Studies show that nearly half of all women suffer from Body dysmorphia, a disorder characterized by excessive self-consciousness about one's physical features. Recently, one woman online asked a women's forum: “As a woman, what triggers your body dysmorphia?”
Many shared the specific factors that bring on episodes of self-consciousness and self-loathing. Here are eight common triggers.
1. Mirrors
It is not uncommon to look in the mirror and not like what you see. So it's hardly surprising that most women admit to feeling self-conscious in front of a mirror. One user is confident she is not overweight but swears she is when she looks in the mirror. She can see parts of her body she's unhappy with that she doesn't notice when she's not looking in the mirror.
But it's not just the weight that gets warped in the mirror. Other women said they'll see themselves as shorter than they really are or thinner.
2. Weight Loss
Weight loss should make you feel great about yourself, right? For some users, losing weight actually triggers their body dysmorphia.
Despite losing over 90 pounds over the previous year, one user still feels a great deal of disconnection from their body. For another woman, she had trouble accepting their new weight. After shedding 50 lbs over the last six months, they said, “It feels so strange to be able to physically feel the difference but not believe it at the same time?”
3. Unsolicited Comments
Users acknowledge that comments people make about their bodies or compliments about someone else’s body are very unsettling. For example, one Redditor wrote, “If I’m dating a man, and he makes comments about the kind of body he likes, I’ll immediately start comparing myself to that person.”
According to what others reported, comments on body weight, shape and size, and what they eat or do not eat are often triggering. Just being told they were recognized by their large fingers unlocked one user’s insecurity. Even positive comments are triggering for many women.
4. Period
According to one lady, it doesn’t matter what she looks like; there’re three days every month when she’s 100% convinced she looks fat and hideous. “I’ve learned that I can’t listen to my own opinion on those days, but it’s hard,” she said.
5. Photos
Photographs are like mirrors, and it can feel like they only capture our worst sides. One woman wanted to disappear forever after viewing a shot of her hand handing out a bottle to a friend and realizing her fat fingers were visible. To put it bluntly, it sucks a lot of people. They prefer to have few or no photos of themselves because they permanently erase them if they don't like what they see.
6. Tight Clothes
Clothes that are too tight or sit on the stomach are not physically discomforting but give some women the trigger. One woman admitted to hating pants because the waistband will almost always be tight around their stomach when they sit down.”
7. Social Media
The fake glamor of social media is real. Even though she is tall and curvy, she’s 42 and admits that the social media pictures and pages that her significant other likes — all young and thin — make her feel like she’s unattractive.
8. Eye Glasses
Glasses are only sometimes considered stylish accessories, especially for individuals who need them. Users reported that wearing glasses makes them feel uncomfortable about their appearance. People feel so ugly, frumpy, and horrible wearing them, with their confidence going up to 40% when they opt for contacts.
Body Flaws
For some women, their facial hair is a problem and a source of body dysmorphia. For other women, it’s their bodies; just seeing their body breaks their hearts. No matter how hard they try, they are sure they’ll never be feminine.
This thread inspired this article.
This article is produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.