Many of us do not see ourselves in the greatest light, and that is perception.
Perception is a dangerous ally. We insist that our eyes are too wide; that our nose is too large; that our ears look funny…the list goes on and on. But what many do not realize is that they are actually suffering from a disease. What would you say if I told you that 2.5 percent of the U.S. population is undiagnosed? What if I told you that there was something lurking in the spectrum of your mind that you are not even aware exists? Well, that is what this post is about, and yes, it is a harrowing tale of the 1 in 50 of us who stare haphazardously into that mirror and see a lie.
PERCEPTION IS THE ENEMY
When I was thirteen, I was diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Its cause is, at present, unknown, but like many of us, we look in the mirror and we simply do not like what we see. Well, there is evidence that your perception is about as off-center as a tilted table. Yes, imagine that you are a table, and you are missing one leg. You inevitably fall to one side, and suddenly the contrasting perception is simple: the table is “off.” However, with this disorder comes something much more than mere judgment. It is human nature to judge our appearance; it is a given.
NOT A COMMON DISTORTION
But there are some of us who simply do not suffer at the hands of insecurity. Rather, serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that balances mood and even perception. When it is off, the body and mind fall into a state of influx, causing us to distort reality. Now, you may be thinking: “Oh, I do that all of the time. I think I look bad when everyone around me says I am fine.” Well, that is a debate of the ages. What defines BDD versus common insecurity? There really is no straight answer to that question. I can venture a guess: insecurity is when you judge yourself based on the standards of commonality; you see models on TV with perfect bodies and you compare yourself to them.
THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE
BDD is when you are imbalanced chemically, and to fully diagnose this disorder is difficult. I have met with clients who state that they are ugly. I often tell them: “That is what your eyes want to believe.” But with BDD, it is actually chemical. Serotonin is an important chemical, and when we are low on it, or depleted, or simply lacking it, we fall into a depressive state. So, if you were to ask me what the common differentiator is between insecurity and BDD, I would say that there really is no answer – yet. However, there is a sharper difference: BDD also affects how you see the world around you. I recall when I was diagnosed with it that I saw the world differently.
LINKS TO OTHER DISORDERS
In my opinion (and I am not licensed nor capable of rendering medical diagnoses, so this is an opinion and nothing more), if you are diagnosed with depression or anxiety, more often than not, the insecurities you are experiencing are not related to simple perception. Rather, you have a chemical imbalance, and at this point, treatment is the best answer. I can help with insecurities but I cannot, unfortunately, assist with BDD. I can, however, render my own services to anyone who feels that they could use what I call a “psychological audit.” It is much like tax preparation, only on an emotional level. If you feel you need help figuring out how to fix your flaws, come to me. But…
…THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AUDIT
This process takes time and energy, but then again, so do all of life’s difficulties. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a chronic, albeit, dangerous shallow to march through, and though there are no standard operating procedures to fix it, you must begin to think in terms of “restructuring.” By that I mean, if you can convince yourself that you are seeing something that simply does not exist, you may be able to level out that playing field. When we suffer from low self-esteem or an insecurity of any sort, there is a useful process you can go through: begin to realize that what you see in the mirror is not what others see you as. We all do it; it’s normal. But if you feel it is taking over your life, seek medical assistance. I cannot stress that enough: seek medical assistance.
TO CONCLUDE THE CONCLUSION
I can help reshape your insecurities. Remember, if you are aware that your judgment is “off,” then typically you can render a different frame-of-mind. You can understand that what you see is not the way others see it, too. So, if your eyes are “too wide,” or your “nose is too big,” remember this blog post, and remember that perception is a given. We are all going to experience the fatal betrayal of the mirror we stand before. But if you can begin to realize that this is merely a distorted viewpoint of who you are, you may be able to retrieve that sense of security. And, as always, if you feel that it is overtaking your life, seek medical attention.