S1E17 Body Dysmorphia with Laura Glazebrook, DPT

If you’ve ever felt like your body was “wrong,” worried way too much about how you look, or spent time poking or prodding your body in front of the mirror, this episode is for you.We’re talking about body dysmorphia — what it is, how it shows up, and how we can work through it.I ask physical therapist Dr. Laura Glazebrook how shame, social media, and toxic positivity affect the way we see ourselves, and how things like therapy, movement, gratitude — and neuroplasticity — can help us reconnect with our bodies and feel more at peace.The TabooLots of people struggle with body image or body dysmorphia, but it’s still hard to talk about. We’re often told to “just be confident” or “be grateful,” which can make us feel ashamed for having real, painful thoughts about how we look. This episode breaks the silence around struggling with your body, and how it doesn’t make you vain, broken, or alone; it makes you human.Time Stamps* 13:06 – What is body dysmorphia, and where does it come from?* 19:52 – Dr. Laura shares grounding practices through sensory experience* 26:39 – Neuroplasticity and brain patterns in BDD* 31:30 – Gratitude vs. toxic positivity* 46:52 – Adolescence, incels, and cultural influences* 56:25 – How to support loved ones with BDD or become more resilience re: body imageLinks + Resources* 🆓 Pelvic Floor Self-Assessment Guide* Follow Laura on Instagram at @laura.g.dpt* Laura’s website* Adolescence trailer* Bodies Are Cool children’s bookThe Guest ExpertDr. Laura Glazebrook earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of North Georgia, then spent ten years specializing in neurological injuries. She specialized training to evaluate and treat a variety of pelvic health concerns for all genders and ages, as well as complex spinal conditions including scoliosis and kyphosis.Laura is also an adult living with severe scoliosis and spinal fusion, and after her two pregnancies and childbirth experiences she became passionate about providing more resources for women during life-altering transformational seasons like pregnancy, postpartum.* 📍 Atlanta, GA, USA* 🏥 Treats adolescents and adults with scoliosis, kyphosis and pelvic health concerns, and also coaches women around the world virtually through her website“I’ve lived a lifetime of feeling traumatized and unable to live within my body. I’ve worked my way through crippling body dysmorphia and feeling othered because of the way my body looks (and how others perceive it).“As I get closer to middle age I realize that our inner knowing and resilience is extraordinary and I’m on board for any endeavor that can reassure another human that they are unbelievable and worthy of all the good things they can imagine.”— Laura Glazebrook, DPTKey Takeaways* Body dysmorphia can make us see ourselves in ways that aren’t real.It can cause us to fixate on flaws, avoid mirrors or social situations, and even obsess over how we look, sometimes so much that it affects daily life. But it’s more common than we think and not something to be ashamed of.* Our brains can change, which means healing is possible. ✨ We can build new thought patterns over time (thanks, neuroplasticity!) with therapy, mindfulness, and gratitude, so we can feel more at home in our bodies.* Social media and toxic beauty standards fuel body image issues.Curating what we consume — like following body-diverse creators and limiting filters — can protect our mental health. And using gentle, neutral language about our bodies can be powerful!That’s it for this week’s episode!Did this resonate with you? Tell me in the comments; I read every single one!Coming up on Modern Hysteria:* Pregnancy brain* Menopause x misogyny x body image* Pleasure x orgasm* Vulvovaginal disease (what’s normal?!)* Painful sex* Disorganized attachmentSubscribe here on Substack to get new episodes right to your inbox, or listen on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyP.S. Are we connected on Instagram yet? Get full access to Modern Hysteria at micahlarsen.substack.com/subscribe