GEORGE V MAGAZINE
|
Neubauer Artists LLC Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
At a time when self-care is part of everyday feeds, apps and “wellness routines”, the question of whether self-care really brings us relief or just another task is increasingly emerging. We spoke with psychotherapist Petra Taye from the Hedepy platform and psychotherapist Petra Jonášová from Terapie.cz about when self-care turns into pressure to perform, how the phenomenon of quick fixes (including weight loss drugs) enters it, and why the body becomes a project.
When does self-care stop being about yourself?
“When the relationship with oneself disappears from care and only control remains,” says psychotherapist Petra Taye. According to her, a fundamental transformation takes place silently, without the person necessarily noticing it right away. According to her, self-care should naturally be based on the current needs of the body and psyche. “However, as soon as it starts to be guided mainly by rules, lists, performances and comparisons, its quality changes,” she explains. At that moment, it is no longer about regeneration, but about another item on the list of duties. “The turning point occurs when it is no longer about how I feel, but about whether I am doing it well enough,” adds psychotherapist Petra Jonášová. The signal that something is changing is often surprisingly physical: “Instead of relief, tension comes. Rest is planned as a task and the body as something that needs to be constantly optimized,” says Taye.
Ozempic and the desire for a quick fix
The body debate has recently been entering topics that go beyond the classic lifestyle area. Weight loss drugs like Ozempic have become a cultural symbol, not just a medical solution. “It shows our ambivalence towards the body. On the one hand, there is a growing emphasis on self-love and acceptance, on the other hand, there is a growing pressure for quick change and control,” says Taye. According to Petra Jonášová, it is not just about aesthetics, but a deeper psychological pattern: “The desire for a quick fix is very human. But these days, it is amplified by the pressure for performance, appearance and immediate results.” According to her, the body is increasingly becoming a project to be “fixed.” “A quick fix may change the number on the scale, but it usually does not change our relationship with ourselves,” she adds.
The body as a project, not as a home
The practice of therapists shows that this shift is no longer marginal, but very common. “Yes, more and more often. The body becomes something that needs to be managed, improved, measured,” describes Taye. According to her, the consequence is a disconnection from one’s own experience: “Instead of a loving relationship, a project is created and we are its managers.” A person is then guided more by external norms, ideals and comparisons than by the body. Jonášová describes this state similarly: “
The body becomes an object of control. A person is more in their head than in their body. Tension, dissatisfaction and the feeling that I am never enough arise.” A paradox often appears: even if a person meets all the “ideal parameters”, peace does not come. “Because the problem was not in the body, but in the relationship to it,” says Jonášová.
When care is no longer care
One of the key themes is the line between healthy motivation and perfectionism. According to experts, this is not determined by what we do, but by our internal attitude. “Healthy motivation comes from self-interest – I want to feel better, have more energy. Perfectionism comes from the fear of not being enough, of having to catch up or accomplish something,” explains Taye. The difference is also evident in everyday situations: if a person skips a workout and feels calm, it is a healthy relationship. If guilt and the urge to “catch up” come, performance pressure comes into play. “When our mood depends significantly on how we look or how we accomplished the plan, caring is no longer caring,” adds Jonášová.
When “I have to” becomes basic mode
Another warning sign is the language we use to talk to ourselves. “I have to,” “I should,” “I can’t let up,” are typical phrases that show that care has turned into a control system, according to Jonášová. “It’s also typical that care doesn’t bring a sense of sufficiency. There’s always something that needs to be improved,” says Taye. The result is a feeling that the process never ends.
How to get back to your body
According to experts, the way out of the performance cycle does not lead through radical changes, but through gradual refinement of control. “Start reducing the scope of control. All it takes is one area where I allow myself more freedom, for example, not to exercise according to plan, but according to feeling,” recommends Taye. According to her, the ability to “do nothing” without a performance framework is also essential. That is, to lounge, rest, not to be constantly in improvement mode. Jonášová adds more specific work with the body: “Start returning attention to the body, not to its image. Perceive the breath, fatigue, hunger, the need for rest . And question the internal pressure that is not always ours.” In some cases, she says, professional support can also be important: getting out of this cycle is not just a matter of will.
A healthy relationship with the body as a relationship, not a project
Both therapists agree on one crucial point: a healthy relationship with the body is not a state that we achieve once, but a process. “As a relationship, not as a project,” says Taye. “It involves respecting the needs of the body, but also accepting its limits. It is not perfect or constant.” Jonášová adds that the key is flexibility and kindness: “A healthy relationship with the body tolerates imperfection. And sometimes the biggest step is to allow yourself not to be in performance.” According to the experts, self-care is not about how many points we complete in our daily routine. But about whether we stay in touch with ourselves at all.
About The Author
