"People with body dysmorphia may wear unusually baggy clothes, spend lots of time covering up perceived defects with makeup or other means, or may cover up their bodies in other ways," Dr. Harris said. "They may avoid certain activities that expose their perceived defects, which ends up interfering with their lives. People with body dysmorphia might also spend time consulting with doctors or professionals on ways to change their perceived defects."
If you have body dysmorphia, you may spend a lot of time trying to "fix" a part of your body or feel better about it. It can consume you to the point that it disrupts your daily life.
What Can Help
Just as you still need to go out and be in the world, you also need to do the opposite of what your mind is telling you here. "When you have urges to hide your flaws, act opposite — which doesn't mean that you need to highlight them more, but avoid trying to cover them up," Dr. Harris said. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and seeing that everything is OK can be beneficial. You're strong, and you can do this!