the more time you want to spend on social media, even if it becomes detrimental to other aspects of your life.

Other causes of unhealthy social media use

A fear of missing out (FOMO) can keep you returning to social media over and over again. Even though there are very few things that can't wait or need an immediate response, FOMO will have you believing otherwise. Perhaps you're worried that you'll be left out of the conversation at school or work if you miss the latest news or gossip on social media? Or maybe you feel that your relationships will suffer if you don't immediately like, share, or respond to other people's posts? Or you could be worried you'll miss out on an invitation or that other people are having a better time than you.

Many of us use social media as a "security blanket". Whenever we're in a social situation and feel anxious, awkward, or lonely, we turn to our phones and log on to social media. Of course, interacting with social media only denies you the face-to-face interaction that can help to ease anxiety.

Your heavy social media use could be masking other underlying problems, such as stress, depression, or boredom. If you spend more time on social media when you're feeling down, lonely, or bored, you may be using it as a way to distract yourself from unpleasant feelings or self-soothe your moods. While it can be difficult at first, allowing yourself to feel can open you up to finding healthier ways to manage your moods.

The vicious cycle of unhealthy social media use

Excessive social media use can create a negative, self-perpetuating cycle:

1. When you feel lonely, depressed, anxious, or stressed, you use social media more often-as a way to relieve boredom or feel connected to others.

2. Using social media more often, though, increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation.

3. In turn, these feelings negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

4. These worsening symptoms cause you to use social media even more, and so the downward spiral continues.

Signs that social media is impacting your mental health

Everyone is different and there is no specific amount of time spent on social media, or the frequency you check for updates, or the number of posts you make that indicates your use is becoming unhealthy. Rather, it has to do with the impact time spent on social media has on your mood and other aspects of your life, along with your motivations for using it.

For example, your social media use may be problematic if it causes you to neglect face-to-face relationships, distracts you from work or school, or leaves you feeling envious, angry, or depressed. Similarly, if you're motivated to use social media just because you're bored or lonely, or want to post something to make others jealous or upset, it may be time to reassess your social media habits.

Indicators that social media may be adversely affecting your mental health include:

Spending more time on social media than with real world friends. Using social media has become a substitute for a lot of your offline social interaction. Even if you're out with friends, you still feel the need to constantly check social media, often driven by feelings that others may be having more fun than you.

Comparing yourself unfavorably with others on social media. You have low self-esteem or negative body image. You may even have patterns of disordered eating.

Experiencing cyberbullying. Or you worry that you have no control over the things people post about you.

Being distracted at school or work. You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends' posts.

Having no time for self-reflection. Every spare moment is filled by engaging with social media, leaving you little or no time for reflecting on who you are, what you think, or why you act the way that you do-the things that allow you to grow as a person.

Engaging in risky behavior in order to gain likes, shares, or positive reactions on social media. You play dangerous pranks, post embarrassing material, cyberbully others, or access your phone while driving or in other unsafe situations.

Suffering from sleep problems. Do you check social media last thing at night, first thing in the morning, or even when you wake up in the night? The light from phones and other devices can disrupt your sleep, which in turn can have a serious impact on your mental health.

Worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression. Rather than helping to alleviate negative feelings and boost your mood, you feel more anxious, depressed, or lonely after using social media.

Modifying social media use to improve mental health step 1: Reduce time online

A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. But you don't need to cut back on your social media use that drastically to improve your mental health. The same study concluded that just being more mindful of your social media use can have beneficial results on your mood and focus.

While 30 minutes a day may not be a realistic target for many of us, we can still benefit from reducing the amount of time we spend on social media. For most of us, that means reducing how much we use our smartphones. The following tips can help:

1. Use an app to track how much time you spend on social media each day. Then set a goal for how much you want to reduce it by.

2. Turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as when you're driving, in a meeting, at the gym, having dinner, spending time with offline friends, or playing with your kids. Don't take your phone with you to the bathroom.

3. Don't bring your phone or tablet to bed. Turn devices off and leave them in another room overnight to charge.

4. Disable social media notifications. It's hard to resist the constant buzzing, beeping, and dinging of your phone alerting you to new messages. Turning off notifications can help you regain control of your time and focus.

