Generation after generation, the concept of beauty has evolved drastically, and people have become more conscious of how they look than ever before. From being conscious to an obsession with the way one looks, today’s beauty standards bring a lot to the table, like depression, anxiety, lack of self-esteem, and confidence issues. When all this is, we call it Body Dysmorphia.
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Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition that is extremely prevalent but underrecognised, where one becomes excessively concerned about the way they look and insecure about even minor flaws that may not be noticeable by others.
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Insecurity in looks is something that all genders of all age groups face, but the category of young adults is prey to this on a very large scale. A survey by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) in the UK found that 70% of adolescents aged 14 to 24 feel inferior about themselves, and the ratio is higher among women. Feeling inferior is a lot different than the condition of body dysmorphia, but it is certainly a way to it. This is a condition as serious as anything else, which even causes suicidal tendencies.
This could happen because of social, psychological, or biological reasons. Psychologists say that people who endured physical or sexual abuse and who did not grow up in a healthy family are more prone to this. There was an absence in confronting such a condition in older days, not because it did not exist, but because they failed to recognise it.
Social media has a conceived perception of how a woman should be- slim, curvy, glass skin, non-existent waist size,etc and how a man should be- tall, gym build, sharp jawline, etc. Though everyone is aware that body types differ and that no one’s body looks alike, they find it difficult to apply this in reality. This leads them to try on unhealthy techniques to achieve the said, and when it goes to vein, they go into a process of self-hate, and disgust.
Our society, even though judgmental, has slowly opened up to better understand the drawbacks and unfairness of these unrealistic expectations and is more open to change than ever. But the internal struggle is to be fought within each of us. Seeking help from a professional is the best and only way to deal with this.
