There is an excessive preoccupation with one's appearance, accompanied by an obsessive dissatisfaction that cannot be satisfied. What is body dysmorphic? In psychology, such excessive concern about one's appearance and dissatisfaction with an insignificant feature (defect) of one's body is called dysmorphophobia. As the name «dis» – it is a negative prefix, "phobia" – fear, but "morpho" – appearance, appearance.
Dysmorphophobia – it is a mental disorder that occurs in varying degrees of intensity, ranging from excessive use of cosmetics to constant plastic surgery and social avoidance (social phobia).
How does body dysmorphia manifest itself
Body dysmorphic individuals are often quite attractive, but believe they are so ugly that they avoid all social interaction with other people for fear of being ridiculed and rejected. For such people, appearance is the primary sign of well-being. At the same time, the inner circle refers to such reasoning as stupidity and selfishness.
Symptoms of Body Dysmorphophobia
- 1. Mirror Symptom – a person constantly looks in a mirror or in any reflective surfaces that come to hand in order to determine the angle at which his flaw is not so visible.
- 2. Symptom "photograph" – a person does not look in mirrors and is not photographed in fear that his "ugliness" show up, and even be imprinted for many years.
- 3. Hide alleged defect – excessive make-up, loose clothing, large hats, or a distraction from a "flaw" with extravagant clothing or jewelry.
- 4. Intrusive touching of the area with the alleged defect (sometimes every five minutes).
- 5. Excessive passion for medicines, diets, various physical techniques.
- 6. Excessive visits to beauticians, hairdressers, plastic surgeons (plastic surgery is often not satisfying and everything starts again).
- 7. Compulsively obtaining information about appearance from magazines, programs, books, etc.
- 8. Decrease in working capacity and educational activities due to preoccupation with one's appearance, up to the loss of a job.
- 9. Decreased or inability to make acquaintances, maintain friendships and love relationships due to fear of dislike, rejection, up to refusal to leave the house (or, for example, only at night), because of the suspicion that everyone sees "ugliness" and laugh.
How to overcome body dysmorphic disorder
Scientists insist that there is a genetic predisposition to this disorder. But psychological and social factors are also very important. It has been established that personality tendencies to dysmorphophobia are sensitive, introverted, with low self-esteem. Also at risk are individuals with narcissistic and neurotic character traits.
"Psychological problems with gait"
In this case, the trigger may be sexual trauma, facts of violence, facts of criticism and teasing in the biography of the individual. The style of upbringing is very influential: if the emphasis was more on appearance, while other manifestations were ignored. And, of course, not the last role is played by the influence of the media, on excessive concern with one's appearance and the desire to be perfect.
The prognosis for the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder is very favorable: in the case of long-term psychotherapy and a course of antidepressants, it is possible to cure this disorder. The main thing is to realize the problem and not be afraid to seek the help of a specialist!
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