Megan Fox Suffers from Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Megan Fox is a truly beautiful woman and one of the most stunning women on the planet. However, she has been hiding a silent struggle. During a revealing interview, the American actress confessed that she suffers from body dysmorphic disorder.
It’s difficult to understand how such a sex symbol could experience this condition. However, her revelation reminds us that even those who seem to have it all can be struggling inside.
“I have never in my whole life loved my body, never ever.”
What is body dysmorphic disorder?
According to Mayo Clinic specialists, body dysmorphic disorder is a mental illness characterized by constant obsession with one or more perceived flaws in a person’s appearance. Sufferers may spend long hours in front of the mirror in search of “peace of mind.”
They become preoccupied with aspects of their physique that they conceive to be their biggest flaws, even though others don’t notice them. This distorted perception of body image can make them see themselves as fatter than they really are.
People often resort to cosmetic procedures in order to increase their self-esteem and feel satisfied with their appearance. However, the opposite happens at the end of the process. In addition, body dysmorphic disorder can lead to avoidance of social situations, due to the embarrassment and anxiety it causes.
In Fox’s case, the obsession with her image began in childhood. Although she grew up in a religious environment where comments about others’ appearance were out of place, she ended up being her own worst judge, criticizing herself severely by constantly comparing herself to others.
I have body dysmorphia: I never see myself the way other people see me. There was never a point in my life where I loved my body, ever, ever. When I was little, that was an obsession I had. And why I had body consciousness so young, I’m not sure, and it definitely wasn’t environmental, because I grew up in a very religious environment.
Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder
A publication by Phillips and Stein reports that this condition usually originates during adolescence; it’s more common in females.
Signs and symptoms can occur gradually or abruptly. Among the most common are the following:
- Putting on make-up or using excessive cosmetic treatments to try to conceal perceived defects.
- Believing that others pay special negative attention to one’s appearance.
- Being firmly convinced of possessing a defect that creates ugliness.
- Repeatedly looking in the mirror, grooming, or scratching one’s skin.
- Constantly comparing one’s appearance with that of others.
- Excessive grooming.
- Pulling out hair.
A person with body dysmorphic disorder may focus excessively on one or more parts of his or her body, such as the face (nose shape, complexion, wrinkles, acne), hair, breast size, or muscle size.
Treatment
Although the precise causes of body dysmorphic disorder are unknown, factors such as family history, negative experiences, and distorted thought patterns may influence its development. For this reason, it’s important to approach it from a comprehensive and personalized approach.
Mental health professionals have developed therapeutic approaches to help people with the disorder overcome excessive worries and develop a healthier relationship with their appearance:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: This form of psychotherapy offers an avenue for people to recognize their limiting beliefs, question them or challenge them if they generate discomfort. In addition, they learn that it’s possible to change their perspective on their body.
- Medication: Medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used as treatment (SSRIs) are used as a treatment for body dysmorphia. These drugs help regulate serotonin function in the brain, which can decrease distress.
What I most want people to know is that I am a genuine soul who hopes to truly belong to something and not always have to live as a misunderstood outcast.
Read more: Self Esteem: The Key to Happiness
Early diagnosis is key to overcoming body dysmorphic disorder
Megan Fox has defied stereotypes by revealing her struggle with body dysmorphic disorder. Her story reminds us that outward appearance doesn’t guarantee a positive self-image.
However, paying attention as early as adolescence can make all the difference. In case this condition is identified, and timely treatment improves the quality of life.
With her testimony, the actress motivates people suffering from body dysmorphia to seek acceptance and self-love. It’s a call to challenge current accepted beauty standards.
Main image by REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Bermúdez Durán, L. V., Herrera Navarrete, K. S., & Fernández Salas, M. (2023). Actualización del trastorno dismórfico corporal. Revista Medica Sinergia, 8(2), e967. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8910134
- Clínica Mayo. (13 de diciembre de 2022). Trastorno dismórfico corporal. https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938
- Phillips, K. A., & Stein, D. J. (s.f). Trastorno dismórfico corporal. Manual MSD versión para profesionales. https://www.msdmanuals.com/es-co/professional/trastornos-psiqui%C3%A1tricos/trastorno-obsesivo-compulsivo-y-trastornos-relacionados/trastorno-dism%C3%B3rfico-corporal
