Sometimes
people are just too concerned about their appearance, and the situation is
coming worse and worse nowadays. It is not difficult to see girls using make-up
and boys gelling their hairs, portraying a beautiful and handsome image.
Especially when I am walking in Mongkok, it
occurs to me that everyone is too emphasizing their look. In this way, people
would become easily frustrated when there is some minor flaw appears. For
example, I can always hear my female friends complaining about the acnes on their
faces. To others, one or two acnes do not make a difference. But to them, it
means a disaster. It is because they are too preoccupied by an ideal image in
their mind, and this is related to the disorder I am introducing this issue –
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
(BDD).
“Mirror, Mirror, Who Is The
Most Beautiful Girl In The World?”
 |
| "Mirror, mirror, on the wall... 'It's so subjective' is not an acceptable answer." |
Like
what has been mentioned, people with BDD have an ideal image in their mind.
When their body shape or faces do not match with their ideal image, they feel
upset and annoyed. As a result, they put much effort on fitting their
appearance into their imagined one. Symptoms of eating disorders are often
observed. On the other hand, some people are not satisfied with their original
faces.
Some want a smaller nose, thicker lips, etc. In these cases, they become
distressed, due to the contradiction between the virtual image and the truth.
BDD
sufferers live in stress and have lower self-esteem and quality of life, as
they are disappointed with themselves. In severe cases, it ends with suicidal
thought and attempt. BDD is usually associated with some OCD (Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder) symptoms like mirror-checking and body measuring. They
have strong obsession on their self-image, followed by strong urges (or compulsion)
to monitor their appearance. (For details of OCD, please refer to last issue’s
SD3).
Everyone
has different standard towards the term perfect, but it is most likely to be
influenced by the media and advertisement in the surrounding. Somehow I think
the media is promoting too much about the importance of being appealing, like
how to be slim and how to remove scars/ acnes. The idea of perfection has been
implanted deeply. Yet, not far from Hong Kong, there is a country whose people
are much more concerned about their appearance. It is Korea being discussed.
Cosmetic surgery is common and people just cannot wait to get “changed”. Maybe
they are under peer pressure, or undergoing social conformity.
No
one wants to be ugly. However, the pursuing of beauty is an endless process.
So, what we should always bear in mind is that “no one is perfect”. The
standard of beauty needs to be set by ourselves, not by the others. Beauty does
not only lie in the eye of the beholder. It also lies within our mind. If you
are friendly, kind and courteous, I am sure people can notice your inner beauty
as well.
Venus Lai
References:
Marquesa,
L., Weingardena, H. M., LeBlanca, N. J., &Wilhelma, S. (2011). Treatment
utilization and barriers to treatment engagement among people with body
dysmorphic symptoms.Journal of
Psychosomatic Research, 70, 286–293.
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