A condition known as body dysmorphic disorder can be described as a mental problem that causes you to keep thinking about the perceived imperfections or imperfections in your appearancethe flaws appear to be minor or not noticed by other people. Yet, you could feel embarrassed, embarrassed and nervous that you stay away from social events.
If you suffer from the disorder of body dysmorphic, your mind is constantly pay attention to your body and appearance constantly checking your mirror, grooming, or looking for reassurance, often throughout the day, for long periods of time. The perception of your flaw and repeated behaviors can cause significant anxiety and affect the way you function in your daily routine.
You can look into a myriad of cosmetic treatments at “fix” your perceived flaw. Afterward, you may experience an initial sense of satisfaction or relief in the level of anxiety, but frequently, anxiety returns and you’ll have to search for new ways to fix the perceived fault.
The treatment for body dysmorphic disorder could include cognitive behavioral therapy as well as medication.
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Symptoms
Body dysmorphic disorder are:
Becoming obsessed with an apparent flaw in appearance, which to others cannot be noticed or appears to be minor
A strong belief that you’ve got an imperfection in your appearance which renders you appear ugly or deformed
The belief that other people take particular interest in your appearance negative ways or ridicule your appearance.
Engaging in behavior that is designed to conceal or fix the apparent flaw, which can be difficult to stop or control for example, checking regularly the mirror as well as grooming or skin picking
Try to cover up imperfections with style such as makeup, clothes or makeup
Continuously comparing yourself to other people
Always seeking comfort about your appearance from other people
With a tendency to be perfectionists
Looking for cosmetic procedures but with no satisfaction
Stay clear of social situations
Your appearance, and overly repetitive thoughts and behavior can be unwelcome or difficult to manage. They can be too time-consuming to create major stress or cause problems in your personal life, work and school, or in other areas of life.
You might find yourself focusing too much on some or all that are part of you. The physical feature you pay attention to could alter with time. The most frequent features that people tend to be focused on are:
Face, like wrinkles, nose, complexion as well as acne and various other imperfections
The appearance of hair, for example thinness, baldness and thinning
The appearance of veins and skin
Size of the breast
Tone and size of the muscles
Genitalia
A concern about your body’s shape being too small or lacking muscle (muscle dysmorphia) is a common occurrence in males.
The information about body dysmorphic disorder is different. It’s possible that you be aware that the assumptions you make regarding your perceived flaws could be over-inflated or not real, or you may think they’re likely to be accurate, or you may be certain that they’re accurate. The more certain you are about your beliefs, the more anxiety and disturbance you could encounter within your own life.
When should you see an doctor
The shame and embarrassment you feel regarding your appearance could prevent your from seeking out treatment for body dysmorphic disorders. If you notice any of the signs or symptoms listed above consult your physician or an expert in mental health.
Body dysmorphic disorder typically doesn’t disappear by itself. If untreated it can get worse with time and cause anxiety, a large medical bill extreme depression, and even suicidal ideas and behaviors.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, you should seek help.
Suicidal behavior and thoughts are common in the body dysmorphic disorder. If you are concerned that you might commit suicide or hurt yourself, get help immediately Get help as soon as possible:
In the U.S In the U.S., dial 911 or your emergency contact number for your city immediately.
Contact a suicide hotline. For those in the U.S., call or text 988 for to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which is available 24/7 and seven every day of the week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. The services are completely free and secure.
Consult your mental health provider.
Ask for assistance from your primary care doctor.
Speak to a dear loved one or friend.
You can contact a pastor or spiritual leader or within your faith community.
Causes
It isn’t known exactly what causes body dysmorphic disorders. As with mental health issues the body dysmorphic disorder could be the result of a mix of factors, including having a family background of the disorder, negative perceptions or experiences regarding your self-image or body as well as abnormal brain function, or levels of the chemical that affects the brain known as serotonin.
Risk factors
The body dysmorphic disorder usually begins at the age of teen and is a problem for females and males.
Certain conditions may increase the likelihood of creating and/or triggering body dysmorphic disorders These include:
Family members with blood relatives who have body dysmorphic disorder or obsession-compulsive disorder
Life experiences that are negative including childhood bullying and neglect or abuse
Certain traits of personality include perfectionist tendencies, for instance.
Social pressure or expectations of beauty
A mental health issue that is not a physical that affects your mental health, for example depression or anxiety
Complications
The complications that can be caused by or connected with body dysmorphic disorders include the following:
Self-esteem is low.
Social isolation
Major depression and other mood disorders
Suicidal ideas or behaviors
Anxiety disorders that include Social anxiety disorders (social phobia)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Eating disorders
Use of substances for illicit purposes
Health issues resulting from actions like skin picking
Physical pain or the risk of disfigurement resulting from repeated operations
Prevention
There is no way to avoid body dysmorphic disorders. However, as the disorder is usually diagnosed in the early teens it is important to recognize the disorder as early as possible and pursuing treatment could have some advantages.
A long-term maintenance program can aid in preventing a relapse of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder.
