r/BodyDysmorphia • u/poozu • Mar 12 '21
The primary methods of dealing with BDD, from a medical standpoint, is medication that can reduce obsessive thoughts and therapy, mainly cognitive-behavioural therapy (or CBT for short). Many of us might be skeptic or even afraid to try it, but there is no need to be, here is why.
I don’t know what cognitive-behavioural therapy is or what happens in therapy. - Therapy is a form of treatment where mental issues are addressed mainly via talking and bringing mental issues into a place where they can be addressed and handled by the sufferer. Cognitive therapy, or talk therapy, involves talking and discussing issues and finding solutions to them together with a professional, with the goal of reducing emotional suffering. Cognitive-behavioural therapy aims at also reducing behaviour that could cause distress. This can be done with tasks or learning new ways of doing things. The work is done by the patient and no one will force you to talk or do anything you don’t want.
But I’m not diagnosed with BDD. - A diagnosis is not needed to get therapy. In some cases it can help with insurance coverage but other than that anyone can go to therapy for any reason, diagnosis or not.
I’m afraid they will think my issues are stupid or I’m delusional. - Medical professionals and therapists have seen it all. They have very good perspective and education under them. They understand what the issues are that you are describing and their main goal is to help you, not to judge you. No respecting or professional therapist would call your issues stupid. Though they may challenge you into thinking why you might think the way you do, but this is not to judge but to help you gain insight to who you are what can be changed to make you feel better. If you feel unjustifiably judged, change therapists.
I’m worried they will make me give up all grooming and self care and I will have to learn to be the ugliest version of myself. - The goal of therapy is not to make you a totally different person or make you give up all your habits. The goal is to reduce the behaviour that causes you worry and anxiety. You can still do makeup, but the goal is that you don’t feel like crying if your makeup isn’t perfect. You can still go to the gym and work out, but the goal is you don’t have a breakdown for missing a day and feeling like you gained weight over night. The aim is to find a healthy balance and reduce the things that cause you anxiety. You don’t need to become the role model of natural looks, but learn healthy balance.
What if people or my family judge me for being in therapy. - Therapy is something that would benefit every single person on this planet. Getting help is never something to be ashamed of. Anyone who makes you feel bad or weak for getting help is harbouring a very unhelpful mindset themselves that might prevent them for helping themselves, and that is the real tragedy. Always work towards your own health and don’t let others bully you out of helping yourself.
I don’t want therapy, I just want surgery or other procedures. - BDD is a mental disorder and it’s important to acknowledge that. The goal of therapy is not to talk you out of a decision but the help you understand what issues are real and which are the disorder. Therapy will help prevent you from doing unnecessary procedures that can harm your looks and to make sure you will not be equally unhappy after a procedure. Surgery and augmentation of ones looks is very rarely a permanent solution but therapy can help you build a healthy mindset where you can truly make the best decisions for yourself.
I don’t think I can afford it. - Nothing in this world is more important than your mental and physical health. Prioritise these things as much as you reasonably can. Find out how you can get insurance coverage, do you have access to support groups or group therapy that is free or look into online groups like those provided by the BDD foundation. You can always call a therapist and ask them what ways you could afford a session, many places are happy to tell you how to best afford treatment.
I have trouble opening up or it makes me uncomfortable. - Many people find it hard to honestly talk about their BDD since it can feel irrational or embarrassing. But therapists have heard it many times before, and worse. It’s important to find a person you feel comfortable with, this can take several tries but is always worth it. You can open up slowly and start with small pieces and work up to bigger issues. This is normal and no one will push you to go faster than you feel comfortable with.
I’ve tried it before and it didn’t help. - There can be several reasons why therapy might not have worked. The therapist might not have been equipped to handling BDD, the chemistry wasn’t right and prevented opening up honestly, the patient wasn’t ready to get help and work on the issues, there wasn’t enough time... having another go with another therapist is often a good idea. Also considering if medication could help is a possibility. When trying therapy again make sure you’re with the right person, you’re ready to work on the issues, you’re being honest with what the problems are and that you give therapy enough time to work.