5. Limit checks. If you compulsively check your phone every few minutes, wean yourself off by limiting your checks to once every 15 minutes. Then once every 30 minutes, then once an hour. There are apps that can automatically limit when you're able to access your phone.

6. Try removing social media apps from your phone so you can only check Facebook, Twitter and the like from your tablet or computer. If this sounds like too drastic a step, try removing one social media app at a time to see how much you really miss it.

For more tips on reducing your overall phone use, read Smartphone Addiction.

Step 2: Change your focus

Many of us access social media purely out of habit or to mindlessly kill moments of downtime. But by focusing on your motivation for logging on, you can not only reduce the time you spend on social media, you can also improve your experience and avoid many of the negative aspects.

If you're accessing social media to find specific information, check on a friend who's been ill, or share new photos of your kids with family, for example, your experience is likely to be very different than if you're logging on simply because you're bored, you want to see how many likes you got from a previous post, or to check if you're missing out on something.

Next time you go to access social media, pause for a moment and clarify your motivation for doing so.

Are you using social media as a substitute for real life? Is there a healthier substitute for your social media use? If you're lonely, for example, invite a friend out for coffee instead. Feeling depressed? Take a walk or go to the gym. Bored? Take up a new hobby. Social media may be quick and convenient, but there are often healthier, more effective ways to satisfy a craving.

Are you an active or a passive user on social media? Passively scrolling through posts or anonymously following the interaction of others on social media doesn't provide any meaningful sense of connection. It may even increase feelings of isolation. Being an active participant, though, will offer you more engagement with others.

Does social media leave you feeling inadequate or disappointed about your life? You can counter symptoms of FOMO by focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack. Make a list of all the positive aspects of your life and read it back when you feel you're missing out on something better. And remember: no one's life is ever as perfect as it seems on social media. We all deal with heartache, self-doubt, and disappointment, even if we choose not to share it online.

Step 3: Spend more time with offline friends

We all need the face-to-face company of others to be happy and healthy. At its best, social media is a great tool for facilitating real-life connections. But if you've allowed virtual connections to replace real-life friendships in your life, there are plenty of ways to build meaningful connections without relying on social media.

Set aside time each week to interact offline with friends and family. Try to make it a regular get-together where you always keep your phones off.

If you've neglected face-to-face friendships, reach out to an old friend (or an online friend) and arrange to meet up. If you both lead busy lives, offer to run errands or exercise together.

Join a club. Find a hobby, creative endeavor, or fitness activity you enjoy and join a group of like-minded individuals that meet on a regular basis.

Don't let social awkwardness stand in the way. Even if you're shy, there are proven techniques to overcome insecurity and build friendships.

If you don't feel that you have anyone to spend time with, reach out to acquaintances. Lots of other people feel just as uncomfortable about making new friends as you do-so be the one to break the ice. Invite a coworker out for lunch or ask a neighbor or classmate to join you for coffee.

Interact with strangers. Look up from your screen and connect with people you cross paths with on public transport, at the coffee shop, or in the grocery store. Simply smiling or saying hello will improve how you feel-and you never know where it may lead.

Step 4: Express gratitude

Feeling and expressing gratitude about the important things in your life can be a welcome relief to the resentment, animosity, and discontent sometimes generated by social media.

Take time for reflection. Try keeping a gratitude journal or using a gratitude app. Keep track of all the great memories and positives in your life-as well as those things and people you'd miss if they were suddenly absent from your life. If you're more prone to venting or negative posts, you can even express your gratitude on social media-although you may benefit more from private reflection that isn't subject to the scrutiny of others.

Practice mindfulness. Experiencing FOMO and comparing yourself unfavorably to others keeps you dwelling on life's disappointments and frustrations. Instead of being fully engaged in the present, you're focused on the "what ifs" and the "if onlys" that prevent you from having a life that matches those you see on social media. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to live more in the present moment, lessen the impact of FOMO, and improve your overall mental wellbeing.

