The psychological consultant Abdel Hafeez Jamal revealed that there is a disorder associated with a feeling of ugliness or deformation of the body, and it is called a “distorted view of the self”, and it is usually affected by women more than men, due to the nature of women in terms of their constant interest in their body, hair and skin, so we find some of them when spots or pimples appear on the face. She finds her face frightened and anxious, and thus develops what is known as “imaginary ugliness.”
illusory feeling
The feeling of ugliness may be imaginary, but it causes very real pain, as some people with this disorder stop working, isolate themselves from society, and prefer to stay at home, for fear of appearing in that ugly way, as the person spends his time in front of the woman, or does not want to see himself in it. And he avoids it, and we find some of them, when leaving the house, using sunglasses all the time, and wearing wigs, hats, and scarves, to hide their imaginary flaws.
Jamal confirmed that people with this disorder always compare themselves to others, and avoid contact with them and gatherings as a result of their anxiety about their appearance.
The need for care
The psychological consultant added that there are those who are always keen to buy skin creams, even if he does not need them, but he finds an illusion that he has that his skin needs intensive care, plastic surgeries, and repeated skin treatment, stressing that women with this disorder expose themselves to losing money by buying cosmetics. Or cosmetic operations, and thus burden themselves and their families with debt burdens, and sometimes they do it secretly, for fear of what might happen if people found out, and to spare themselves the blame from relatives and friends.
comorbidities
Jamal pointed out that people with imaginary ugliness suffer from anxiety, stress, depression, eating disorders, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. To treat these cases, medications are dispensed by psychiatrists, and these drugs give positive results, due to their effect on serotonin in the brain, as the cause of this disorder may be due to an imbalance in that chemical, and the cause may be genetic.
males and ugliness
The psychological consultant confirmed that males who suffer from this disorder usually find that they tend to feel the defects of the shape of their muscles, their bodies, and lightness of hair either in the head or the body, and they prefer to remain celibate, and not enter into a relationship, and some complain about describing the features of his face or his body as “feminine.” ».
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Jamal explained that there is another method of treatment, which is cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on this disorder, reduces its symptoms, breaks the habit, and is the most recommended treatment, as affected people know how to become more aware of what they are doing, and identify situations that trigger activity.
Forms of delusional dysmorphic disorder
1- Muscle dysmorphia.
2-Imagine the flaws in other people close to them.
3- A person’s feeling that his facial features are not consistent or symmetrical (Asymmetrical).
4- The person hated his entire appearance.
5- The feeling of an irrational change in a part of his body.
6- The injured person likening himself to an animal.
7- Some patients complain that they are different from other people.
8- Fear of the future.
9- Feeling pale and emaciated in appearance.