WARNING 18+ Adult material unsuitable for minors.

Body Beautiful

(Words 1,367 exc. questionnaire)

I once had a German lover who was in many respects a faultless example of Nordic beauty, except for one minor detail; the left-side nipple appeared to be much larger than the one on the right.  Now let me assure you, before you rush off to check your own chest for similar irregularities this is in no way an unusual human deformity.  Mother Nature may be a clever individual, but symmetry was certainly never her strongest subject.  My German lover was too arrogant to show any noticeable concern about a slight mammary deformity nonetheless, I dedicated the rest of the time we were together to proving the fallacy of Aryan superiority.

In the modern world where daily human life is becoming progressively more sedentary and capitalism is making us wealthy to the point of obesity, we're repeatedly bombarded with ads telling us to join a gym, go on a diet, exercise, quit smoking, cut down our drinking and so achieve that perfect physique.  According to the magazine Psychology Today, in 1972, twenty-three percent of American women and fifteen percent of men were dissatisfied with their appearance, but by 1997 that figure had risen to fifty-six percent and forty-three percent respectively.  Thirty-eight percent of men and thirty-four percent of women are today dissatisfied with the size of their chests.  Increasing numbers of men are taking the easy option and having pectoral and calf implants, while millions of women are following the example of Jordan (aka Katie Price) or Lola Ferrari and turning to surgery for that perfect pair.  So-called plastic surgery is also available for our less noticeable body parts; cosmetic vaginal reconstruction and penile augmentation are just some of the options available to those unhappy with the appearance of their man or womanhood; increasing the size, tightening the muscles or tidying up those unsightly dangly bits, can all be achieved at a price.

Today body fascism is no longer the preserve of overly efficient German population theorists but is in fact a psychiatric condition, Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Formerly called Dysmorphobia, the Italian psychiatrist Enrique Morselli first identified this tormenting condition in his patients well over a hundred years ago.  Dissatisfaction with how we look seems to be the norm, however when frustration becomes an intense preoccupation with the perceived defect then it is possible that BDD is the reason.  Many of us might actually be suffering with BDD, but have never realized, well not until you've read this.  So, if you fear discovering you're mentally disordered then you should stop reading now, however, if you're keen to get a few months paid sick leave then read on.  You must be prepared for the possibility of unearthing a whole assortment of psychological problems and have the financial support to undergo expensive long-term psychotherapy.  With that disclaimer stated lets proceed. 

BDD seems to affect males and females equally.  A person whose family has a history of generalized anxiety disorders and or obsessive-compulsive disorders seems to be at high risk.  According to the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV, doctors use the following criteria to diagnose BDD:

·preoccupation with the perceived physical defect.

·clinically significant distress or impairment in school, work, or social situations

·preoccupation is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as anorexia nervos.

However, with the sufferer seeking repeated cosmetic surgery to remedy the imagined defect(s) BDD often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.  People with BDD often complain about imperfections of the head or face. They may be preoccupied with the size and shape of their nose, eyes, ears or mouth, even their eyebrows, chins, or jaws may cause them anxiety.  BDD sufferers may also agonize over the real or imagined appearance of wrinkles, the shade of their skin, the degree of facial symmetry, or thinning hair.  Other body parts, which can cause BDD sufferers intense preoccupation, are the arms, legs, tummy, hips, and genitals.  A diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is usual when the person's obsessive interest focuses upon their weight, body shape and or size, although this could be incorrect.  Overall, it seems that a preoccupation with any area of the body is likely to be a sign of BDD.  Although there is no evidence yet to confirm or refute the suggestion, it is possible that the millions of regular gym-users are potential BDD sufferers; that's a lot of latent loonies out there.

BDD often begins with adolescence, a time when young people are coping with natural changes in their bodies as well as the pressing issues of sexuality and gender.  Most, if not all teenagers experience some anxiety about these manifold changes; for many the concern is fleeting and controllable while for others it is the beginning of a very long period of unhappiness with themselves.  The current trend to idealize thinness has a significant impact upon young girls who's developing bodies seem to conflict with the cultural ideal.  Modern nutrition has led to the average woman becoming bigger (note the tendency for clothes stores to stock larger sizes) which conflicts further with the popular cultural ideal of skinniness.  The natural changes which boys undergo during puberty, becoming taller and more muscular, is more in line with the cultural ideal for men.  However, for some men the accumulated effects of fast food, alcohol and armchair sports mean that they too eventually succumb to cultural pressures and seek solace in men's health magazines.

There are several pointers, which might suggest the presence of BDD; some are overt while others are more inconspicuous.  For example, constant mirror checking or for that matter avoiding mirrors is a sign that something is not right with the mind.  Camouflaging the perceived defect with clothing, makeup, a hat, your hand, your posture, or in some other way is again a sign of a possible problem.  Excessive grooming, or touching of the perceived defect as well as skin picking or measuring of the disliked body part (a pocket ruler is always handy for this) are again indicators of BDD.  Those with BDD will seek surgery, dermatological treatment, or other non-psychiatric treatment when doctors or others have said the flaw is minimal or such treatment isn't required.  Unnecessary dieting or exercise, coupled with the use of drugs like anabolic steroids, as well as constant reading about the perceived defect, are also seen as warning signs.  In some instances, the level of dissatisfaction felt by sufferers may lead them to shunning the company of other people, in work and social situations. This is partly because being with other people may lead BDD sufferers to compare their perceived defective part(s) with others and so increase their feelings of anxiety. It can also be because those with BDD often feel others are staring at them, noting their defects and then mocking or criticizing them behind their backs.

There's a difficulty in determining the number of people suffering from BDD, this is because of the modern-day preoccupation with physical attractiveness, which can cover up and normalize an excessive interest in one's appearance.  For example, what would be a "normal" amount of time spent doing one's makeup, or a "normal" amount of cosmetic surgery to have?  There is however some hope for BDD sufferers.  The use of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Zoloft and Prozac) coupled with psychotherapy can significantly reduce the bodily preoccupation, distress, depression, and anxiety felt and so allow increased control, by the individual, over their own thoughts. Cognitive-behavioural therapy may also be helpful.  With this type of therapy, a therapist helps the sufferer resist compulsive behaviours, such as mirror checking. It is important though to first establish whether a therapist has been specifically trained in cognitive-behavioural therapy, as many other forms of therapy don't appear to be effective in the treatment of BDD.

Certainly, a degree of self-assuredness is one-way of preventing body dysmorphia, as is a touch of arrogance.  However, accepting who we really are and not what we would like to be is surely a better way of avoiding BDD.  Perfection is not in the eye of the beholder, but in mind of the beheld.  So when you are out there attracting a mate remember, it's your personality, which counts, for beauty is only skin deep, fleeting and bloody expensive to maintain.

 

The Perfect World

 

Welcome to a perfect world where all things are outrageous, but nothing is immoral.

 

Hidden Pleasures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WARNING 18+ Adult material unsuitable for minors.