Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD is something that has been rather controversial in the past. Is it something that could be linked to society as a whole? Could it even be something that has been implanted in us at an early age? Probably so, studies have shown that in the past that BDD can be brought about by the stigmas that are placed on us when we are young by the media. Some would say that this phenomenon is something that could be completely avoided if we just take away what it means to be perfect in the world’s eyes today. Perfection is something that we have been taught to strive for since we were still in our mother’s wombs, mothers and fathers go around saying that their child is their perfect little Angel. When …show more content…
In teenagers, BDD will eventually take over their life. Teens are influenced by something called the “buy me, wear me, be me” phenomenon. This message is put out by the stars in Hollywood, as well as all over the world in things like New York Fashion Week, and fashion shows all around the world featuring celebrities that are generally characterized as flawless. Everyone wants the celebrity body that has been photo shopped to look absolutely perfect with nonexistent body fat. This is something that needs particular attention especially when dealing with the puberty years when the body is trying to make your body in to an adult with the voice changes, and the ever so lovely, acne; this is when the teenager’s life can begin to turn upside down. In teenage boys, body image is something that is relatively the same. In boys, the problem is not only that they are not thin enough for the outside world, there is also a problem with not being muscular enough, spawning the disorder off of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder, or MDD. MDD is a disorder much like BDD; however, it focuses on the muscles only. This disorder makes boys crave the body of the world’s models. This need to look like a bodybuilder is spawned by the media. When certain ads are on television, they make us feel like we could ultimately achieve that same look as they have which in all reality, results like the one’s shown on television are not typical. This feeling makes teenage boys start eating larger portions of food and start lifting more weights that could potentially injure him. Typically, feelings such as this make the boy engage in potentially destructive activities such as engage in performance enhancing drugs. These compounds include anabolic steroids and human growth hormone which can be purchased over the internet illegally” (Knobloch,
The second psychological test that examines BDD is the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination (BDDE) created by Rosen & Reiter (1994). This test contains a total of thirty-four items, scored on a Likert-style scale with 0 representing "never (or no)" and 6 corresponding to "everyday (or very important)" (Rosen & Reiter, 1994). It features various domains that include how respondents think others perceive their area of distress (if any), as well as self-consciousness and avoidance due to the area of distress (Rosen & Reiter, 1994). It is not a self-questionnaire format but rather designed as an interview based interaction that is filled out by the clinician (for clinical setting) and/or institution (for certain educational purposes) during an
“I had complications after the removal of my appendix – internal bleeding and a haematoma due to the lack of healing time. I hadn’t healed properly and was back at the gym on another course of steroids because I had lost weight in hospital. My muscles had shrunk. I couldn’t stand that I’d worked so hard, then lost weight and got small again.” Jon was only seventeen years old when he suffered from a case of muscle dysmorphia. Also known as Bigorexia, sufferers underestimate the size of their muscles. They put their bodies on the line through grueling workouts with the head set muscle size over health. Jon believed his muscle dysmorphia began when he picked up a ‘Health and Fitness’ magazine from his local corner store. A male on the cover had biceps so large that he could not close his arms properly. Unbeknown to Jon, the photograph was merely an illusion of reality and the handiwork of a seasoned photo-shopper. To reach the male models size was impossible, but the magazine told its readers that it was possible. Are we going to allow our teenagers to try and fulfill an unrealistic and impossible reality portrayed by the media throughout our
Typically, the initial onset of Anorexia strikes in the teen years and continues into young adulthood. During this time, many of those who suffer from symptoms of Anorexia develop a distorted body image. Among men, full blown Anorexia tends to develop later. As previously discussed, Anorexia in males is typically a response to being overweight. Men who develop the disorder generally try to lose weight by restricting their caloric intake and with intense exercise. Men, like women, are being increasingly targeted with similar unrealistic body images. Skinnier models in fashion and an accepted cultural belief that “a real man” has six pack abs, has created a social atmosphere that causes young males who may be of a healthy
Also known as bigorexia, muscle dysmorphic disorder functions through the mind of those who have it and “wrongs the brain’s ability to map body boundaries” (“Muscle dysmorphic disorder (bigorexia),” 2016). Despite attempts at building their muscles by weightlifting or eating plans, bigorexic people are never satisfied with their bodies because they mind is incapable of doing so. Simply put, the mind is unable to see the progress or already existing muscle on those who suffer from this condition, therefore they are led to continuously work towards building their muscles out of a constant worry that they are too small. This disorder is more prevalent in males than females, possibly because “the culturally defined ideal male is big and strong while the ideal female is small and thin” (“Muscle dysmorphic disorder (bigorexia),” 2016). Despite the higher number of males that suffer with this disorder, there is a presence of females who believe they are too thin and Levine explains that media outlets contribute to society’s “obsession” with physical appearances. Levine (2009), also asserts that disorders and obsessions regarding body image spans across all “economic and sociocultural line,” which is a factor that can contribute to the number of those who suffer from
Muscle dysmorphia, also known as "bigorexia" or "megarexia", or even "reverse anorexia", is a type of body disorder, which is sometimes grouped with eating disorders. Mostly affecting males, and most athletes, muscle dysmorphia is obsessive and preoccupying due to a delusional or exaggerated belief that a person’s own body is not large enough, skinny, not muscular enough, or not lean enough, although in most cases, the persons build is perfectly normal or even really large or muscular already. Disordered fixation and mind set on increasing one’s body mass, by devoting unnecessary or excessive time and attention to exercise routines, diets, and harmful or natural nutritional supplements and the use of anabolic steroids is common. A lot of money is also usually spent on purchasing and the use of the supplements.
