Body or TDC dysmorphic disorder is a complex disorder, with many variables, which appears as an obsession to hide some part of the body in an obsessive and compulsive way.It is described as an excessive concern for some physical defect or imperfection practically imperceptible or unimportant to others.
This excessive concern and distortion of the perception of the image itself leads to search and check the supposed defects to try to correct them or hide them before others, either with garments, excess makeup, aesthetic surgery, etc..This is usually distorted or oversized and entails feelings of shame, restlessness, recurrent thoughts of obsessive type, anguish and low self -esteem, being able to seriously affect mood, social relations and everyday life.
TDC cases are increasing considerably in recent years due to a social context that encourages, more day, body cult, physical perfection or the modelic image.These extreme demands tight to impossible and unreal beauty canons can make body diversity as a ‘defect’, since it does not fit what is expected as a normative.And, therefore, if it does not fit into those canons, we are thrown the message that it is not a ‘valid’ body.
All this generates many consequences on physical and mental health: frustration, self -examination, need for control, involvement of self -esteem, this last being also another possible factor of vulnerability.
Another possible reason is based on “the violence that a person has suffered or suffers from their own image or body, seriously damaging their perception in the future, especially in ages such as adolescence.
The main symptoms of TDC:
- Concern and negative and obsessive thoughts for the physical aspect.
- Fear or difficulties in perception.
- Compulsive behaviors such as excessive cleanliness, camouflage under makeup or covering with clothes to hide that supposed imperfection, recurrent practice of plastic surgery, constant review in the mirror, pour the skin, constant comparison with others.
- Low self-esteem.
- Feelings of shame, anxiety, depression and anger.
- They allocate a minimum of one hour a day in the perception of their ‘defects’ and increase even until eight hours a day.
How is the disorder:
- Try not to constantly check in front of the mirror or taking photos.The look in you will obsessively increase your anxiety and distort the perception of your image, losing objectivity.
- Limit your purchases and the search for accessories to hide parts of your body or try to improve them, since it can become something compulsive that feeds distortion.
- Limit the use of social networks that may be influencing you to constantly compare yourself with others and idealized and unrealistic beauty canons.
- Avoid filters and applications used to perfect the image.
- Value other aspects of your personality and your life that you are perhaps letting go unnoticed, such as your personal qualities, hobbies and concerns.
- I went to a specialized professional who can guide us and provide us with tools in order to be able to travel that discomfort accompanied, and to acquire other ways to face the situation more adaptive and healthy.
On many occasions, this approach or therapy will be aimed at reducing the intensity and frequency of concerns, modifying that unreal vision on the supposed defect, and the decrease in behaviors that can accompany it.
Source: Cosmopolitan
