I have horrible vision. Not like, “I have to squint to see the lower lines of the eye chart from 20 feet away” type of vision. More like, “from 20 feet away I may be able to tell you there is a white blur that is the eye chart” type of vision. Thank God for corrective lenses!
Without my contacts I cannot trust my eyes are telling me. I could not do my job, drive my car, or reliably take care of my children without some sort of vision correction.
People with body dysmorphia disorder (BDD) do not see themselves as they are. They hyperfocus on a perceived imperfection, like a nose that’s too big, lips that are too thin, or a belly that’s to flabby. Their brain sees it as more of a problem than it is. There is something in their mind that is convinced that their “imperfection” is painfully obvious. This can lead to excessive plastic surgery, unnecessary procedures or injections, or extreme and unhealthy dieting and exercise.
Just as I cannot trust my vision on its own, people with BDD cannot trust the mental vision they have of themselves. Sometimes they need to be reminded of this. If you know someone who suffers from body dysmorphia disorder help them by reminding them that what their brain “sees” is not reality. Help them by taking their focus off of whatever it is that they can’t see past. Try not to point out your own or other people’s imperfections. Most importantly, be supportive. You may get frustrated that they can’t see right, but until we figure out a corrective mental lens, just accept that they can’t.
If you have BDD remind yourself when you start to hyperfocus that you don’t see your nose, your lips, or your belly (or whatever it is for you) the right way. Your mental vision is blurry and you cannot trust it. If the urge to modify becomes too strong, seek help. A qualified counselor can help you work through whatever it is that is bothering you and maybe help you improve your vision a bit.