New Zealand teenagers are more depressed than ever – partly due to fall-out from unattainable body standards.
To counter her own negative self-talk, 23-year-old artist and psychology student Te Manaia Jennings has developed some strategies that she's now sharing with young audiences.
Te Manaia Jennings Photo: Supplied
Te Manaia was born with severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and until the age of 12 spent time in hospital every six months and was unable to exercise.
Around the age of 12 – when young people usually start to focus more on appearance – she developed feelings of low self-worth, depression and resentment towards her body.
Now, although Te Manaia still has trouble breathing and must manage her energy and pain levels, she tries to be thankful for the skin she's in.
"I tried to really see [my body] as a gift that I've been given to move through life in rather than being an ornament – something that sits on the shelf and looks pretty – because that's not what our bodies were meant to do."
Since childhood, drawing and painting have provided a form of expression and a healthy "escape" for Te Manaia when times were tough.
"Art allows me to feel like I'm adding value to the world and it gives me a sense of purpose … I think everyone should have that."
Self-compassion and self-belief are key to developing a better relationship with your body, Te Manaia' told Year 8 and 9 girls at Auckland's Diocesan School this week.
The students responded really well and asked great questions so she's hopeful that more conversations about how young people can counter negative body image will open up.
"You have to be really mindful of the messages you are feeding yourself. Because we're surrounded by images of ideal bodies through social media and other media all day. I try not to compare myself and be mindful of the fact that what I consume most of the time is not reality."
