Health has become one of the biggest stressors of modern life. We are constantly bombarded with diet plans, fitness routines, and wellness trends that promise transformation. Social media is filled with flawless bodies, strict meal plans, and morning routines that seem impossible to maintain. The pressure to be “healthy” is so intense that instead of improving well-being, it often leads to anxiety, confusion, and mistakes.

Many people start diets only to quit weeks later. Some become obsessed with exercise but burn out quickly. Others swing between extreme restrictions and binge eating. But, why does this happen? The answer lies beyond willpower or knowledge – it’s deeply connected to psychosocial and psychoanalytic factors. Our social environment, personal history and unconscious emotions shape how we approach health, often leading to self-sabotage, unrealistic expectations and cycles of guilt.

Let’s explore why so many people struggle with health despite good intentions—and how we can move towards a more balanced, sustainable approach.

The Modern Health Dilemma: Too Much Pressure, Too Little Balance
Health was once about survival—eating enough, staying active in daily life, and avoiding illness. Today, it has become about discipline, appearance, and lifestyle. Society expects people to look a certain way, eat “clean,” and follow the latest wellness trends.

Social Media and Unrealistic Comparisons
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok showcase influencers with lean bodies, perfectly prepped meals, and intense workout routines. This creates a distorted perception of normality, making people feel as though they are never doing enough.

Confusing and Contradictory Advice
One day, carbs are considered the enemy, the next, they are classified as essential. One expert claims fasting is the key to longevity, while another insists it destroys metabolism. This flood of conflicting information leaves people jumping from one trend to another with little real progress.

The Moralisation of Food and Exercise
Society has linked health to morality. Eating a salad is seen as “good,” while eating a pizza is “bad.” This guilt-driven mindset makes health feel like a punishment rather than an act of self-care.

The Result?

People don’t make mistakes due to a lack of effort; they make mistakes because they are overwhelmed and misled.

The Role of Psychosocial Factors: How Society Shapes Our Health Struggles
Psychosocial factors refer to the way society, culture, and our social environment influence our behaviour. Health is no longer just a personal choice; it is shaped by external forces that create pressure, unrealistic expectations, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Influences from Family and Friends: Many people grow up with ingrained beliefs about food and body image. Some families celebrate food as an expression of love, while others impose strict dieting rules. Friends and partners also influence our habits—often without us realising.

Cultural Standards and Body Image: Beauty standards vary across cultures, but in most modern societies, thinness is idealised. This pressure leads many to chase a “perfect” body rather than true health.

Peer Pressure and Social Trends: If everyone around you is following a diet, fasting, or doing extreme workouts, it’s easy to feel like you should too—even if it’s not right for your body.

These influences shape how people approach health, often leading to stress, guilt, and impulsive decisions rather than sustainable well-being.

The Psychoanalytic Perspective: Why We Sabotage Our Health
Beyond social influences, there are unconscious reasons why people struggle with health. The psychoanalytic perspective examines emotions, past experiences, and subconscious behaviours that explain why so many fall into cycles of failure.

Emotional Eating and Food as Comfort: Many people don’t eat just because they are hungry—they eat to soothe stress, anxiety, boredom, or sadness. Over time, food becomes a way to cope with emotions, making balanced eating difficult.

The All or Nothing Mindset: The subconscious mind loves extremes. People go “all in” on a diet, then quit completely when they slip up. This black-and-white thinking makes consistency impossible.

Self-Sabotage and Fear of Success: Some people unconsciously undermine their own progress due to deep-seated fears of change or self-worth issues.

Past Trauma and Body Image Issues: Negative experiences, such as childhood bullying or past failures with dieting, can create deep insecurities that shape health behaviours. Without addressing these emotional wounds, achieving sustainable health remains difficult.

Understanding these hidden patterns is essential. Health struggles aren’t just about food or exercise; they often stem from unprocessed emotions, fears, and past experiences we may not even recognise.

Breaking the Cycle: A Healthier Approach

So, how can we break free from external pressure and unrealistic expectations? The answer lies in shifting from perfectionism to self-awareness and balance.

1) Ditch Perfectionism and Listen to Your Body: Instead of forcing yourself into rigid diets or intense workouts, pay attention to how your body feels. If a diet makes you miserable, it’s not the right one. If an exercise routine leaves you exhausted rather than energised, adjust it.

2) Question Social Expectations and Unlearn Harmful Beliefs: Not everything that society promotes is good for you. Just because an influencer follows a certain lifestyle doesn’t mean it’s right for your body or mind. Unlearning toxic ideas about food, weight, and self-worth is a powerful step towards real well-being.

3) Address Emotional Triggers and Unconscious Patterns: If you struggle with emotional eating, restrictive dieting, or self-sabotage, take time to explore your relationship with food. Journaling, therapy, or self-reflection can reveal deeper insights into your behaviours.

4) Focus on Long-Term Habits, Not Quick Fixes: Diets that promise rapid results usually fail. Instead of following temporary restrictions, focus on sustainable habits—balanced eating, enjoyable movement, and mindful self-care.

5) Redefine Success and Celebrate Small Wins: Health isn’t just about weight or appearance. Feeling energised, sleeping well, reducing stress, and enjoying food without guilt are all signs of success. Shift your mindset from perfection to progress.

Conclusion: Welcome Health without Stress
The modern world makes health feel complicated, but at its core, wellness is about balance, not extremes. Many people struggle not because they lack motivation, but because they are caught in a system that values perfection over well-being, guilt over joy, and trends over personal intuition.

By recognising both societal influences and deep-seated psychological patterns, we can cultivate a healthier, more intuitive approach to food, exercise, and self-care—free from pressure, guilt, and unattainable ideals.

At the end of the day, true health isn’t about chasing trends or achieving an impossible standard. It’s about listening to your body, understanding your mind, and choosing what truly makes you feel good—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

So, take a deep breath. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be human.