Are you worried too much about your image? Can not you stand it every time you see yourself in the mirror?. People who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder feel great anxiety about any defect they may have. For example, acne, some mole or a nose that they consider too large.Body dysmorphic disorder has to do with self-image. Human beings are not perfect, but even knowing this. We often try to hide or camouflage what we consider a defect. The problem with people who have this disorder is that it takes on an entirely irrational importance.When the concern for our body begins to affect us in an important way. Preventing us from going out into the street, feeling good even with our imperfections, this can lead to low self-esteem, which can be very destructive.
Low self-esteem in body dysmorphic disorder
When a person with low self-esteem suffers bodily dysmorphic disorder, he will avoid situations that may give him some opportunity at work or at a personal level. In this way, you will gradually isolate yourself from others.But this is not all. A person with body dysmorphic disorder may begin to neglect all aspects of their life, including hygiene. Thus, instead of transforming what he considers a defect as something characteristic and that gives personality, accentuate more imperfection.To understand a person with body dysmorphic disorder, let’s look at some of the behaviors that usually take place. Some are very destructive:
- He worries about faults that he perceives, but that others do not see.
- He believes that his defects make him deformed or unpleasant for others.
- Think that any mockery is directed towards her for having that defect.
- It constantly compares with others.
- Try to remove the skin or use aggressive products to eliminate the defect.
- Hide your defects through makeup, hairstyle or certain clothes.
- Tends to be someone perfectionist.
It is true that we can all magnify a defect at some time. But when we see it with perspective we realize that it can go with the passage of time (acne or imperfections) or makes us unique, it gives us personality and other people love it (freckles or a scar).
It has a solution?
It is difficult for a person with body dysmorphic disorder to seek help, since just talking about his defect already causes great anguish. However, if this problem is not addressed it is very difficult to resolve it. Normally, people live their whole lives with this disorder.The family or close people should be very attentive and not understand this disorder as something temporary or a concern that, over time, will pass. Those who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder may have suicidal thoughts. Abuse substances that are harmful to their health or develop an obsessive-compulsive disorder.At the slightest suspicion that a person has an exaggerated concern for what he considers to be defects and this prevents him from leading a normal life, he should seek help. The best therapy to deal with this disorder and that usually gives very good results is cognitive-behavioral therapy.If the person with the corporal dysmorphic disorder commits to carry out the tasks proposed by the psychologist and, in truth, wants to overcome what is happening to him and that is causing him so much discomfort. Then the therapy will be successful. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for this to happen. The therapy will focus on the following points:
- It will help the patient to improve their perception of their body image, relativizing their defects.
- Will work with feelings of guilt, shame and loneliness.
- If there are other disorders such as compulsive obsessive or social phobia will also be assisted.
- The symptoms of anxiety or depression will be treated as a priority to eliminate any attempt at self-harm.
There are many people around us who may suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. Perhaps, because we are surrounded every day by advertising that shows us perfect bodies after which there is an excellent editing work.Our concern for the image begins in adolescence, stage in which you can begin to gestate this disorder. The sooner a treatment is initiated. The sooner the person who suffers it will be able to make peace with his body to live happily and not with shame.