Symptoms of Body Dysmorphia
6 Signs That You Could Have Body Dysmorphia, According to a Psychologist
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"People with body dysmorphia are dissatisfied with their bodies, or a part of their bodies. You might see people who are hyper-focussed on their lips, or arms, or legs," Dr. Harris said. "They engage in efforts to change these body parts by engageing in compulsive exercise, surgery, or other methods used to change certain body parts. This can cause significant distress and anxiety, another symptom."
Note that this means body dysmorphia isn't just about the size of a person's body. The distortion can centre on any part of the body, and people may try to "fix" it in a variety of ways — some of which are dangerous.
Body image is a tough topic for many people, and body positivity doesn't always work or feel right for everyone. If that's true for you, you might try practicing body neutrality instead. You can do this by "describing your body in objective, nonjudgmental ways and focusing on the functionality of your body — what your body can do, instead of how it looks," Dr. Harris said. She explained that body neutrality aims to normalize the idea that no one really has to love their body. "Our bodies are vessels and not something that we need to love or hate," she said.