Dysmorphophobic

Dysmorphophobic, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) or popularly known as “imaginary ugliness syndrome”, is considered a psychiatric illness, in which the person has a deep concern with their appearance. In such a way that, illusory, he finds faults in his body. Or, still, they stick to the details of their body, always with deep dissatisfaction .

For the diagnosis of this disorder, obsessive thoughts about appearance are analyzed, which lead the person to have compulsive behaviors.

Above all, the unbridled quest for perfection is, in many cases, ingrained in people. Often, this comes from the influence of the internet, especially social networks. Thus, when people with phobic tendencies are somehow persuaded by patterns, they end up developing dysmorphophobia .

How to identify the symptoms

The main symptoms of body dysmorphia are:

• Low self-esteem;
• Feeling of shame;
• Demonstrate excessive concern for certain parts of the body;
• Constantly looking in the mirror or completely avoiding the mirror
• Comparing your body to other people’s;
• Difficulty concentrating on other day-to-day activities;
• Excessive physical activity;
• Avoid social life;
• Depression and anxiety.

In addition, people with body dysmorphia may also try to hide small imperfections with makeup, for example, and the person may resort to plastic surgery in some cases.

Men with body dysmorphia generally have more severe symptoms, being more concerned about their genitals, body build and hair loss, while women are more concerned about the appearance of their skin, weight, hips and legs.

Main causes of Dysmorphophobic

There are no specific causes that trigger dysmorphophobia , as well as other phobias. However, studies show that, for the most part, the main causes of this phobia are:

• family’s excessive concern with appearance;
• low self-esteem;
• physical and sexual abuse suffered in childhood;
• body changes with puberty;
• biological and/or psychological factors;
• social and cultural aspects.

Above all, the influence that our external environment has on our behavior and emotions is clear . Culture and society, historically, show that people are criticized for not meeting the imposed standards, without caring about the person’s individual preferences.

No doubt this can, over time, cause problems with self-esteem, self-esteem and self-confidence . As a result, phobias such as dysmorphophobia can commonly develop.

Main consequences of fear of deformity

In addition to the symptoms listed above, fear of deformity can trigger other phobias and disorders . Like, for example, social phobia and anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder .

Those who have a phobia of body deformity have delusional thoughts, acting disproportionately to feel better about their physical appearance. Faced with this view of himself, the phobic begins to have his routine impaired, such as at work, studies and in love relationships.

Those who suffer from dysmorphophobia have intense suffering with their physical appearance, as they are never satisfied, even if they are told the opposite. Thus, they become depressed, anxious, with low self-esteem and frustrated.

How the treatment is done

Generally, treatment for body dysmorphia is done with psychotherapy sessions, namely through cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy consists of the combination of cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy, which focuses on how the person processes and interprets situations that can cause suffering.

In addition, it may be necessary to take antidepressants and anxiolytics, which may be prescribed by the psychiatrist. These remedies can help reduce obsessive behaviors associated with body dysmorphia, helping to improve self-esteem and increase quality of life.