Therapy is a fantastic tool to people suffering from BDD, and is something recommended by professionals as the primary form of treatment. If you suffer from BDD, therapy is something worth trying.
Finding a therapist
The International OCD Foundation’s therapist search.
You can choose BDD from the Advanced search option. Every professional has listed what they treat and how. They have also been verified to be licensed by the OCD foundation.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/poozu • Sep 21 '20
There are many ways one can combat body dysmorphia. Some people are able to manage symptoms on their own, some need medical intervention or more intense periods of treatment. What ever your situation, there are ways to combat BDD.
Here are some way to combat your BDD listed in ascending order from self help to medical treatments.
Self-help:
- This can include many things. Anything from taking physical care of yourself, to reading about BDD and how it’s treated to making changes in your life that help support a stable mental health. Self help in a great tool and at the bottom of every recovery is the personal desire to better ones situation.
BDD workbook:
- Compiled by medial professionals, the workbook gives important insight to how BDD works, what triggers it and what methods you can learn to help yourself in a proven way. You’ll learn to limit your obsessive behaviour and recognise disordered thinking. This is one of the best self help tools there is.
Online therapy and support groups:
- The BDD Foundation for example offers online therapy groups that come together weekly. A free and easy to access form of therapy can be a good support in addressing BDD symptoms if there are no possibilities or need for more personal or intense forms of therapy.
Therapy:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy, or CBT, is the recommend form of treatment for people with BDD. It can focus on what are the specific issues and triggers in you and how they can be helped. This is a form of treatment that can give great, individual help and offer support in every area of life on top of BDD.
BDD specialists:
- Though sadly quite rare, there are places and therapists and doctors who focus on BDD and other related disorders. They can give more focused advice and treatment and are often informed with the latest developments. This is a good choice when available.
Psyciatric professionals:
- This form involves doctors like psychiatrists, who can give formal diagnosis as well as offer medical level advice and give prescriptions. If you feel like your BDD is so intense that functioning in daily life is hard or you feel like you could benefit from medication, it’s a good idea to talk to also a psyciatrist as well as a therapist.
Medication:
- Because BDD is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it’s symptoms can often be alleviated the same as many OCDs. Sometimes medication can be a great tool in reducing the symptoms, and combined with therapy, the likelihood of better quality of life is high. Here you can find general information of medication used to treat BDD.
Out patient care:
- If more intense forms of care seems to be needed, one option is out patient care where the patient is in a close contact with, usually a psychiatric hospital or a doctor, and usually has for example therapy sessions several times a week. This can be a good options for those who have a very hard time with daily functioning or are suicidal.
In patient care:
- The rarest form of treatment is in patient care where the patient stays in the hospital and can be given support and help daily. This often requires for the patient to be in acute risk of suicide or is unable to function in their daily life. Though this is often the last option, it’s good to know that help is available even when things are very serious.
The forms of treatment and the health care systems work differently in every country and it’s always a good idea to talk to your local doctors and professionals on what options are available to you. But know that there are many ways that BDD can be treated and alleviated. The most important thing is remembering you’re worth help and there are several ways to get it.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/Low_Edge_1277 • 6h ago
29f and the past month has been beyond horrible. My body is filled with anxiety and depression. I haven’t worked in almost 2 weeks it’s been so bad. I barely leave the house. I don’t feel like my therapist gets it at all. I’m just really tired and feel no hope.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/outrageousseller67 • 26m ago
I was always fat, still am but my brother took a pic of me randomly and showed it to me and I didn't recognise myself. K didn't realise that big fat ass was me. Like I genuinely believed in my mind I wasn't that fat. I don't know what it is i thought of myself as smaller than I actually am. I'm 5'9 and 100kgs like 40% body fat so pretty fat.
Also, I recently got this weird obsession with having big hands and I look at my hands and they feel small. I'm very insecure about them. But I saw a pic my brother randomly took where there was a big person with these giant hands and I asked my brother who that was and he says it's you. I was so shocked. My hands looked so much bigger in that pic than they look irl
What is it. Why does my brain do this. Is this body dysmorphia?