Volunteer. Just as human beings are hard-wired to seek social connection, we're also hard-wired to give to others. Helping other people or animals not only enriches your community and benefits a cause that's important to you, but it also makes you feel happier and more grateful.

Helping a child or teen with unhealthy social media use

Childhood and the teenage years can be filled with developmental challenges and social pressures. For some kids, social media has a way of exacerbating those problems and fueling anxiety, bullying, depression, and issues with self-esteem. If you're worried about your child's social media use, it can be tempting to simply confiscate their phone or other device. But that can create further problems, separating your child from their friends and the positive aspects of social media. Instead, there are other ways to help your child use Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms in a more responsible way.

Monitor and limit your child's social media use. The more you know about how your child is interacting on social media, the better you'll be able to address any problems. Parental control apps can help limit your child's data usage or restrict their phone use to certain times of the day. You can also adjust privacy settings on the different platforms to limit their potential exposure to bullies or predators.

Talk to your child about underlying issues. Problems with social media use can often mask deeper issues. Is your child having problems fitting in at school? Are they suffering from shyness or social anxiety? Are problems at home causing them stress?

Enforce "social media" breaks. For example, you could ban social media until your child has completed their homework in the evening, not allow phones at the dinner table or in their bedroom, and plan family activities that preclude the use of phones or other devices. To prevent sleep problems, always insist phones are turned off at least one hour before bed.

Teach your child how social media is not an accurate reflection of people's lives. They shouldn't compare themselves or their lives negatively to others on social media. People only post what they want others to see. Images are manipulated or carefully posed and selected. And having fewer friends on social media doesn't make your child less popular or less worthy.

Encourage exercise and offline interests. Get your child away from social media by encouraging them to pursue physical activities and hobbies that involve real-world interaction. Exercise is great for relieving anxiety and stress, boosting self-esteem, and improving mood-and is something you can do as a family. The more engaged your child is offline, the less their mood and sense of self-worth will be dependent on how many friends, likes, or shares they have on social media.

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Social Media and Mental Health - HelpGuide.org

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teen issues Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life.

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This New York Times article discusses symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, and points out common misconceptions about the disorder. It highlights that though the disorder is known to be more common during the winter, it is relevant to the seasonal changes in the summer as well due to biological disruptions, unwanted image oriented social expectations. It references case accounts and personal experience to underline the impact summertime disorder.

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Making the Most of Summer

Feeling blue even though everyone seems to be basking in perfect summer weather? There might be a good reason for that.

Credit... Jo Zixuan Zhou

This is what happens to the Earth during summer: Tilted about 23.5 degrees, it arrives at a place in its orbit where the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the sun. This is what happens in Wisconsin during summer: People go outside, maybe to picnics or parks, to barbecues, on day trips, on summer vacation.

This is what happens to Kristen Ashly during summer: Depression descends like a heavy curtain. She skips picnics, day trips and vacations - the hot, humid days in central Wisconsin make her lethargic, yet also agitated, irritable and unable to sleep. By afternoon, she feels "like a zombie."

It's hard to explain the feeling to those around her, said Ms. Ashly, a wrestling journalist and an owner of the women's wrestling website, Bell To Belles. "People who love summer, they don't get it. And up here, most people love summer," she said.

Ms. Ashly has summer seasonal affective disorder, a less common and much less understood counterpart to seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a recurring pattern of depression that comes on in fall and winter.

A team of researchers led by the psychiatrist Norman E. Rosenthal first described seasonal affective disorder in the scientific literature in 1984. About 5 percent of adults in the U.S. may experience the most extreme version of the condition, which significantly alters their day-to-day life. More people experience a milder version, the "winter blues." The shorter days of fall and winter, which can be stingy with their sunlight, are thought to be a trigger.

Often, when Dr. Rosenthal talked about his research, someone would approach him to say that the same thing happened to them - but in the summer. In 1987, he and his colleagues published a report of 12 people who experienced a pattern of seasonal depression between March and October. This and subsequent work suggested that summer SAD presented differently than its winter counterpart, and might have different causes.

