Understanding Body Dysmorphia And How It Affects Your Life

How you feel about yourself is extremely important, and that pertains to how you feel about your body, mind, or abilities. The truth is that many people don’t see themselves in the same way that others do. After all, when looking at your own body, you see all the potential flaws, but others may not even notice those things. 

Some people don’t see their bodies as they really are. Body dysmorphia is when someone perceives some kind of defect or flaw in their appearance that isn’t noticeable (or is only slightly noticeable) by others. If you think you may be experiencing body dysmorphia, learn more about how it affects your life and where to go to get help.

What is body dysmorphia?

Body dysmorphia means you can see some type of flaw in your body that others cannot see. It’s a type of mental disorder because the flaw you see might be a minor or imagined defect, yet it is consuming you and your life. That makes it difficult for you to get on with the rest of your life because you are constantly absorbed with whatever you believe is wrong with your body. The good news, however, is that there is help for you when you have body dysmorphia.

Who can develop body dysmorphia?

Anyone can develop body dysmorphia. Several different conditions and situations could lead to it. Those who suffer from depression, anxiety, or OCD might fixate on a flaw or perceived flaw as the reason for their problems. Also, those who are perfectionistic or constantly competing with others might think that any flaw is grounds for them to lose or be less than another person. It’s also possible that there is a genetic component to body dysmorphia, which can contribute to how someone sees themselves.

Do I have body dysmorphia?

If you think you might have body dysmorphia, look closely at these things. These are common symptoms associated with the condition. 

• Strong belief in a defect of appearance that makes you deformed

• Strong belief that other people notice negative features of your body

• Preoccupation with a perceived or minor flaw that others do not notice

• Preoccupation with overcoming or hiding a perceived or minor flaw that others do not notice

• Constant and detrimental comparison of the self to others

• Perfectionistic tendencies toward appearance and presentation

• Avoidance of social situations

• Attempt to seek cosmetic procedures to fix the perceived or minor flaw

• Frequent reassurance seeking to overcome negative thoughts and feelings

You may experience none or some combination. Remember that every mental disorder is different, just like every person is different. That means you might experience the situation differently from the average person or anyone else you know.

Those who struggle with body dysmorphia will generally avoid social situations or situations where someone might notice the flaw they see in themselves. They might try to hide it or cover it with clothing, makeup, or hairstyles. They might even look into cosmetic procedures to remove the flaw entirely. However, these individuals are never able to be happy with the way that their body looks. Even getting rid of the perceived flaw will not make the feelings go away, and they could still resurface or reset to a different part of the body and a different perceived flaw.

In general, most people have difficulty with specific areas of the body, including:

• Hair

• Breast size

• Genitalia

• Muscle size/tone

• Face

• Skin/veins

You could have a completely different area of the body that affects you and makes you feel flawed or less than perfect. If you’re experiencing these feelings about your body, you may not realize how much it affects your life.

How body dysmorphia can affect you

Body dysmorphia can affect you in more ways than you probably know. For one thing, it can make it challenging to maintain relationships with anyone. If you constantly see a perceived flaw and no one else does, you could create a wedge between yourself and others you care about because of your obsession. You could also make it difficult to form new relationships, especially romantic ones, because you may be compelled to point out the flaw you see with your body.

You may find yourself avoiding social situations and trying to avoid people as much as possible, which will negatively affect your friendships and relationships because your friends and family want to spend time with you. It will make it very difficult for you to stay close to people and go out in public or meet new people. Trying to continue relationships that way becomes exceptionally complex.

While most of your close friends and family will likely try to be considerate, loving, and supportive while you’re working through your body dysmorphia, it can be difficult for them to understand what you’re experiencing and why you can’t see what they see. All of these things can start to make it difficult for them to continue to support you and may manifest in hostility, anger, or withdrawal. Unfortunately, it can create those same types of responses in you.

Body dysmorphia can also result in anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts or behaviors. 

If you are having thoughts of suicide, don’t wait to ask for help. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with someone online. Help is available 24/7.

Overcoming body dysmorphia

Overcoming this condition is much more complicated than some might think. It’s not just about “snapping out of it” or looking in the mirror and accepting yourself. The end goal is to be able to look in that mirror and love and accept yourself, but it will take time. These thoughts and feelings are deeply ingrained into your mental state, so getting them out will be difficult. Rather than just trying to go at it alone, look for a mental health professional to help you.

A mental health professional can work with you to help you understand what you are going through and where it originated. They can also help you understand the different steps to get through the condition to work through body dysmorphia and start recognizing your positive traits and the wonderful things you have to offer other people.

Working with a therapist