Body Dysmorphia in the Age of Social Media
Today’s world is dominated by social media, and with that comes numerous filters and curated perfection. Obviously, we can’t say that only social media is the reason for body dysmorphia, but it definitely doesn’t help. This mental health condition, or dare I say problem or illness, leads individuals to obsess over flaws in their appearance, often viewing themselves in a far more negative light than others do.
Body dysmorphic disorder affects around 1-3% of adults, but it is fair to say it’s underdiagnosed. There are a lot of individuals who are suffering from it, and they don’t even know or don’t want to admit it, even to themselves. This disorder can easily lead to depression, low self-esteem, avoidance of social situations, and even suicidal thoughts.
Here comes the big question: Why are we trying to sabotage our happiness? Why are we unable to see the truth? Well, it’s a combination of a few things. Our brain is a magical creature, but it can also make us go crazy. Who hasn’t had a pimple and thought to themselves, “Everyone will see it, and it’s the end of the world”? Well, now we all know it wasn’t that big of a deal, was it? Our brain is wired to focus on flaws. Cognitive distortions, such as all-or-nothing thinking, can lead us to fixate on small imperfections. On the other hand, we have Instagram, TikTok, and all other social media platforms. Everywhere you go, you see filtered perfection. This kind of idealized version of beauty, which is unrealistic to be honest, can easily lead to feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Studies show that people who use social media on a daily basis and use it several hours a day are more likely to report negative body image.
What’s the solution, then, you might ask? Well, the solution is not black and white, and to go further, a global solution simply doesn’t exist at the moment. There are several ways to improve in this area and to kind of free ourselves from this disorder.
You can always limit social media use so you won’t “poison” yourself with these false images of beauty or filtered and photoshopped pictures, which set an unrealistic standard for everyone. Also, we often forget who we need to love the most: ourselves. Practice self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer a friend or family member. Challenge your negative thoughts. Are they based on facts or just feelings? Obviously, you can always seek professional help if you find that you cannot deal with this on your own. But you should never forget, you will never be alone.
