Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition that leads to one being extremely unhappy with their appearance. They may think certain parts of their body are ‘defects’ – things that need to go away or change completely to be more acceptable. While others may not perceive such features on them as flaws, regardless of whether or not their loved ones admire those features of theirs, body dysmorphia has a significant impact on an individual’s day-to-day life. 

Body dysmorphia can last for as long as decades, and often starts in one’s teen years. There are two main types of body dysmorphia:

• Muscle dysmorphia: Where one doesn’t think their body is big or muscular enough, so they exercise excessively, count their calories, and strictly monitor their diet. It can sometimes overlap with an eating disorder, but not often so. 
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) by Proxy: Where one is hyper focused on what they think are flaws in another person’s appearance. It can be someone they know or even a stranger. It can cause them distress and affects how they function daily. They will be found performing repetitive behaviours to deal with their guilt and anxiety.

While social media doesn’t often cause BDD, it can amplify the condition. Some studies have linked body dysmorphia to the negative use of social media. Social media often normalises standard Western beauty culture, with criteria that is often very hard to meet. 

For example, women are often seen to be more desirable on social media when they are skinnier, so they get more reach on the algorithm. Men are seen as more desirable with larger builds and more muscular figures on social media, so they get more content coverage. The average user viewing all this content will then unconsciously be made to believe that they get a better place in society and in social media algorithms if they look more like these ‘role models’. 

In Saudi Arabia, the presence and prevalence of BDD has been studied in students, then being compared with individuals undergoing facial plastic surgery. They have found that with more time spent on social media for those who have access to it, the more likely they were to opt for plastic surgery. 

While this study cannot be generalisable as it was only conducted on students of one geolocation, it can be used to demonstrate the significance social media has on the youth mindset. While this can shed more light on employment in the beauty industry, it also destroys a lot of individuals’ self esteem, seeing that they are not compatible with the normalised beauty standards. This may worsen the symptoms of BDD and push individuals to pursue unhealthy habits to be seen as more acceptable in terms of appearance. 

It is important to keep social media at bay if you tend to believe it is affecting the way you see yourself. Always ensure to limit your screen time as best as you can. If you find it hard, ask a trusted individual to keep tabs on your screen time, and have them remind you to put your phone down.

If you feel like your body dysmorphia is making it difficult for you to focus on daily activities you once enjoyed, talk to a counsellor. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an ideal place to start if you are looking for professional help. It will help you analyse your thoughts and habits that lead you to change your behaviour, and the therapist will provide you with helpful tasks that help you reflect on much clearer terms. 

If you are a parent and think your child is suffering from body dysmorphia, talk to them. It is absolutely vital that you have an open and healthy communication with them, especially at this stage. Do not dismiss or ridicule their reasons as to why they cannot appreciate their body image, because self-identity is an extremely sensitive and personal topic for young individuals, and anything you say can significantly impact them. 

Battling body dysmorphia is difficult, but it is not impossible. With the right steps and steady pace, you can find yourself being able to look at your reflection without disgust. It will not be an overnight change, but there will be change, and you can be okay. There is no such thing as an ugly body – just what society deems acceptable or not. It is important to separate the truth from opinions. Everyone deserves to appreciate themselves no matter how different we can be to each other. 

PHOTOS © COTTONWOOD TUCSON, YAHOO, BBC, HUBPAGES