Why Don’t Women Trust Their Bodies Anymore?
Women today are more empowered than ever before—but strangely, many report feeling out of sync with their own bodies. They second-guess their instincts, ignore pain, mistrust hunger, and feel shame around natural processes. What went wrong?
The disconnection between women and their bodies isn’t accidental. It’s a product of years of conditioning—through media, medicine, culture, and even well-meaning family advice. Let’s explore why so many women struggle to trust their bodies and what can be done to rebuild that connection.
What Does It Mean to “Trust Your Body”?
Trusting your body means believing in your body’s signals, needs, and boundaries. It’s recognising hunger without guilt. It’s resting without shame. It’s believing your pain is real. And it’s making decisions not from fear or societal pressure, but from alignment with your inner wisdom.
Unfortunately, that trust gets chipped away over time—often starting in girlhood.
Why Women Lose Trust in Their Bodies
1. Societal Beauty Standards
From a young age, girls are bombarded with images of how their bodies “should” look—thin, smooth, toned, flawless. This relentless idealism creates a sense of failure and self-doubt. When your body doesn’t match the norm, you start believing it’s wrong.
Over time, appearance becomes the only measure of worth, eclipsing strength, intuition, or health.
2. Diet Culture and Disordered Eating
Calorie-counting apps. Detox teas. 1,200-calorie meal plans. Women are taught to override hunger cues and fear food. The result? A disconnection from body wisdom, especially hunger and fullness signals.
Many women no longer know when they are truly hungry or full—they only know what’s “allowed.”
3. Medical Gaslighting
Studies show women’s pain is more likely to be dismissed or minimised by healthcare providers. Conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, or autoimmune disorders are often misdiagnosed or ignored for years.
This creates deep mistrust—not only of the system, but of their own bodily experience. When you’re told "it's just stress" enough times, you start doubting your own symptoms.
4. Menstruation Shame and Misinformation
Periods are still taboo. Girls grow up learning to hide tampons, use euphemisms, and push through menstrual pain. The message? Your cycle is something to be managed, hidden, or feared—not understood and respected.
This creates shame and confusion around a process that is natural, powerful, and informative.
5. Trauma and Body Disconnection
Sexual trauma, harassment, or abuse causes many women to disconnect from their physical selves as a survival mechanism. Touch, sensation, and even movement can trigger fear, making it difficult to feel safe in the body.
6. Pregnancy and Postpartum Changes
Pregnancy radically transforms the body—but post-birth, women are expected to “bounce back.” They’re rarely taught how to honour postpartum healing, leading to frustration, shame, and even resentment of their own bodies.
7. Fitness Culture and Performance Pressure
Even wellness trends can be damaging when rooted in perfectionism. Pushing through pain, obsessing over steps, or idolising extreme workouts can turn self-care into self-punishment.
Instead of asking, “What does my body need today?” the focus shifts to, “How can I beat it into submission?”
How This Disconnection Affects Mental Health
When a woman mistrusts her body, it doesn’t just affect her physical health—it deeply impacts her confidence, boundaries, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Some of the ripple effects include:
- Body dysmorphia and low self-esteem
- Disordered eating patterns
- Anxiety or depression linked to body image
- Reduced ability to identify and communicate boundaries
- Difficulty embracing intimacy or pleasure
Living in a body you fear or dislike makes every experience—eating, sleeping, moving, relating—more stressful.
How to Rebuild Trust in Your Body
Healing takes time, but it's absolutely possible to reconnect with your body. Here are some key steps:
1. Listen Without Judgement
Notice your body’s signals—hunger, fatigue, tension—without labelling them as “bad” or “lazy.” Your body is communicating with you, not working against you.
2. Unfollow Toxic Influences
Curate your social media to include body-positive, diverse, and holistic voices. Representation matters—and seeing real bodies helps normalise your own.
3. Honour Your Menstrual Cycle
Track your period, learn about hormonal shifts, and adapt your activities accordingly. Your cycle is a powerful biological rhythm—not a monthly curse.
4. Move for Joy, Not Punishment
Choose movement that feels good—yoga, dance, walking. Reject the “no pain, no gain” mindset. Your body deserves kindness, not constant correction.
5. Eat Mindfully
Instead of following external rules, eat according to internal cues. Learn intuitive eating techniques to restore your relationship with food and fullness.
6. Speak Up in Medical Settings
Prepare questions, bring an advocate, or switch doctors if you feel dismissed. You deserve care that listens and respects your lived experience.
7. Practice Body Gratitude
Every day, thank your body for something—breathing, walking, holding you through grief. Appreciation is the gateway to trust.
Women’s Bodies Are Not the Problem
The issue is not with women’s bodies—it’s with a culture that trains them to distrust, devalue, and disconnect from their bodies. From unrealistic ideals to institutional bias, the problem is systemic.
But by unlearning toxic messages and tuning into their own inner wisdom, women can reclaim the trust that’s rightfully theirs.
Internal Links to Explore Further
- What Is Body Shaming and How to Stop It?
- Teenage Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- What Is PMS and How Does It Affect Women?
FAQs
Q1. Why do so many women struggle with body image?
Societal beauty standards, media pressure, and early childhood messaging all contribute to negative body image in women from a young age.
Q2. How can I start trusting my body again?
Begin by listening to your body’s signals, removing toxic influences, and engaging in self-care practices that promote respect rather than control.
Q3. What role does the healthcare system play?
Many women experience medical gaslighting, where their symptoms are dismissed. This contributes to the mistrust in both external systems and internal sensations.
Q4. Can trauma affect how I feel about my body?
Yes. Trauma often causes disconnection from the body as a protective mechanism. Somatic therapies can help rebuild that connection safely.
Q5. Is body positivity the same as body trust?
Not exactly. Body positivity is about acceptance and celebration, while body trust is about listening to, believing, and working with your body’s cues.
Final Thoughts
Women deserve to feel safe, respected, and powerful in their own bodies. Reclaiming body trust isn’t about perfection—it’s about reconnection.
Let’s raise girls who know their bodies are wise. Let’s support women in healing from shame and silence. Because when a woman trusts her body—she changes everything.
Your body isn’t broken. It’s brilliant. You just need to listen again.