Dysmorphophobia: definition, symptoms and treatment

2023-06-28 16:50:37

Thanks to Dr. Dominique-Adèle Cassuto, to the psychologist Dre. Charlotte Gamache, Marine Energécool, Mathilde Blancal, Cécile Pereira and Sandra Galo Martins, for their expertise.

Have difficulty in perceive your body as it really isthis is how one might more broadly define dysmorphophobia. Convinced that they are ugly, repulsive or even downright monstrous, some people experience this disorder as a real handicap on a daily basis. Overview of the causes and solutions for overcome dysmorphophobia.

Dysmorphophobia, what is it?

Considered by professionals as a psychiatric mental disorderdysmorphophobia, also called body dysmorphia or in BDD English (Body Dismorphic Disorder)characterized by :

• Of the obsessive thoughts on one or more physical defects. Focus on these faults, being convinced that those around us only see this. These defects are mostly almost non-existent but very present for people suffering from dysmorphophobia.
• More women would be affected by this disorder as for men, the latter would be more affected by muscle dysmorphiaalso called the “bodybuilder’s disease” ie to see oneself insufficiently muscular and to push the practice of sport to the extreme and to adopt a strict diet.

Dysmorphophobics tend to be in constant comparison with others, the obsessive complexes on which they fixate truly handicap their daily lives. There are several levels of body dysmorphiathe complexes can range from a “simple” difficulty in appreciating oneself on a photo of ourselves, to a real anguish the idea of ​​seeing your reflection in a mirror until a total inability to leave the house. Often associated with eating disorders, dysmorphophobia can manifest itself in addition to anorexia, hyperphagia, bulimia or orthorexia (eat as healthily as possible). These complexes arise in most cases from reflections made by his close circle or his family but also from the injunction to thinness conveyed by society and the media. Difficult to quantify, dysmorphophobia remains at present and poorly documented problem. According to a study published by the Oxford University Press, dysmorphophobia affects 1.7 to 2.9% of the American population.

To identify if one is affected by this disorder, there are several symptoms to consider :

• Of the obsessive thoughts regarding his body and failing to see yourself as you are. Intrusive thoughts that are hard to control and keep coming back.
• Hurt your body, self-criticize, belittle yourself, feel deep disgust for yourself.
• To have some eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, orthorexia), Practicing an excessive sporting activity, anything that is of the order of extreme control over one’s body.
• Look in the mirror all the time to “body checker” and scrutinize themselves in an uncontrolled way to look for the slightest defect.

Body dysmorphia is a disorder difficult to live with on a daily basis. According to a study relayed by The International OCD Foundation, nearly 80% of those affected declared to have suicidal thoughts and 25% of them have already done a suicide attempt. To overcome dysmorphophobia, you can:

• Take control of your social networks. many psychologists advise starting with remove all possible notifications from social networks and unfollow Instagram accounts of “fit girls“for example because – consciously or not – these tend to encourage us to compare our bodies to theirs; which turns out to be very harmful to his relationship to the body and self-esteem.
• Get help from a health professional. It should be kept in mind that dysmorphophobia is not an incurable problem. This disorder can be treated well if you get help from an appropriate healthcare professional as a psychologist or psychiatrist. At the rate of one to several sessions per week, the dysmorphophobic person will be able to follow what is called cognitive behavioral therapy. That is to say that the patient will work on identification of parasitic thoughts and avoid diving towards obsessive compulsive behavior. The psychologist will guide the patient towards keys to free him from his low self-esteem. The care will be done gently, without rushing the patient who can be very fragile. As the sessions progress, he will work on relationshipsthe feeling of legitimacy, etc.
• Undergo medical treatment. If therapy is not enough, antidepressant treatment can complete the healing journey.
• Practical exercises to be carried out outside the doctor’s office can also be offered to the patient to act gradually on the complex.

Dysmorphophobia is a disorder that can be treated well in the long term, the main thing being to find the right shrink.

Our reading tips to better understand dysmorphophobia

To put words and pictures on this misunderstood, taboo and yet very present disorder in our society, the book by endocrinologist Dr. Dominique-Adèle Cassuto, discusses dysmorphophobia with a medical and playful look thanks to the illustrations of the artist Titeepex.

And to deconstruct the relationship to the body on a diet, the work of Mathilde Blancal is a poignant and humorous testimony to dramatize!

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