Have you heard people saying that imperfection is the new perfection? Well, you may have seen people preaching this saying to everyone, but not actually implying it in their own lives. Sometimes, people are so conscious about their appearance that they often complain about their crooked nose or receding hairline or buck teeth or anything else! It is not wrong to say that differently-abled people are much better than the rest of us, as they learn to accept their disability, and instead of cribbing, they turn their malady into their strength.
One such mental disorder called ‘Body Dysmorphic Disorder’ is common among youngsters. It is a severe psychiatric disorder, where a person tends to develop obsessive, negative thoughts about a real or perceived flaw in their body. So, let’s see how this mental ailment affects self-conception, physical well-being, and behaviour.
Low Self-Esteem
Also known as dysmorphophobia, this pathological preoccupation of self-body-image makes the person spend hours thinking about slight defects about any of their body parts. When a person continuously contemplates about such futile things, he/she might feel internal shame and will form a negative perception about oneself that will continue to hound them.
It is nothing but a self-inflicted insult to one’s existence and often diminishes the self-respect of the individual, which is harmful to rational thinking.
Fear of Body-Shaming
The symptoms of BDD usually occur during puberty when the adolescents are too sensitive about their image. They have so many insecurities, and on top of that, the terror of being mocked because of an ugly appearance instils a sense of repugnance in their minds. Such embarrassment in public can lead to severe social anxiety disorder.
Unwanted concerns
Lack of self-dignity can induce unwanted concerns, and it can disrupt your daily routine. To get rid of that defect, you might opt for cosmetic surgery, or you might exhibit repetitive behaviour where you will find ways to hide your flaws to provide temporary relief and comfort. Such unnecessary things will bother you so much that you’ll end up losing control over significant tasks in your life.
Social awkwardness
According to the research by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, it was found that teens generally became easy victims of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In the US, 2.5 % males and 2.2 % females between 12-13 years of age are in emotional distress because of this disorder.
Due to this external body shame, people avoid social situations. They develop behavioural impairment as they confine themselves in their rooms and don’t prefer to show up in parties because of the fear of being taunted for their looks. Such avoidance of public appearance will result in low confidence.
End up with cognitive-behavioural therapy
It is not just one disease; it is an invitation to other mental conditions like social anxiety, eating disorders, depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If your situation aggravates, you may have to consult a doctor for diagnosis and proper treatment. Moreover, medication and therapies will help reduce the irrational thinking patterns and will effectively bring you out of this detrimental state of being.
Even celebs suffer from BDD
You’ll be surprised to know that the ever good-looking celebs namely, Robert Pattinson, Miley Cyrus, and Uma Thurman, reportedly had body-image issues, but with time, they overcame this crippling anxiety disorder and came out as refulgent stars.
After reading the repercussions of this abnormality, you might want to reconsider your views about your looks. Your outer appearance may give your first impression to others, but it’s not all about your looks. There is more to your personality than mere good looks. A small defect in the body does not influence people’s opinion about you.