It is an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one’s appearance.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines Dysmorphia as “A condition in which part of the body is a different shape from normal.” It is a deformity or abnormality in the body. But it is often used to indicate an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one’s appearance. In reality the flaw, for instance a few pimples, may seem minor or non-existent to others but the person with the obsession. Such a person is suffering from Body Dysmorphia Disorder or BDD. It is estimated that around one million people suffer from BDD in India.
Sufferers from BDD tend to go into a shell and avoid social contact. They are constantly checking themselves in the mirror and trying to hide the perceived defect. Another symptom is repetitive behavior such as constantly rubbing a perceived flaw. He longs for positive affirmations and needs to be reassured by others that he looks good. He 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 muscles. She thinks she is too fat and goes into extremes of fasting. She follows diet fads and may land up being anorexic. The sufferer constantly checks herself in the mirror. She goes out of her way to hide her non-existent defect by wearing loose clothing, constantly picks into her pimples thus causing lesions and infections.
Plastic surgery is a necessity in cases such as acid, burn or accident victims. We all 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 creams and cosmetics in order to hide blemishes. 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 opinion 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 they are constantly under the plastic surgeon’s knife. Don’t get fooled by those wrinkle pimple free faces and pouting lips. Similarly models strutting the ramp need to have a slim body so that they can influence those with deep pockets to buy what are sometimes outrageous clothes. Beauty, it would appear, is in the eyes of the influenced beholder.
Maya’s mother Surekha works hard as a help 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. This is unfortunate. 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? Experts have put forth many suggestions.
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 batch mates in college.
Experts suggest focusing on goals such as learning more about a given subject. This 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 behavioral 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 who 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.” “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. When amputees accept their challenges and move on, why can’t others?
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 multi-dimensional. However, in order to weave a rich tapestry of our lives, we should not allow ourselves to focus only on our outward physical appearances.
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