Body Dysmorphia: What Is It and How Can You Treat It
During the pandemic, many people found themselves becoming hyper-aware of their bodies. All of a sudden we had endless time to ourselves to scrutinize our body and compare it to the images we saw online. Recently many people have opened up about how the pandemic affected their relationship with their bodies. As a result, the topic of body dysmorphia has gained a lot of attention. Body dysmorphia is a term that is becoming more and more common. But, many people don't actually know what it is. In this blog post, we will explore what body dysmorphia is and how you can treat it. We will also discuss how Covid has changed our eating habits and our body image. We will also discuss why it's important to have a healthy relationship with food and your body.
What is Body Dysmorphia? How Do I Identify Body Dysmorphia Symptoms?
Body dysmorphia (or body dysmorphic disorder) is a condition that causes people to have a distorted view of their bodies. They may see themselves as being much larger or smaller than they actually are. Or they may have a distorted view of their features. You might be thinking to yourself, doesn't everyone view themselves in a harsh way? That may be true to an extent. But, body dysmorphia causes people to be very concerned with a self-perceived flaw.
This can continue to the point where they may avoid social situations. Or, become overwhelmed with insecurity and anxiety about their body. It’s important to note that body dysmorphia can only be diagnosed by a professional according to the specific diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5. It’s a serious mental health condition, and it can lead to eating disorders and other health problems. Do you think that you may be struggling with body dysmorphia? If so, we encourage you to reach out to one of our eating disorder therapists and body image counselors for help.
How Covid-19 Changed Our Relationship with Our Bodies
Covid-19 has changed our lives in countless ways. One most notable way including our relationship with our bodies. For many people being stuck at home meant that they had more time to focus on their appearance and their weight. Especially if they already had concerns about their body image. During the pandemic, we all spent even more time online. Thus, this meant more time comparing our bodies to the images we saw on social media.
There was also a lot of pressure to “use your time wisely" and to take up new hobbies or get “in shape". Your social media may have become flooded with "before and after" photos of people who lost weight during the pandemic. You may be one of the people who started working out on a regular basis or started a new fad diet. Many people started exercising or eating healthier with good intentions. They wanted to live a healthier lifestyle and take care of their bodies. Though for some, this evolved into an obsession with "improving" their bodies and may have even led to body dysmorphia.
Healing From Body Dysmorphia Symptoms
If you think you may be struggling with body dysmorphia, it's important to seek help from a professional. Body dysmorphia is a serious condition. It can cause damaging mental and physical effects, which is why it’s so important to reach out for help. There are many resources available, and you don't have to go through this alone. Body dysmorphia treatment can be very helpful in healing your relationship with your body and your body image concerns. It might also be useful to consult with a nutritionist to make sure you are nourishing your body in a proper way. Doing so can help to develop a healthy relationship with food. Often, eating disorder therapists, body image counselors, and nutritionists can collaborate with one another. Doing so helps ensure that their clients are taking care of their bodies and minds.
It's important to remember that you are not alone in this. There is help available. Body dysmorphia isn’t only a buzzword, it’s a real condition that many people struggle with. Though it is possible to recover and have a healthy (and even positive!) relationship with your body. If you think you may be struggling with body dysmorphia, please reach out for help.
Start Body Dysmorphia Treatment in San Antonio, TX
You deserve support in healing from body dysmorphia. Our team of caring therapists is happy to offer support from our San Antonio, TX-based practice. We can help improve your relationship with your body. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
Meet with a caring therapist
Start addressing your body image issues! For more information, contact us or call 210.384.1254.