Americans’ growing obsession with appearance is raising concerns among experts about its impact on mental health.
“We are putting more time, effort, energy, and resources into how we look than ever before, regardless of age. It’s kind of unparalleled,” said Dr. Colleen Cira, a psychologist and the founder of the Cira Center for Behavioral Health in Oak Park.
Dr. Cira observes this phenomenon in her practice, working with clients who often use beauty routines as distractions from negative emotions.
“When we don’t feel good—when we feel sad, scared, or angry—it’s easier than ever to reach for something as a distraction. The beauty industry offers many such distractions, whether it’s a selfie with a filter or a new eyeshadow or lipstick,” Cira explained.
Social media exacerbates this issue, filling feeds with beauty-focused content. Parents, particularly, worry about its impact on teenagers. A Pew Center survey from spring 2022 found that 28% of parents with children aged 13 to 17 are “extremely or very worried” that their teen’s use of social media could lead to anxiety or depression.
The impact on adults, although less studied, is also significant. Dr. Cira notes that the focus on perfection and appearance affects adult women as well.
“We used to forget about middle-aged women. Now, we thankfully recognize women over 40, but they still face these pressures,” Cira said.
Katie Horwitch, a mindset coach and author of “Want Your Self: Shift Your Self-Talk and Unearth the Strength in Who You Were All Along,” agrees that social media mirrors our daily lives.
“Negative self-talk does not care how old you are,” Horwitch said. “Casual negativity can creep in and control us. Slapping on a filter, over-editing a photo, and posting only the good stuff stem from our self-talk, questioning what drives us to think, ‘I need to do this.’”
Horwitch recommends addressing the root of these behaviors by examining the beliefs behind them.
“We’ve got to go beyond our words and get to the ‘self’ part of self-talk, asking, ‘Where did these beliefs come from?’” she advised.
Lauren Petty of NBC Chicago asked Cira how to start this process. Cira suggested beginning with awareness.
“Notice how often we reach for our phones or consider plastic surgery. Whatever it is we do to avoid our feelings, just sitting with those feelings can be a powerful first step,” Cira said.
To accept our appearance, Cira emphasized the need for awareness of how much time and energy we spend trying to control our looks.
“We must recognize that controlling our appearance is really about controlling how people perceive us,” she said.
Ximena Surez Vavra from Naperville shared her personal experience, expressing her desire to feel powerful and beautiful. Vavra has undergone liposuction, breast implants, Botox injections, and a lip blush tattoo inspired by social media.
“I saw this girl doing it and thought, ‘Oh, I’d like to do that,’ and I did,” Vavra said.
While Vavra finds these procedures empowering, she acknowledges social media’s influence.
“Yes, it has a little influence, but my decisions are more about how I want to feel inside,” she said.
Vavra, who contemplates future surgeries, insists her choices are for herself, not others.
“I liked the way I looked before the surgeries, but I just wanted to look better,” Vavra concluded.
