This past week was dedicated to mental health awareness, but with a unique twist of body image issues being the main focus. Those suffering with body image issues or body dysmorphic disorder ( BDD ) are extremely private about it most of the time because they already feel ridiculed by themselves and do not want to cast more attention to themselves or open up the flood gates of disapproval/ shame. With a whole week being dedicated to ending the stigmas of mental health and body image issues- there is potential for massive leaps and bounds of progress to be made and an opportunity for more expansive conversation.
Many people think of body dysmorphia or body image issues as an issue of perspective, which does hold some truth behind it. However, it is actually characterized as a mental health issue, with the mind altering the way one perceives their own appearance and even some OCD in the obsession someone takes in a singular body part or their body as a whole.
Having body image issues along with mental health also stems into other mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and most of them are stemmed with an eating disorder as well. With mental health and BDD, these culminations of issues wrap themselves together so most of the time the proper help and assistance for each problem is hard to diagnose and treat.
During this week, I will be taking a look at the mental health sector alongside body image issues on how they were advocated throughout awareness week, as well as some inside information on BDD and mental health issues combined.
Body Dysmorphia & Social Media Collide 