Dysmorphophobia: causes, symptoms and treatment

All of us at some point in our life have been self-conscious about some physical defect or burdened by some part of our body that we do not appreciate. But... what happens when a small complex becomes pure obsession?

Dysmorphophobia is the name of what is known as body dysmorphic disorder, which is framed within somatoform disorders. Literally, It is the phobia or exaggerated rejection towards a part of the own body.

Dysmorphophobia: what exactly does it consist of?

We are talking about a problem of distortion of the body image, therefore, the symptoms are related to the obsession with a specific part of the subject's physical appearance.

The person who suffers from it, feels constant and excessive concern about a physical defect, whether real or imagined. If such a physical defect exists in reality, anxiety levels experienced are exorbitant, since they perceive it in an exaggerated way, being able to have important emotional problems or social isolation. It is important to note that we are not referring to a self-image problem related to conduct disorders food (as in anorexia) or sexual identity (which involves rejection of the body itself, specifically, the genitals).

Causes and beginnings of this psychological disorder

These types of problems usually begin in the adolescence, where the greatest physical and body changes occur, and gradually decrease with age, although it can sometimes persist into adulthood.

It has been studied that dysmorphophobia appears to the same extent in men as in women, although it might be thought that the pressure for the physical demands more of the female gender. According to the etiology, the obsession with a part of the body is more common among upper class young people, with few or no physical defects, but who magnify and make the center of their life. The tendency to an anxious personality, the low self-esteem or have been the victim of some kind of bullying or teasing in childhood, can predispose to suffer this type of problem.

The "cursed parts" of the body

According to various studies on the subject, lthe typical areas that are the object of greatest obsession They are: defects in the skin (spots, acne or wrinkles on the face), teeth, chest, scars, facial asymmetry, lips, nose, abdomen, ears, chin and, in men, also the genitals.

The feeling of anguish from the obsession can lead people who suffer from it to real emotional imbalances related to the obsession. depression, anxiety attacks, low self-esteem Y Social isolation thinking that everyone sees their "defect" in the same way.

Feelings of shame or social inadequacy constantly accompany them, as well as comparisons with the physique of other people. It is very common that associated with this obsession, comes a compulsion to try to reduce anxiety. In this sense, the person can fall into a real ritual of aesthetic care, makeup abuse, creams, or specific type of clothing to camouflage or divert attention. Some sufferers compulsively check their image in mirrors, while others avoid them at all costs.

Photoshop culture and cosmetic surgery as a solution

The current reference models transferred from the media, on many occasions tset unattainable standards of beauty, that penetrate more vulnerable people by having a wrong perception of real beauty and a distorted or exaggerated perception of their imperceptible or imaginary physical defects.

This obsession with the physical affects all types of people, also accentuated if they have a public image or live from it and have a high status. Lately we have been able to see how, in some celebrities or personalities, cosmetic surgery treatments have resulted in physical changes that have little to do with the face of origin. In most cases, public opinion values ​​that the surgery was not only not necessary, but that the results have not been good. We will only have to remember the faces of some famous women, after their last “retouching”, not only because there are no signs of natural aging, but because they have lost their physical features more characteristic. And is that major and minor plastic surgery is being the famous method to appease anxiety and promote the obsession with physical perfectionism.

The problem is not on the surface

The problem is that the physical changes or improvements that occur at the body level thanks to the magic of surgery, they manage to reduce anxiety momentarily and in the short term, but after a short time the obsession reappears.

The reinforcement with surgery is almost immediate but it is not maintained because the problem is sustained by body distortion, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem... so that soon, they feel dissatisfied and return to resort again to intervention.

How to help these people?

If there are no associated major disorders, it is very important to help these people to make a realistic adjustment of their own image as well as a deep work on self-esteem. Part of the anxiety about the physical remains because the person does not value other areas of his life, and they make a whole of that defect.

On the other hand, It will be essential to expose yourself to enjoy social relationships regardless of your own valuation. The rational acceptance of their own defects but also of their own personal resources are the key to redirect the sufferers of this type of problem.