The Cambridge Dictionary defines Body Dysmorphia as “a condition in which someone falsely believes that there is something seriously wrong with the size or shape of their body.” It is often used to indicate an obsessive preoccupation or an uneasy feeling with a perceived flaw in one’s appearance. In reality the flaw may seem minor or non-existent to others but for the person it is an obsession. Such a person is suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD. It is estimated that around one million people suffer from BDD in India.
BDD sufferers tend to go into a shell and avoid social contact. They are constantly checking themselves in a mirror and trying to hide the perceived defect. Another symptom is repetitive behaviour such as constantly rubbing a perceived flaw. The sufferer longs for positive affirmations and needs to be reassured by others that he/she looks good. He/she fears ridicule. Sleep patterns are adversely affected. Muscular dysmorphia occurs when he perceives his body to be too thin and is obsessed with weights to build up his muscles. She thinks she is too fat and goes into extremes of fasting. She follows diet fads and may end up being anorexic. The sufferer constantly checks herself in a mirror. She goes out of her way to hide her non-existent defect by wearing loose clothing, constantly picks at her pimples thus causing lesions and infections.
Many of us resort to some sort of creams and make up to hide skin blemishes, We may need to wear braces to correct our protruding teeth and dental caps. What makes BDD sufferers different is excessive use of plastic surgery for nose jobs, thinner lips, hair transplants, reduction in the size of the jaw and so on. The person is obsessed with unnecessary cosmetics in order to cover the flaws. BDD is a mental disorder that needs to be treated as otherwise it could lead to serious consequences starting with anxiety, depression and, in some cases, even suicide.
Psychologists state that this disorder is likely to start during the teen years. Cultural, psychological and biological factors influence adolescents. Advertisements promoting the face and body beautiful, influencers, social media and peer group opinions aggravate insecurities among the young. The self-verification theory states that adolescents use selfies in order to obtain more likes’. This is because we suffer from a misconception that physical looks are very important. Many adolescents hero-worship film stars and their seemingly perfect looks. The entertainment industry thrives on illusions. Actors must look attractive. In order to survive many are constantly under the plastic surgeon’s knife. Don’t get fooled by those wrinkle-pimple-free faces and pouting lips. Similarly, models strutting down the ramp need to have a slim body so that they can influence those with deep pockets to buy what are sometimes outrageous clothes.
Maya’s mother Surekha works hard as a helper in several homes in order to give Maya a college education. Much to Surekha’s disappointment, Maya quit college because of body shaming’ as she did not fit the norms of being super slim. Ironically, not being fair skinned is a cultural cause of BDD in a nation where most of us are brown-skinned.
What is the way forward to get out of these obsessions? It is important to make an effort to mix with others. My friend recalls how insecure she felt about her dusky complexion which was considered a flaw by elders in her family. She would force herself to strike up a conversation with her batchmates in college.
Experts suggest focusing on goals such as learning more about a given subject will divert one’s mind from obsessing about looks. External appearances, after all, are not the be-all and end-all of life.
Psychologists suggest relaxation techniques and stress management. They suggest that we should not make any major decisions when we get into a fixation about our appearance. In extreme cases they recommend cognitive and behavioural therapies in order to correct false beliefs. Anti-depressants may be prescribed. All these techniques and therapies enable the individual to develop resilience. The support of family and close friends is of paramount importance to give a sense of belonging to a person is unfortunately going through this disorder.
It may be necessary to accept certain shortcomings and move forward. Linda would never leave her home without her super-high pair of stilettos in order to make up for her short stature. Her pals would joke, “So Linda, you are flaunting a new pair of stilts today” or “Hey Linda! Better not try to climb Mt Everest with your stilts.” This overuse of high heels could adversely impact Linda’s health but she was not confident enough to change her ways.
The world offers a plethora of areas to explore. There are new books to read, places to explore, adventure sports to get a thrill from, ever expanding horizons of learning – all catering to our uniqueness as individuals. Our lives could be ulti-dimensional. In order to weave a rich tapestry of our lives, we should not allow ourselves to focus only on our outward physical appearances.
Credit : Monica Fernandes (The Teenager Today)
Picture Credit : Google
