In the present time, muscle dysmorphia is becoming a widespread thing, especially among teenagers.
Muscle dysmorphia is one type of body dysmorphia, which is a mental condition where an individual constantly starts detecting flaws in their own body.
This condition is a rising concern, especially among gymgoers, who always want to look a certain way.
Looking a certain way is not the issue, but setting unrealistic goals is. Most teenage gymgoers are getting influenced in the wrong way, and for that, they are setting unrealistic goals, which ultimately leads them to muscle dysmorphia.
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Signs of having muscle dysmorphia
Each muscle dysmorphia case is somewhat different. However, some common signs can be seen in a person who is suffering from muscle dysmorphia. They are:
Always Complaining about own physique
Every person who joins fitness has some common goals. Usually, they want to achieve a lean physique or build a muscular physique, which is quite a realistic goal. Problems occur when they want to replicate a certain person’s physique. Everyone is different in some aspect, and expecting to look like someone else is not a practical goal.
A common trait of people with muscle dysmorphia is comparing their physique with someone who has a better physique than them. Usually, they want to achieve celebrity physiques, and after a certain point, when they see they are not getting close to their goal, they start questioning their body and complaining about it.
Constantly distracted
People with muscle dysmorphia have a hard time in their social life. They almost always think about their body and try to emulate everything perfectly. If they fail to do something perfectly, they start panicking heavily.
One common occurrence is that if they miss one workout session for some reason, they feel like it is the end of the world and start worrying too much. It can hamper other aspects of their lives as they become absent-minded due to the unnecessary tension they face from missing out on something.
Thinking about fitness is fine; almost all gym lovers take different actions based on their fitness goals. However, it should not reach the point where it starts to dictate everything in your life. Everyone should remember that fitness is a part of life, not the other way around.
Avoiding people
Another common symptom of muscle dysmorphia is hiding from people. The person tries to avoid people and likes to contain themselves because of low self-esteem. It often leads to an inferiority complex. For this reason, you may see a person who is suffering from body dysmorphia always wearing baggy clothes to hide their physique. Muscle dysmorphia can lead to:
- Over- /under-eating
- Constantly compare own body with others
- Obsessed/fearful of mirrors
- Being critical about one’s own physique
- Abusing steroids
How to get rid of muscle dysmorphia
It is always advised to consult a professional if you have any symptoms of muscle dysmorphia. However, detecting muscle dysmorphia can be a bit tricky for a beginner. By understanding certain things, a beginner can reduce the chance of having muscle dysmorphia.
- Social media creates a false aura that influences others to have false hope. Most of the pictures are taken in perfect lighting and with a good pump, and by retouching them with different editing software, influencers create a false image of themselves, and many people fall into this trap. So do not follow social media blindly.
- Do a reality check. Becoming healthy should be the ultimate goal, not having a lean six-pack. Almost no one remains in a single-digit body fat all the time. Gathering more knowledge will help you understand how the body functions. What can be achieved naturally, and what cannot?
- Get yourself educated about genetics. Genetics plays a vital role in how you are going to look. It is a predetermined thing. You cannot push beyond your genetic limit. Some people have superior genetics than others. Understanding this will make you face reality rather than chase unrealistic goals. You should always strive to be a better version of yourself rather than compare your body with others. What you have, many people do not, so you should perish your gifts rather than cry over someone else’s.