To be or to seem – the symptoms of body dismorphic disorder
Published March 21, 2011 | 
America is in shock! The published data shows that the majority of male clients of fitness clubs are sick with body dismorphic disorder! Not sure what this is? The essence of this serious mental deviation is reduced to the fact that a person connects his life’s failures with “bad” appearance. Girls tend to think that ugly figure does not give them a chance to get married; they harass themselves with “hungry” diets and lose measure in fitness classes.
But what about men? – about the same, but with opposite sign. Men, in their opinion, generally lack volume and muscle mass. But to onlookers everything looks innocuous. A man writes to a club and begins to thrust his workout. And only an expert can examine in his behavior the disturbing symptoms. For example, such. Measure of stress and relaxation is not observed. A week has more training days than days of recovery. Training is done following the most ruthless methods. Here and there are taken stimuli, from food supplements – to pharmacological drugs.
Of course, not everyone who buys a fitness card is ill with body dismorphic disorder. However, if the trainee does not pose specific sport tasks, then it certainly is about one degree or another of this disease. Sport always involves training according to a plan, a stepwise increase in skill and a mandatory sportsmanship. If you aim to take part in competitions – even without hope for a prize, but just for fun, then you are beyond suspicion. But if you, almost daily, do heavy exercises “for yourself” and all through the day take steroids, you need a serious conversation with a psychologist. Remember that body dismorphic disorder is a mental illness and it distorts the perception of the world. For those who have body dismorphic disorder it is difficult to have harmonious relationships with others, because he is always dissatisfied with himself, despondent and depressed. For the same reason, he usually cannot find a job or stay on it. Over time, mirror remains for the patient with body dismorphic disorder a sole source of emotions. If he sees a “good” reflection, his mood is enhanced, if a “bad” one, he goes through an emotional crisis.
Another typical illusion of the disease – the belief that in assessing a person, people are guided by the same criteria as he has for himself, i.e., sneer at his “thin” arms, “lack” of muscles, etc. As a result, the person becomes reclusive and withdrawn, loses social communication, which is the main condition for a successful life. Nobody argues, a healthy and sporting appearance is important, however, psychologists believe that the main factor of success in life is “the ability to communicate.” I have to note that among the instructors in the gyms and personal trainers you will never meet the patient with body dismorphic disorder. Nevertheless, the managers of fitness clubs are advised to hire only those who have competitive experience.
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