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/Twnykittn • 9h ago
I looked in my mirror earlier and thought my thighs actually looked good and then i looked again some minutes ago and its like its back to regular old criticizing myself but i know nothing changed. like idk if other people also feel like in their vision their body parts change throughout the day too even though theyre not like for example i thought my legs looked nice and toned earlier but now after looking in the mirror i thought that they looked bad
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/AutoModerator • 2h ago
Here you can find listed below general information on BDD and related foundations, the clinical classification and symptoms of BDD, advice for friends and family, as well as self-help and support groups, both in-person and online.
General information
Clinical classification
For friends and family
The BDD Foundation, Supporting a close one with BDD
Mind.org, How can friends and family help
Self-help
Body dysmorphia workbook by the CCI
Building self-compassion workbook by the CCI
Support groups
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/seven-saturns • 5h ago
I'm not too sure if this is allowed so please remove it if not :)
For a year between the ages of 13 and 14, I had really severe anorexia, so much so that I had a bmi of 10 at my worst and weighed 60lbs at 5'2. My doctor entirely failed to refer me to the eating disorder clinic, so I was this weight for like 5 months straight, and slightly better in the months between the start of my ed and recovery.
It's obviously been years since, but I feel my body hasn't really changed all that much since my recovery, even though I'm much healthier now. I have a ridiculously flat chest, and no curves or thighs, and if I ever gain weight it just goes to my stomach.
If somebody else has been in a similar situation, can you tell me whether you eventually developed any shape at all, or if I ruined my chance at actually looking like my age. Thank you!!
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/AutoModerator • 8h ago
Going to therapy or getting professional help is not always an option, getting help may also take some time. To help you to better understand and address BDD by yourself, we have compiled a workbook that you can do by yourself. It contains information and tasks which will help shine a light to why BDD is the way it is and how you can deal with the symptoms. All chapters are based on an official workbook by the Centre for Clinical Intervention.
The BDD workbook:
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/Speshul_Ball • 12h ago
Is it also dysmorphia if it's also a functional problem that your body has ? I have retrognathia which means I have a recessed chin from lack of facial development and it's affected my face. I'm highly aware of it but also know it's not abnormal to feel ashamed by it.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/OneOnOne6211 • 23h ago
What I'm about to say is super weird, but I wanted to ask if anyone here can relate to it.
So I have BDD. I am deeply, deeply insecure about my appearance. It strongly affects my mood. And I go anywhere from thinking I'm an ugly troll to quite good-looking, sometimes within the same day.
I have heard a lot of people here say that for them compliments either do nothing or make them feel worse. But for me it's different.
For me a spontaneous compliment about what I look like will initially make me feel better, then I'll start doubting it. But more to the point of this post, I'll be scared to lose it.
Like if I get someone saying something very positive about my appearance, particularly women I don't know, I'll be super afraid of "losing it."
It's weird and it makes no sense. The thing already happened. They already said it. But I'm scared of "losing it" somehow. That somehow it'll suddenly not be true anymore. Or that they'll reveal it was a joke. Or that I'll find out that it was a lie or a manipulation or they felt bad for me or something. Or maybe it'll just be lighting or the picture and they'll change their mind suddenly next time they see me/first time they see me IRL.
Like even talking about it makes me nervous. I'm nervous about even writing down any specific compliments anyone gave me because I'm scared that somehow that means I'm being arrogant or taking it for granted and that somehow because of karma it'll suddenly no longer be true or turn out not to be true.
It's ridiculous. It makes no sense, that part anyway. It's like how some sports fans wear specific types of socks when their team is playing because otherwise they fear they'll lose. It's a superstition. But I really fear it deeply and feel like I'd do anything to avoid it.
I know this is super bizarre. But that's why I was wondering, does anyone feel this exact kind of thing? Not just insecurity or whatever, but literally like when you get positive feedback you feel constantly terrified that you'll lose it or that you'll do something to screw it up, even when it makes no sense?
