Dysmorphophobia: causes, symptoms and treatment

A disorder that goes from complex to obsession and from obsession to the operating room.

All of us at some point in our lives have been embarrassed by some physical defect or burdened by some part of our body that we do not appreciate. or overwhelmed by some part of our body that we do not appreciate. But... what happens when a small complex becomes a 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 one's 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 the body, the symptoms are related to the obsession towards a specific part of the physical aspect of the subject.. 

The sufferer feels a constant and excessive worry about some physical defect, whether real or imagined. If such a physical defect exists in reality, the levels of anxiety experienced are exorbitant, since they perceive it in an exaggerated way, and may even have major emotional problems or social isolation. It is important to note that we are not referring to a problem of self-image related to eating disorders (as in anorexia) or sexual identity (which causes rejection of one's own body, specifically the genitals).

Causes and beginnings of this psychological disorder

This type of problem usually begins in adolescence, where the greatest physical and bodily changes occur, and diminishes with age, although sometimes it can persist into adulthood.

It has been studied that dysmorphophobia appears equally in men and women.Although it could be thought that the pressure for the physique demands more to the feminine gender. According to etiology, 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 it the center of their lives. The tendency to an anxious personality, low self-esteem or having been a victim of some kind of bullying or mockery in childhood, may predispose to suffer from this type of problem.

The "cursed parts" of the body

According to various studies on the subject, the typical areas that are the object of the greatest obsession are: skin defects are: skin defects (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 due to the obsession can lead sufferers to real emotional imbalances related to depression, anxiety attacks, low self-esteem and social isolation as they think that everyone sees their "defect" in the same way.

Feelings of shame or social inadequacy accompany them constantly, as well as comparisons with the physique of other people. It is very frequent that associated with this obsession, comes a compulsion to try to reduce the anxiety. In this sense, the person can fall into a real ritual of aesthetic care, abuse of make-up, creams, or type of clothes.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 models of reference transferred from the media, in many occasions tometimes they transfer unattainable standards of beautyThe current reference models transferred from the media often transfer unattainable standards of beauty, which affect the most vulnerable people with an erroneous perception of real beauty and a distorted or exaggerated perception of their imperceptible or imaginary physical defects.

This obsession with physique affects all types of people, and is even more accentuated if they have a public image or live from it and have a high status. Lately we have seen how in some celebrities or personalities, cosmetic surgery treatments have resulted in physical changes that have little to do with the original face. In most of the occasions, the 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 celebrities, after their last "retouching", not only because there are no signs of natural aging, but also because they have lost their most characteristic physical features. And the fact is that major and minor plastic surgery is being the method of celebrities to appease anxiety and encourage the obsession for 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 the anxiety momentarily and in the short term, but soon after the obsession reappears.. 

The reinforcement with the surgery is almost immediate but 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 the intervention.

How can we 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 self-image as well as a deep work on self-esteem. Part of the anxiety about the physique is maintained because the person does not value other areas of his or her life, and they make that defect a whole.

On the other hand, it will be essential to expose oneself to enjoy social relationships independently of one's own self-esteem.. The rational acceptance of one's own defects but also of one's own personal resources are the key to reorient the sufferers of this type of problem.