I Hate My Body! Body Dysmorphia
Body Shame can destroy your self-esteem, your relationships, and your quality of life.
What is body dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also referred to as body dysmorphia is a mental health condition characterized by an obsessive focus on one’s own perceived bodily imperfections coupled with a state of distress about these perceived flaws and defects. People who suffer from this condition often focus on specific parts of their body that they believe are flawed or unattractive, even when their appearance is no different than average, or when they already meet a high standard of beauty.
Body dysmorphia can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or appearance. Fashion models suffer from it, and so do males. Since most people with BDD don’t talk about their condition or its impact on their quality of life, you may not know that someone in your close social circle is suffering from it.
People who suffer with BDD may spend an enormous amount of time checking their appearance in mirrors, seeking reassurance about their appearance, or performing repetitive grooming behaviors. They commonly avoid social situations, suffer from social anxiety associated with imagined judgement from others, and suffer from a depressed mood due to their extreme body dissatisfaction.
Body dysmorphic disorder goes far beyond a passing dissatisfaction with one’s appearance or one’s weight. And although not caused by low self-esteem, it can worsen self-esteem. The preoccupation with perceived flaws is so intense and distressing that it significantly impacts quality of life. BDD can lead to severe impairment in personal relationships, work performance, and overall functioning.
body dysmorphia and social media
Ironically, some people who suffer from body dysmorphia overuse social media in an attempt to gain approval of their appearance to offset their negative mood states. Social media “likes” are a known ego and dopamine booster. It’s widely assumed that those who post photos of themselves on social media are high on themselves. In fact, often the opposite is true. Many who post appealing photos of themselves are doing so to boost a depressed mood. In essence, they are borrowing outside approval to temporarily fill in the missing internal approval we all need to maintain a steady, secure mood state and state of mind. How do you use social media? Perhaps this information will allow you to better understand your friends, acquaintances, or local celebrities who frequently post suggestive photos of themselves.
Do you know anyone who posts selfies hoping for “likes” in order to achieve an emotional high and artificially boost their self-confidence? For our body love and self love to be stable and portable, it must originate from within us.
Body Love vs. Body Dysmorphia:
Which would you choose?
When you define your value based on social approval of your appearance, you can become dependent on the opinions of others to maintain Your self-esteem. this makes you vulnerable to low self-esteem and depressed mood states when you’re not receiving the attention or validation you desire.
How do you feel about yourself? Do you feel attractive enough? If not, where did the idea that you are deficient or less than beautiful come from? Are you ready to remodel your self-esteem and your body image so you can learn to love the face you have, the body you have, the brain you have? Would you prefer to feel good about yourself from the inside out, so you are not outsourcing your self-esteem? Imagine what it would feel like to look in the mirror and like your body.
Body dysmorphia usually results from insecure attachment relationships that form during childhood. It can be exacerbated during adolescence, especially if one is ostracized or bullied in their family, school, or community.
Stay tuned for more on this important topic including tips and tools about how you can begin to change your relationship with your body so that you no longer look at any part of yourself with pity, dislike, or hatred. If you don’t want to wait for content updates, feel free to contact me for tools or other assistance.