"Summer SAD is more of an agitated depression," said Dr. Rosenthal, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. While those with winter SAD tend to oversleep and overeat, summer SAD often shows up with insomnia and lowered appetite.

When asked by doctors and researchers, people with summer seasonal affective disorder usually say that what bothers them most is the heat and humidity. Each person's exact pattern may differ - Ms. Ashly's symptoms usually start in May and vanish in October - but the disorder returns regularly. Still, even the researchers who study summer SAD said there are other uncertainties around it.

"What causes summer SAD? We assume it's heat and humidity," said Kelly Rohan, a psychology professor at the University of Vermont. Studies suggest that some of the same compounds in the body that help regulate mood, such as norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, have also been linked to regulating body temperature. "But what is the trigger that makes people vulnerable?" she said.

An added challenge for the people who experience the disorder is the social pressure to feel summery when the sun is shining. People are used to the idea of mental health struggles during the winter, said Blessing Dada, 21, a student at Technological University Dublin in Ireland. Ms. Dada has experienced a deep sadness that comes on each summer, along with insomnia and migraines made worse by heat.

People tell her, "'It's summertime, you need to smile a bit more, be more happy,'" she said. "Comments like that are just not helpful."

A few researchers, using year-round depression data, have questioned the idea that seasonal affective disorder exists at all. In 2016, researchers from Auburn University at Montgomery, in Alabama, reported that major depression was not associated with a seasonal pattern.

Dr. Rohan conducted a similar study in 2009 that evaluated surveys of about 2,000 children and adolescents, and found no seasonal pattern to their mood. That doesn't mean that SAD doesn't exist, she said, but that, in an ocean of modern depression, it is difficult to pick out the much smaller seasonal currents.

Those who study these seasonal currents are concerned that summer SAD, and mental health challenges in general, will increase with climate change. A 2018 study in the journal Nature Climate Change found that both suicide rates and social media posts using language signaling lower mood increased as average monthly temperatures rose in the United States and Mexico. The study suggested that as many as 21,000 additional people in these countries could die by suicide by 2050, based on projected temperature increases of 2.5 degrees Celsius in the United States and 2.1 degrees Celsius in Mexico.

Another seasonal challenge that could worsen with climate change - and play into mood - is pollen, said Teodor Postolache, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He said the immune response to allergens like pollen might create a cascade of changes in the body, including the release of biological compounds called cytokines that regulate inflammation and have been connected to depression.

Dr. Postolache and his colleagues started studying seasonal mood change in Old Order Amish people in Lancaster County, Pa., because of this group's limited exposure to electric light, making them more subject to natural variations in day length. The Old Order Amish also spend significant time outside in spring and summer, which translates to greater pollen exposure.

When the researchers surveyed about 1,300 Old Order Amish, they found the small group of people who felt at their worst in the summer also tended to report that high-pollen days worsened their mood. Previous work with college students also suggested a link between low summer mood and pollen sensitivity.

While more research is needed to understand how pollen might tie into summer SAD, Dr. Postolache said, "When you feel at your worst relates really well to daylength in the winter" and "to the heat and the pollen for the summer difficulties."

One difficulty in detecting SAD is its transitory nature. Once fall comes, Ms. Ashly said, "you forget all about it." Even without seasonal affective disorder, other stresses can trigger depression during summer, like being untethered from the structure of school.

Tonya Ladipo, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of The Ladipo Group in Philadelphia, suggested keeping a mood journal to track your moods and look for patterns. This helped Ms. Ashly and her therapist recognize her cycle of summer SAD. If a low mood doesn't improve within about two weeks, Ms. Ladipo recommended seeking out a mental health professional - and finding help immediately if you are thinking about harming yourself.

If heat dampens your mood, Dr. Rosenthal said that some of his patients have found that frequent cold showers or baths can help; others experienced some relief by walking early in the morning. Sometimes intense summer light, along with heat and humidity, can be problematic; decreasing exposure with dark glasses or curtains may also be worth trying.

"If those things help, then do them," Dr. Rosenthal said.

Ms. Ashly said she keeps a small misting fan by her desk, takes chilly showers and runs her wrists under cold water to help her cool off. On particularly hard days, she goes to her parents' house and works in the basement, she said.

