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February 3, 2021Coping with Body Dysmorphia
Most people have days when they feel more insecure about their appearance than others.
Constantly worrying about how you look or trying to hide things you consider flaws, though, may indicate body dysmorphia. This is a serious mental disorder that can affect both men and women.
As a mental illness treatment center in Boca, we understand how difficult it can be to manage the symptoms of a mental disorder. That’s why we’re offering some tips for coping with body dysmorphia.
What Is Body Dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphic disorder, more commonly known as body dysmorphia, is a mental illness in which a person can’t stop obsessing over perceived flaws in their appearance. A person with body dysmorphia may have a warped perception of certain features. The nose, skin, moles, muscles, and genitalia are some common characteristics that people with body dysmorphic disorder scrutinize. What causes body dysmorphia can’t be pinned down to anything specific but is rather a combination of stress and anxiety the person may feel over their appearance and any trauma they may have experienced throughout their life.
While there are ways to cope with body dysmorphia, professional treatment can help the person truly recover and significantly improve their overall wellbeing. At Banyan Mental Health, we offer a mental health residential program that covers a multitude of mental disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder.
How to Cope with Body Dysmorphia
One of the biggest misconceptions about mental illness is that recovery is impossible, but that isn’t true. Below are some realistic tips for coping with body dysmorphia and living a healthier life.
Avoid Self-Isolation
Body dysmorphia makes people feel insecure about their physical appearance, so it’s no wonder that people with this disorder will want to isolate themselves. One of the worst things that could affect mental illness is loneliness – it increases your chances of making an impulsive decision that could cause you harm. Learn how to lean on your loved ones for support rather than feeling like you have to hide.
Talk to a Nutritionist
Your diet can have a huge impact on your physical and mental health. People with body dysmorphic disorder are more prone to developing an eating disorder, which can lead to major health complications. The best way to avoid the serious repercussions of this disorder is by eating things that make you feel your best. The most efficient way to find out what foods work best for your body is by speaking to a nutritionist. These professionals can help you create a healthy meal plan designed specifically for your needs. But keep in mind that this tip is meant to help you avoid any drastic changes in your eating or diet.
Exercise Regularly
If you’re wondering how exercise can improve your mental health, there’s one word: endorphins. Exercise boosts the release of endorphins in the brain. These neurotransmitters reduce pain and produce feelings of euphoria and pleasure. It also improves your heart health and helps you maintain good physical health. Exercise, in this case, isn’t about losing weight but more about improving your mental health.
Practice Meditation
Meditation can help you manage stress, anxiety, or negative thoughts that feed into body dysmorphia. Like many other mental illnesses, body dysmorphic disorder can torment your mind and trick you into negative thinking. By practicing meditation regularly, you can gain more patience, positivity, and perspective.
Keep a Daily Journal
Daily journaling is a great way to express your thoughts and emotions without acting on them. Acting on feelings of anxiety or distress is rarely wise; keeping a daily journal, on the other hand, allows you to release your stress without engaging in risky behavior.
Get Professional Help
While all of these methods for coping with body dysmorphia are beneficial, the most important one is getting professional help. Treatment designed to treat this disorder can teach you how to combat negative thoughts and implement healthy techniques into your daily routine.
If you or a loved one is battling a mental illness, call us today at 888-280-4763 to find out more about our mental health PHP.
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