Ep:36 Amy Dewet - body image, self compassion, and chronic pain

The Full Life Podcast with Melanie Lynam

Amy is a mental health and women’s body image advocate with a Bachelor of Psychology with honours. Her personal experience with Scoliosis and living with chronic pain, has left Amy resilient, and compassionate toward other people and their suffering.
On today’s show Mel and Amy talk about Amy’s own struggle with body image and something called Self Compassion - what that is and how it can help us to establish a healthy body image.

Amy also shares what it is like living with chronic pain and how having a Heavenly mindset has helped her to cope with it.

With over 5 years of university under her belt and a passion for mental health, Amy gives her tips for maintaining mental health during the uni years.

As a child with Scoliosis she was never comfortable with or even in her own body. However Amy describes her journey as one of overcoming rather than of limitation.

Self Compassion helps with body image.

What it is:

Self compassion - Treat yourself as kindly as you would a friend.

Mindfulness - being aware of your thoughts but not in an overly judgemental way.

Self kindness - to yourself, not being super critical

Common humanity - realising that a lot of people face struggles and I’m not the only one.

Recent research shows that an appreciation for nature creates an appreciation for ourselves as a whole.

“Faith is more than just a feeling, it is more than where you are at now.”

How do we teach our children realistic ideas of a normal body?

Pain is as much mental as physical.

“He taught me about trusting in Him even when it doesn’t feel right and having that Heavenly mindset and looking above where you’re at in this moment.”

“Trusting in his plan and his purpose.”

“A journey of overcoming rather than a journey of limitation.” “God carries you through stuff. He doesn’t just let it be a block in your journey, in your path.”

Tips for mental health as a student:

Time management

Self care - knowing yourself, taking care of yourself, when to put up boundaries and say yes or no, self discipline.

Time management tips - know how you work, always allow extra time, set yourself deadlines.

Follow Amy on Instagram @amyjdewet
Follow Mel on Instagram @mel_lynam

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