Body dysmorphic disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by excessive obsession with a flaw in appearance. On Instagram, the singer Cœur de Pirate confided in suffering from it.
“My clothes are suffocating me/ I don’t leave the house. We’ve been talking a lot about mental health lately and I know I’m not alone in this. I know Instagram is cool and I I seem to show it’s okay but it’s often a huge source of triggers, mostly because I’m not in control of what’s presented to me all the time.” On his Instagram account, the singer Cœur de pirate, jury of the Nouvelle star on M6, confided in the body dysmorphophobia from which she suffers.
For the psychiatrists who wrote the successive DSMs, dysmorphophobia is a psychological disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation or obsession with a defect in appearance, even a real slight imperfection (weight problem, large nose, wrinkles, acne, scars …), even delusional. “What defines body dysmorphia is the obsessive character of the physical defect”, specifies Dr. Laurent Karila, addictologist.
A phobic symptom
This syndrome affects just under 2% of the general population and affects both men and women. The first symptoms appear in adolescence but the diagnosis is often made around the thirties. The symptoms are a deep self-loathing, which leads to an obsession with one’s image.
In some patients, the exaggeration of faults leads to behaviors of withdrawal, even social phobia. Others avoid mirrors or spend their time looking in them (same for selfies), wear makeup, dress excessively to conceal their appearance, go on repeated diets or abuse cosmetic surgery.
In addition, chronic anxiety, panic attacks and depression are often associated with body dysmorphophobia. “Dysmorphophobia is a phobic symptom, therefore to be placed on the side of neuroses. But like any neurotic symptom, depending on its intensity and the importance it takes in the balance of a personality, it can take the form of a delusional symptom”, also explains in the express the psychoanalyst Pascal Couder.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is recommended
“I don’t talk about it often (…) If you’re like me, it’s important to disconnect from the media that poses a problem and to recharge your batteries to preserve yourself”, continues Cœur de pirate. And to conclude in English: “if something triggers you, recognize your limits and take care of yourself”.
To overcome this condition, Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy is recommended, and may be combined with treatment. antidepressant. “As for depression, the psychiatrist or psychologist works on cognitive distortions, that is to say the distorted thought patterns that induce toxic behavior in the patient”, concludes Dr. Laurent Karila.
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