Because I've never heard anyone talk about that. So I'm wondering if it just doesn't get talked about, or whether my BDD is just weird.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/playgrrl • 11h ago
Hi there, the past year I have developed somewhat of a fixation on my skin.
I have an unknown rash on my back and chest, which doctors cannot identify very well.
I have scars on one of my thighs which has caused a texture difference compared to the other, which I have been focusing on a lot.
I also used to pick my face with a comedone extractor (loop tool thing) and I find myself doing daily inspections of my face to find any lasting damage.
I have convinced myself I have hidden lines and scars under my skin on my face, which I know is a bit odd.
I have seeked therapy but not heard back yet after my assessment.
I just want to know, does anyone else focus on their skin the most, and also if you have any product recommendations or even mental practices.
Thanks!
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/kiks_02 • 1d ago
i’ve struggled with body dysmorphia for so long that it’s honestly taken over every part of my life. i have such a terrible relationship with myself, and i don’t know if i’ll ever truly accept the way i look. no matter what i do, my brain always finds something to hate about me.
it affects everything. i overthink how i look constantly, avoid putting myself out there, and convince myself i’m not good enough before anyone else even gets the chance to decide. i genuinely think my insecurities are one of the biggest reasons i can’t get into relationships because i can’t imagine someone seeing me the way i wish i could see myself. body dysmorphia has stolen so much from me, and i’m so exhausted from letting it control my life.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/Enough-Gur-2556 • 1d ago
*edit: een verknoeide cosmetische ingreep liet me beseffen dat ik al jaren met BDD rondloop*
Ik wilde gewoon mijn verhaal hier delen. Ik heb een paar vergelijkbare verhalen gelezen (meer van die waarschuwingen) zoals die van mij, en die hebben me echt geholpen om me niet zo alleen te voelen of me niet zo beschaamd te voelen. Daarom ben ik hier om hetzelfde te doen.
Ik ben 22V, ik heb mijn eigen appartement, een bedrijf en ik heb een bachelor’s degree. Ik heb een narcistische moeder, met wie ik al 2 jaar geen contact heb (waarschijnlijk de kernreden voor al mijn mentale problemen).
Toen ik een kind was, rond mijn elfde, weet ik nog dat ik affirmaties over mijn uiterlijk hoorde (kleine neus, kleine taille, afvallen, een egale huid, enz.) terwijl ik opgroeide. En toen begon ik me obsessief bezig te houden met mijn gewicht. Daardoor ben ik telkens weer diezelfde 20 kilo kwijtgeraakt en weer aangekomen. Het was voor mij een manier om om te gaan toen ik met mijn moeder te maken had.
Toen ik 18 werd, worstelde ik nog steeds met mijn beeld van mijn lichaam, maar het was niet meer constant. Subconscious begon ik mijn lichaam met rust te laten en toen ik dacht dat ik ervan genezen was, kwam het weer op in mijn gezicht. Ik ben altijd impulsief geweest (waarschijnlijk ADHD, waar mijn zussen mee zijn gediagnosticeerd), maar ik denk niet dat het alleen maar impulsiviteit is. Ik denk dat ik mentaal ziek ben.
Ik begon met cosmetische ingrepen toen ik 18 was: 2,3 ml lipfillers in een jaar tijd, kin filler, botox brow lift, neus filler, hip dip filler, ik vergeet vast iets. Verdrietig genoeg heb ik altijd al een neuscorrectie willen hebben sinds ik ongeveer 12 was. Dus ik heb er één laten doen in Turkije toen ik 21 was. Ik heb wel jaren onderzoek gedaan naar de ingreep, maar ik was super impulsief richting de arts. Ik heb hier gelezen dat dat een teken is van BDD. Gelukkig is het uiteindelijk oké gegaan, maar ik kreeg 2 dagen na de ingreep ineens uit het niets een paniekaanval en ik heb mijn lichaam niet geluisterd. Ik betrap mezelf erop dat ik deze nieuwe neus uit elkaar probeer te halen, terwijl ik eigenlijk zó blij ben—ik haatte mijn oude neus—maar ik zie nog steeds asymmetrieën in deze. Ik zat na te denken over een correctie.
