How do I know if I have body dysmorphia?

  • Jun 01, 2023
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How do I know if I have body dysmorphia?

Body dysmorphia is a psychological condition that affects thousands of people around the world. This disorder causes an alteration of perception, which causes anguish, permanent discomfort in relation to one's own image, problems in social ties and inhibitions. This clinical picture has been studied by psychology due to the emotional, behavioral and cognitive manifestations that it entails in different clinical cases. On several occasions, the obstacles produced by body dysmorphia result in other types of major problems. Many people have tried to know this problem in depth to find effective solutions, however, in Sometimes the data that circulates in the media can be incorrect or imprecise, generating greater confusion.

In this Psychology-Online article we will explain how do i know if i have body dysmorphia.

You may also like: Body dysmorphia: what it is, causes, symptoms and treatment

Index

  1. What is body dysmorphia
  2. How to detect body dysmorphia
  3. Causes of body dysmorphia
  4. Treatment of body dysmorphia

What is body dysmorphia.

Body dysmorphia is a mental health disorder which is characterized by the presence of misconceptions about body image. In more concrete terms, this pathology emphasizes the minimum defects that a person considers on some part of their body. However, the details that are perceived are not seen by other people or are unimportant.

According to the DSM-V[1], body dysmorphia can be placed in the group of body dysmorphic disorders due to the qualities it presents. In this article you will find more information about the Body dysmorphia: what it is, causes, symptoms and treatment.

Diagnostic criteria for body dysmorphia

In order to carry out an adequate evaluation, it will be necessary to meet a series of diagnostic criteria:

  • Concern about one or more physical defects they are not noticeable.
  • repetitive behaviors that stem from concern for physical appearance.
  • Deterioration of social, work and family relationships.
  • The alterations cannot be explained by the presence of other mental disorders or by the intake of drugs and toxic substances.

Despite the description just made, it should be clarified that the diagnosis should always be produced by a professional of mental health specialized in the subject since he will be in charge of evaluating the clinical conditions of each person.

How to know if I have body dysmorphia - What is body dysmorphia

How to detect body dysmorphia.

Body dysmorphia can be detected from a few point indicators. In this section we show you the most relevant:

  • Obsession with aesthetic details.
  • Avoidance of social encounters.
  • Low tolerance to frustration.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Constant need for approval.
  • Unsafety.
  • Permanent comparison with other people.
How to tell if I have body dysmorphia - How to detect body dysmorphia

Causes of body dysmorphia.

This pathology has various origins that account for the manifestations of the picture. Below you will find the main causes of body dysmorphia:

  • Environmental factors: social pressures and ideals of body beauty are one of the pillars that can cause alterations in body perception. In this sense, many people try to achieve an image of physical perfection that is impossible because defects are part of the human being, which can cause great frustrations that lead to dysmorphia bodily.
  • experiential factors: having gone through difficult moments in life influences the emergence of the pathology. This includes situations such as family violence, bullying, among others. Past events form misconceptions about physical appearance that lead to mental disorders. Likewise, the imitation of behaviors of members of the family environment affects the development of this perceptual alteration, such as, for example, the imposed ideals of beauty or the pressures relatives.
  • Genetic factors: genetic inheritance can also influence the way we perceive the world. This can be located in the processing carried out by the central nervous system of stimuli from abroad. Therefore, if a parent has been diagnosed with body dysmorphia, the chances of her children developing the same condition will increase.

Treatment of body dysmorphia.

Despite the difficulties that arise from this problem, there are effective approaches that allow an improvement in the way of life of the people who suffer from it. In the next items, we will develop the treatments for body dysmorphia:

psychological therapy

Going to a therapeutic space invites you to reflect on the situations that trigger the thoughts, emotions and behaviors of body dysmorphia. Globally, psychological therapy provides tools to cope in a more pleasant way the difficulties that this clinical picture brings.

On the one hand, short-term therapies try to address current issues through practical exercises that can resolve conflicts. In this sense, the cognitive behavioral therapy it is positioned as the most effective brief approach.

On the other hand, longer lasting therapies are based on the memory of past situations that are related to current symptoms. In this way, the person canadopt other types of solutions about what worries you. The most recognized long therapy is psychoanalysis.

psychiatric medication

If required, there are medications that act on neurotransmitters of the Central Nervous System and produces relief of symptoms. However, these should always be given under the supervision of a mental health professional.

How do I know if I have body dysmorphia - Treatment of body dysmorphia

This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How do I know if I have body dysmorphia?, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamerican Medical Editorial.

Bibliography

  • Behar, R., Arancibia, M., Heitzer, C., Meza, N. (2016). Body dysmorphic disorder: clinical aspects, nosological dimensions and controversies with anorexia nervosa. Chilean Medicine Magazine, 11 (144), 626-633.
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