Body Dysmorphia

I have no idea if I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD),

I do know that a lot of these symptoms resonate with me:

Characteristics of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

If you have BDD you might:

  • Worry or think a lot about how you look

  • Believe that you have a physical abnormality or defect that makes you ugly

  • Frequently looking in the mirror, body checking or skin picking or avoiding mirrors

  • Excessive grooming and frequent cosmetic procedures, with little to no increased satisfaction

  • Wearing excessive make-up or clothing to conceal perceived flaws

  • Feeling extremely insecure and self-conscious

  • Avoiding social situations and refusing to appear in photographs

  • Believing that other people take special notice of your appearance in a negative way

  • Negatively comparing your appearance to others

Taken from the Butterfly Eating Disorders webpage. Link below.

Existing evidence about body dissatisfaction highlights the following risk factors:

  • Age: Body image starts developing in early childhood and is more intensely shaped in late childhood and adolescence (typically for females this is earlier than in males). However, body dissatisfaction can affect people of all ages with some studies showing a high prevalence in midlife (particularly in females) in relation to aging (or more specifically, anti-aging promotion).

  • Key development and experiences: Puberty, people going through fertility treatments, pregnancy and post pregnancy are known times where body dissatisfaction may increase.

  • Mental health: People with low self-esteem or other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, are more at risk of experiencing body dissatisfaction.

  • Personality traits: People with perfectionist tendencies, high achievers, ‘black and white’ thinkers, those who internalise beauty ideals more intensely, and those who frequently compare themselves to others are at higher risk of feeling dissatisfied with their body or appearance.

  • Teasing/bullying: People who are teased about their appearance and weight, regardless of actual body type, have an increased risk of developing body dissatisfaction.

  • Poor role models: Regardless of their actual body type or weight, individuals—particularly children and adolescents—who are exposed to role models who demonstrate unhealthy attitudes and behaviours in relation to body image, eating and exercise are at greater risk of developing body dissatisfaction. These risk factors include exposure to restrictive dieting, excessive and rigid exercise regimes, frequently expressed appearance concerns or strong biases about higher weight.

  • Higher weight:People living in a larger body, who have been subject to teasing/bullying, or who have experienced weight stigma and discrimination, are at higher risk of experiencing body dissatisfaction

As Gen X grow older, its important to acknowledge how we are seeing ourselves while trying to age in a positive and healthy way.

Links