Na mijn neusoperatie kreeg ik ook een nek/dubbele kin lipo in mijn eigen land. Ik was er heel blij mee, maar weer was ik erg impulsief met het boeken van de ingreep en met die arts. Gelukkig was dit mijn ‘beste’ ingreep tot nu toe.
Ik begon me te zwaar te voelen en mijn lippen werden “opgelost”. Ik was zo blij en begon het ‘natuurlijke’ lookje bij mezelf echt mooi te vinden.
Daarna dacht ik dat mijn lijst bijna klaar was. Ik wilde alleen nog mijn konijntandjes fixen en misschien wat borsten. Vier dagen geleden is bij mij in mijn eigen land iets verknoeid door een tandarts. Ze hebben mijn 4 gezonde voortanden afgeschaafd en er lelijke, witte, nepkronen op gelijmd. Ik ben wakker geworden.
Het moment dat ik mijn eigen acties en manier van denken niet meer kon herkennen, was het moment waarop ik wist: ik moet hulp zoeken. Ik wou zelfs mijn tanden niet laten afslijpen—ik hield van mijn konijntandjes. En ik negeerde alle rode vlaggen en toch ging ik ermee door. WAAROM? Dat is wat ik wil uitzoeken in therapie.
Ik dacht altijd dat ik mijn eigen therapeut was. Ik heb op mijn leeftijd heel veel meegemaakt en ik zorgde er altijd voor dat ik mezelf een beter leven gaf. Maar nu denk ik eindelijk dat dit iets is dat ik niet zelf kan oplossen. Ik had mijn tanden kapot nodig om te zien dat ik al minstens een decennium stiekem, misschien ook wel onbewust, met dit gedoe zit. Ik wil geen nieuwe procedures meer. Ik zoek een specialist om te proberen iets terug te brengen dat lijkt op mijn oude tanden, en ik ga binnenkort ook hulp krijgen van een therapeut. Ik ben nog nooit zo somber geweest in mijn leven, en het schrikt me zelfs dat ik nu zo depressief kan zijn over mijn uiterlijk—alleen maar door mijn tanden, terwijl ik het merendeel van de tijd echt leuk vind wat ik in de spiegel zie.
Ik ben altijd een vrouw geweest die er boven gemiddeld goed uitzag, en ik voelde echt dat alle ingrepen me tot nu toe beter lieten lijken. Het heeft me wakker geschud en ik had zo’n enorme klap nodig om te beseffen dat ik moet leren om van binnenuit gelukkig te zijn. Dus zie dit als een waarschuwing voordat jij dezelfde fouten maakt als ik. Laat je eerst diagnosticeren en zorg dat je je plastisch chirurg daarvan op de hoogte stelt. Er is me ontelbare keren gezegd: ‘je hebt het niet nodig’—DIT IS WAAR. Het is die ziekte die dacht dat ik het nodig had.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/dumpsterice • 1d ago
I just discovered this sub and wow, I think just literally discovered I have BDD through reddit.
I'm been in denial about it a long while. I think my BDD started when I started college and it's only been nosediving into psychosis ever since.
I mean like, I can't go outside. I can't look at women. I can't hear about women. I just can't be around women for too long.
One big trigger is other women's boobs, of course.
All the girls around me wear tiny baby tees that vacuum seal over their breasts and I'd feel physical pain whenever I happen to catch a glimpse. I just don't understand why they have to wear such things and display their cleavage for everyone to see, and then the BDD would spiral into worse, sicker thoughts.
I genuinely feel *sick*. Like nauseous. Everytime I happen to see women with big boobs, or pretty faces, or slender legs, on social media or in real life (and holy shit there are a lot of them irl).
I have a boyfriend and even though he tells me I'm pretty and he doesn't want anyone else, I just don't believe him, and we have a lot of conflict surrounding this. It's pathological. I can feel it straining our relationship.
