Wearing clothes is just not meant to be traumatic
Is it time to make peace with your clothes?
I was in a clothing store and overheard the staff discussing how a woman in the dressing room trying on a pair of pants had literally raced out of the store (without the pants) and they weren’t sure what happened to her.
I was still in the store 10 minutes later when this gorgeous woman returned to the store and apologised for racing out. She explained that she found the experience of trying on the jeans very traumatic and had to leave.
My heart told me this woman needed a hug and for someone to talk to her about our ever-changing bodies and body acceptance. However my head said the last thing this woman needed at that time was a fellow customer telling her she needed to think about healing her relationship with her body. So I didn’t do or say anything and instead I’m writing about it here.
Some people may not relate to this experience at all. However it does reflect the feelings of many people who I see in my nutrition practice. Many people have the same struggles with their body in its present form, or dealing with bodily changes, and feeling comfortable in their clothes!
What we don’t always realise is that our bodies are constantly fluctuating (even during the course of a day) and will continue to change throughout our lives. Your clothes in your wardrobe right now may fit you differently at different times. You may have different clothes in different sizes - and that is ok and normal.
It’s the same for buying new clothes. Different size and styled clothes will fit your body differently - and that is ok and normal too.
One tip is to stop feeling restricted by a specific tag size. Manufacturers do not work to universal standards. People’s wardrobes can be filled with a range of sizes that all fit. Don’t beat yourself up for having ‘gone up a size’ – you may not have!
My wish is that over time society as a whole will progress towards self-acceptance and normalising bodies of all shapes and wearing clothes of all sizes.
But until society catches up, YOU can make a change. You have the choice to decide whether it’s time to end the body struggle or not.
Learning to make peace with your body is a journey, and it is not a quick fix. All of us have the ability to lessen the daily mental and physical struggle towards our body. Focus instead on making space in your brain to direct your thoughts, actions and energy towards all the more important and fun elements in life!
Romy Bursztyn
An Integrative Nutritionist, Health & Wellness Coach, Nutrition Educator, freestyle cook and home kitchen garden hobbyist.