Body dysmorphic disorder or BDD is a type pf mental illness in which you can’t stop thinking about a flaw in your appearance. You intensely obsess over your appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. Your perceived flaw causes you significant distress, and your obsession impacts your ability to function in your daily life. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures or excessively exercise to try to "fix" your perceived flaw, but you're never satisfied. Body dysmorphic disorder is also known as dysmorphophobia, the fear of having a deformity.
In a generation filled with entertainment and technology, there are many advertisements that exist. Advertisements, such as clothing advertisements, involve lots of touch ups on the model, making what the world sees, a fake reality of what human body look like. For some of the North American population, these advertisements do not affect them; they will look at the body of the model and not think much of it. But for those who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, this will affect them in a completely different way. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is “a body image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one’s appearance” (ADAA, 2014). The impact that advertisements can have on those suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, can be crucial to their mental health. These individuals will begin to obsess over changing something about themselves that may not even be an imperfection about them. But since a model or someone else looks a certain way and they do not, they will do anything they can to change it, which can be very unhealthy. Those with Body Dysmorphic Disorder will perform different behaviours to attempt at hiding or improving their flaws (ADAA, 2014). Some of those who are suffering may even develop an eating disorder.
People now a days have a problem with the way they appear. For hundreds of years, people, especially females, have been concerned with their weight, the way they look, and the way people perceive them. In the article, Do You Have a Body Image Problem? author Dr. Katharine A. Phillips discusses the concerns with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Dr. Phillips uses her knowledge or ethics to discuss the effects that BDD has on people today. She also uses emotion to show the reader how people are seriously affected by this disorder. In Dr. Phillips article, she discusses how people are emotionally and socially affected by the body dysmorphic disorder, and how society is also affected by it.
Body image disorders which can be very serious severe conditions are often considered to mostly affect women, men, however can also suffer from Body image issues. In men, a body image disorder typically presents itself as Muscular Dysmorphia. Men who are suffering from Muscular Dysmorphia often resort to hazardous ways to gain more muscle, such as over-exercising unhealthy amounts and steroids. Treatment for Muscular Dysmorphia frequently includes prescription anti-depressants. While effective, prescription drugs create a dilemma for a high school guidance counselor who may face ethical barriers in recommending a potentially harmful medication to minors. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT), has shown promise as an effective non-pharmaceutical treatment for body image disorders, and has been used in the school setting for years.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a psychological disorder in which a person thinks about their flaws and imperfections for hours a day and take extreme measures in order to “perfect their body” so it can finally appeal to them and be the way it is “suppose to be.” Those who suffer from this disorder cannot control there negative thoughts and it can prevent them from doing everyday activities such as attend school and attend work. They are more prone to miss social events than go out to show off their results and are insecure about how they tried to fix there “imperfections.” And are never satisfied with their results as they undergo more drastic measures to reach their end goal such as plastic surgery, continuous self-tanning, hours of laser surgeries
Chronic dieting, low self-esteem, depression and, high levels of body dissatisfaction were among the major issues women face when addressing their body image (Gingras, Fitzpatrick, & McCargar, 2004). The severity of body image dissatisfaction have increased to such a dangerous state that it was added to the DSM-IV as a disorder now called body dysmorphic disorder (Suissa, 2008). One of the main reasons for the prevalence of these conditions in women was due to contemporary Western media, which serve as one of the major agent in enforcing an ultra-thin figure as the ideal for female beauty (Saraceni & Russell-Mayhew, 2007). These images and models presented by the media have become the epitome of beauty, pushing women who internalized these images to dangerous extent to attain these norms. According to evidence from previous studies, contemporary Western cultures have influenced women to an acquired normative state of discontent with their bodies, which have become the source of maladaptive eating practices, negative psychological outcomes, and, chronic health conditions associated with eating disorders (Snapp, Hensley-Choate, & Ryu, 2012). The seriousness of these body image conditions among youths and women have also led to congressional actions.
A body image problem didn’t mean that there is problem with your look, but rather that you are observing and valuing your physical appearance in a bad way. Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD, states to a particular body image problem manifest by an intense obsession with a perceived blemish in your physical appearance.
Body dysmorphic disorder also shows up in other countries. BDD is a common disorder among individuals seeking aesthetic surgery in Iran. In Brazil, prevalence of the disorder in dermatologic patients was evaluated in a sample of 150 patients in a cosmetic group, 150 in a general dermatology group, and 50 control subjects. Prevalence in the cosmetic group was 14%, compared with 6.7% for the general group, and 2% for the control group.
A psychosomatic disorder includes Body Dysmorphic Disorder. This disorder allows a person to think negative about their real selves for many hours each day. This is because they believe that any part of their body is not perfect for them. They believe that no matter what their friends or family tell them about how great they look, they wish that they had a better and skinnier body, face shape, etc. Since this disease doesn’t let them control what they think, it is hard for them to not be stressed out because their mind causes them to be in an emotional distress state, which causes their daily routines to be disturbed (ADAA 2014). According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America, they stated that “it affects men and women almost equally”
The International OCD Foundation discovered that about 1 in 50 of the general population suffers from body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder, or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends too much time worrying the imperfections in their appearance. Anyone can have body dysmorphia, but it is most common in teenagers and young adults.