Hell, my mental state is so fragile, one pimple can send me into hour-long spirals and anxiety attacks, such as this one (I'm writing this at 1AM where I am).
So yeah, this condition brings a lot of suffering. But I'd like to get advice on the most pressing thing first: How do you go outside? Because I'd really like to go outside without leering at women like a sleazy creepy bitter old guy pls
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/Glass-Material-5386 • 1d ago
I am finally come to realisation of the fact that I do have a real issue with myself and my relationship with my body/face. It has ruled over my life for a number of years now basically since I became conscious of the way I looked at about 10/11 years old. Although not diagnosed I am quite certain I am extremely certain I have it judging by the fact it consumes my brain for an extremely large majority of every single day of my life ( not even sure if you can look for treatment without diagnosis ) and things I do. I have a very love hate relationship with myself but mostly hate, sometimes I think I'd never want to be okay with the way I look because I want to improve and still see the flaws so I know what needs to be fixed but then sometimes I think it's so exhausting living like this. I see mixed opinions on whether it can actually be fixed or not but sometimes I think the only thing that will solve that is massively changing the way I look. I just want to be able to be laid back and not constantly have my thoughts racing about the way I look but I also want to perfect.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/katzyakuki • 1d ago
i constantly fantasize about getting work done, i’m too young and broke for it but i dream about someday getting all these procedures. (some of them are so uncommon that i can’t find review videos or photos on them.)
but when i look at myself sometimes i’m like “this isn’t TOO bad” which makes me doubt my BDD too, maybe it’s just regular old insecurities but then other times i want to die looking in the mirror. then i imagine how i would feel if a surgery went wrong, or not even that but it went slightly not how i expected, i would be completely inconsolable. it’s like a lose-lose situation
anyone else more afraid of being botched than looking how they do?
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/-Hiroshi • 1d ago
I m an 22F Asian girl, and always been feeling bad about my H shaped petite body. Guys and even girls on Chinese social media kept saying how women of other races are naturally much curvier and hotter that even the curviest Asian is just average for other races.
Everytime I see that, I try to argue but I also feel they are actually true. And I know most of people prefer thicker and curvier body these days, which makes me feel inferior about my race and wish I could be other races so that I could have better body. I know it’s wrong to think like that but I just couldn’t stop thinking that it’s miserable being an Asian brick.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
Here you can find listed below general information on BDD and related foundations, the clinical classification and symptoms of BDD, advice for friends and family, as well as self-help and support groups, both in-person and online.
General information
Clinical classification
For friends and family
The BDD Foundation, Supporting a close one with BDD
Mind.org, How can friends and family help
Self-help
Body dysmorphia workbook by the CCI
Building self-compassion workbook by the CCI
Support groups
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/crazycatgirl01 • 1d ago
Does anyone else not like to wear shorts because they think shorts make their legs look massive?
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/idkleavemealone9262 • 1d ago
I feel so insecure to the point I feel so sick when I have to go out and walk in public. Ever since the summer break has started my friends keep on trying to go out with me but I always making an excuse to not go out with them even tho it’s been almost a year since I saw them. I genuinely believe that they are so beautiful and I’m the ugliest one among them and I feel bad for comparing myself to friends but I just can’t help it. I also find myself comparing my looks to practically almost everything. For example, I enjoy playing video games and reading manga, they always used to give me a sense of peace but nowadays I keep on comparing how I look to the characters even they are fictional and I can no longer enjoy it. I also compare myself to every pretty girl I see on social media. All of my friends say I’m pretty and i should post myself on my instagram more often but i dont have the confidence to post myself at all. I remember i few years back when i first posted a video of myself I had my ex friends saying im not good looking and after I heard that didn’t post myself for 2 years bc of how much it hurts (tbh it still hurts). Also bc of that I used to edit my pics to make myself feel better and lately I’ve trying to take pics without editing myself or using filters but I can’t stand to look at myself anymore I feel so ugly and i genuinely can’t believe I’m stuck with a face like this forever. I really want to stop feeling like this and I want to have some confidence in myself pls help me out!!
