body dysmorphic disorder

[VT]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder

I saw this mentioned on here and I seriously think my gyne may have caused it. I used to like how I looked, but now i'm incredibly insecure. I compulsively look at my reflection in any shiny surface to see if i can fix my hair or something to just look a bit better, but I always hate what I see. At first it was just my hair that had to look "just right", but now everytime I pass by a mirror i have to check my abs to make sure i still have a 6 pack, even though deep down I know I do.  I think it's starting to spread to my arms and face now- I'm a pretty scrawny kid (no matter how hard I try at the gym) and I keep comparing my biceps to everyone else's.

Seriously, it's a joke how many times a day I look in the mirror, even though I know I'm not gunna like what I see. I probably spend a total of a half hour a day trying to look better, even though there's nothing really "wrong" with me. It's starting to affect my social life now too, I always feel like I'm the ugliest person in the group whenever I'm hanging out with my friends or eating lunch, and I've even started to avoid people I know in the halls because I think they'll hate how I look as much as I do. I barely talk anymore when I'm eating lunch with people because I think nobody what care what the ugly kid has to say. I just want so badly to be attractive or at least like how I look.

Am hoping that this goes away when I have my gyne surgery (June 21st), but I doubt it (I think it's caused by a combo of things like my gyne, short stature, scrawniness, very pale skin etc).Can anyone else here relate?

Sorry for the rant, but it's really getting me down...

[ROX]

BDD.....it's what my spouse told me that i have..and a girlfriend at job....ho yeahhhhhh
Sure, i have developped pectoral muscles but, a lump under, and big puffy nips !
A specialist estimate a $4000can job to remove that.
Women always underestimate our problem.

[Paa_Paw]

I have Gynecomastia and I know a man who has BDD.

I'm really glad that I have Gynecomastia and not BDD because from what I have observed, Gynecomastia is much easier to live with. These days, there is surgery which is remarkably good and many men elect to have it removed.

I do not think my friend with BDD will ever get over it.

[mouse]

I'm a female and was diagnosed with BDD. I just wanted to add that it doesn't just include people who have numerous cosmetic surgeries. You can still have BDD and never have had any cosmetic work done.

[Jackd]

I'm very similar, I'm constantly looking in mirrors every where I go so paranoid of what I look like, only I know I'm ugly so that makes it even worse  I don't think I will ever be happy with my self. I look way younger than my age, not exactly good looking, horrible body and of course gyne. I will never be happy... but at least when I get rid of the gyne its one less thing to worry about.

[flex1appeal]

I use to suffer from muscle dysmorphia in which I always thought I wasn't big enough (muscle wise). I kept taking steroids partly for that reason. Even when I was 235lb at maybe 10% body fat I still thought I had spaghetti arms (they were 19" at their biggest). LOL.

I can now say I don't care. It took me many years to overcome that problem.

flex

[headheldhigh01]

bdd is what a parent tells you you have when they don't want to deal with either the issue or a bill. 

just being p*ssed off at having gyne is not bdd.