For winter SAD, researchers have found that cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of talk therapy, can help. A clinical trial with 177 adults compared it to light therapy, a well-known SAD treatment, and found that both significantly improved how people felt. Dr. Rohan is considering developing a similar therapy for the summer form of the disorder. She recommended contacting a professional to determine whether what you're experiencing is related to the season or to another source - and, most importantly, to find ways to help you feel better.

Even if summer's effect is subtle, it's worth noticing. "Maybe you can get through your day, but you're not feeling your best," Ms. Ladipo said. "That still warrants attention." Being mindful of the seasons outside and within can help you navigate summer as the Earth continues on its journey, its perspective on the sun a little different each day.

Cameron Walker is a writer in California.

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Seasonal Affective Disorder Isn't Just for Winter (Published 2021)

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Making the Most of Summer Feeling blue even though everyone seems to be basking in perfect summer weather? There might be a good reason for that. This is what happens to the Earth during summer: Tilted about 23.5 degrees, it arrives at a place in its orbit where the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the sun.

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This informal source is in the form of a youtube video and it features 9 models that share their own personal accounts regarding issues such as mistreatment, discrimination, and body shaming within the model industry. The struggles of being a model not eat into their physical health, but also their mental health. Evidently, the models felt distraught from their experiences, and realize the weight of body image on their entire mental entity.

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9 Models on the Pressure to Lose Weight and Body Image | The Models | Vogue

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This blog is an emotionally charged informal source, and discusses the restriction society tends to place on women regarding beauty. It reflects some of her own personal experiences as well. It brings up the irrational aspects of the beauty standard by listing impractical guidelines women are subjected to.

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From a very young age, women are raised to live up to unrealistic beauty standards put upon them by society. They are expected to be hairless all over their body, have to be slim with no tummy but big butt, smell like daisies and roses all the time, not have regular bodily fluids and gases, and be an all-around perfect Barbie. It is hard to live up to something so unobtainable especially starting at an age as low as three. Having a normalized yet extraordinary societal implication drilled into you as soon as you are out of the womb is and can be mentally and physically draining.

Social media, magazines, newspapers, and even televisions tend to push high and barely achievable standards. You must look a certain way for society to at least acknowledge your "beauty" even when you have tried to mold yourself to please them. Even then there is always criticism behind it all. Women have to be slim but not too slim, thick but not too thick to where you have a tummy. Women can wear makeup but not too much because it would look like we are trying too hard. We can show skin but not too much because we would get shamed. It is considered weird or impolite for a woman to even have bodily gases. What can we do but try to love ourselves as is? We can not please everyone. It is even harder to try to love who we are especially when getting judged left and right. Almost anything a woman does, she gets criticized for and negative effects build up rapidly.

Imagine being taught from a young age you need to change as soon as you pop out to fit what other images of you are. That could easily make your self-esteem plummet exponentially. It teaches you to hate normal things on your body like hair, stretch marks, acne, discoloration, and other natural things everyone has. These insane depictions of how you should look could easily cause body dysmorphia and low confidence especially for someone that is never taught to love who they are from the beginning. Why are there images forced onto women? We should love ourselves as we are imperfections in all. Even in today's world, we are slightly getting better at opening our eyes up to what's beautiful but there's still much work to do.

Societal expectations from women are exceedingly high and need to stop being forced upon us. It causes self-hate and confidence problems from a young age. It is mentally and physically draining because we try so hard to find the status quo when the status quo should be made to fit all realistically.

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The beauty standards placed on women are unrealistically unachievable

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From a very young age, women are raised to live up to unrealistic beauty standards put upon them by society. They are expected to be hairless all over their body, have to be slim with no tummy but big butt, smell like daisies and roses all the time, not have regular bodily fluids and gases,...

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Through a study analysis, this source explains the correlation between body image compared with perception and attitudes among female adolescents. Lower body image is becoming a widespread epidemic, and poses many psychological risks for teen girls. I chose my quotes because it highlighted the subjective bases of one's own body image.