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/gonagonago • 1d ago
I’m genuinely curious about how others react to it. I’m personally very focused on my height and my curves and that’s a big contributor to my body dysmorphia, so it’s always interesting to see people who have the body I desire so much (petite, very skinny, flat chested, etc.) talking about their body dysmorphia and how that body type is the source of their insecurities.
At first it made me feel a bit upset subconsciously. They have exactly what I would trade years of my life to have and they don’t like it (a very human but irrational response). But then after thinking about it and sitting with those feelings, it gave me a better insight into this disorder and how it works.
I’ve also seen people here who share physical attributes with me and they’re super self conscious about them and I’m not, or vice versa.
So I was wondering how everyone else felt when they experienced it and if they made you feel any different about your insecurities or the way you perceive your relationship with bd.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/Defiant-Switch-3428 • 1d ago
I’m wondering if i’m the only one that has this problem but one of the reasons i hate meeting new people is because of how insecure i am. especially if the person im meeting ends up being way more attractive than me. i feel like they’re judging how ugly i am. everytime i meet new people, i usually get made fun of for something. how i look, act, where i work, etc which doesn’t help my insecurity either. i try to avoid meeting new people just because of how insecure i am. i don’t even want people to look at my face and it just makes it so much worse when they’re so attractive and im not. and it doesn’t matter what gender they are (i’m male) and i’ll compare myself to the guy i’m meeting so much or if i meet a girl who is attractive and i feel like i shouldn’t even be in her presence
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/TOMBSLXXP • 1d ago
34, M
im not exactly sure if this will help anything or not with my situation but its been a thing ive dealt with my entire life and i have a few ideas as to what it stems from but overall, this feels like this torture loop that will not shut up, and combined with ocd and anxiety and cptsd and mdd and adhd, its like a broken record that i feel ill never be able to get away from..
I have extremely low self esteem and i feel so damn ugly all the time, and honestly i just desperately want to not feel gross and ugly.. i feel like no matter what, im just not happy with myself and how i look.. it feels like when i work on certain aspects of my appearance or just myself in general, it flips to the opposite thing i wanted in the first place, i just want this to stop and i do not know how..
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/bluerazzice20 • 1d ago
I (21f) have been struggling with my self-esteem for a long time, and lately it feels like it’s getting worse.
I compare myself to almost every girl I see. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone online, someone I know, or even a stranger. My mind immediately starts comparing us, and I almost always end up feeling like I’m the one who falls short.
I’m also really insecure about my body. I’m a 185 cm (6’1”) female and weigh around 67 kg, but I still feel like my legs are huge. No matter what the scale says, I always feel like I need to lose more weight, and I can’t tell if what I’m seeing is actually real or if my mind is just being overly critical.
I love having girl friends, but I hate that I always feel like the giant one. When I’m by myself, I think I look fairly slim, but the second I’m standing next to other girls, I suddenly feel absolutely enormous. I know a lot of it is probably because I’m so tall, but it makes me feel awkward and unfeminine, like I take up too much space. I hate that my height and body are the first things I notice whenever I’m with other women.
On top of that, I’m constantly picking apart my face. I always feel like I need to change something—my nose, my jaw, my lips, my eyebrows… it never ends. I’ll convince myself that if I could just fix one more thing, I’d finally feel pretty, but then I just find something else to obsess over.
I’ve been hurt in the past, and I think that’s contributed to how I see myself. I always feel like I’m not enough, like someone else will always be prettier, thinner, or more attractive than me.
I’m honestly tired of living like this. I don’t want to spend my life comparing myself to everyone around me or constantly feeling like I need to change who I am.
Has anyone else felt this way? Especially other tall women? Did anything actually help you? Therapy, books, changing your habits, anything… I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through it.
r/BodyDysmorphia • u/luumu_ • 2d ago
I feel like my bdd and cptsd are very intertwined somehow :(