Working out can be great for so many reasons, however, it isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. I started my fitness journey in Oct. 2021 and never thought that I could actually gain a mental disorder just by working out. Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD), defined by Mayo Clinic, “is a mental health condition in which you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance.” It affects around 1 in 50 people in the U.S and is more common in weightlifters and bodybuilders. Individuals with BBD may experience symptoms like:
- Excessively working out
- Avoiding or constantly mirror-checking
- Spending hours at the gym
- Avoiding daily obligations to work out
- Using performance-enhancing drugs
- Avoiding social situations that could bring attention to the body
Most would think that because we’re getting our bodies into shape at the gym, we would appreciate our bodies more. However, with BDD we always feel that we could push ourselves further, often to the point of exhaustion. Some ways to help with BBD symptoms are:
- Join a support group
Support groups can help you connect with others experiencing the same challenges!
- Learn about stress management and relaxation techniques
Mediation can help lower stress.
- Start journaling
Writing down any negative emotions can help an individual deal with them better.
- Attend cognitive behavioral therapy
Therapy can help a patient develop their own treatment plans to learn coping skills that fit them!
Body Dysmorphia Disorder can affect any person at any time. However, those who are into fitness are especially affected because they’re doing activities to “perfect” their bodies constantly. Gaining the “perfect” body is stress-inducing and almost impossible. What is possible is realizing how much you have to offer. So instead of focusing on that one thing you might not like about your body, obsess over the other 99% of your body that you love. That’s a much healthier form of obsession.
Citations:
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, March 19). Body dysmorphic disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353944.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, March 19). Body dysmorphic disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938#:~:text=Overview,may%20avoid%20many%20social%20situations.