Body Dysmorphic Disorder - When the Mirror Doesn't See What You See

Photo: geishaboy500/Flickr

Mirrors don't lie -- or do they? For some people, what they see in the mirror is vastly different from the truth.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a preoccupation with a perceived flaw or a gross exaggeration of a minor existing flaw. The Daily Mail has an article where women describe the way they see themselves and their photos are distorted to show their views.

Racheal Baughan, author of "The Butterfly Girl," suffered from BDD. "While some people have a phobia of spiders, I have a fear of my own face and body," Baughan explained to the Daily Mail. "Every time I see my reflection or a picture of myself I have to catch my breath: I see someone who is different from anyone else I've ever seen before, like an alien."

A distorted image of self can also occur after weight loss. Some people who have lost significant weight have a difficult time accepting their bodies. With this phantom fat phenomena, they may be disappointed in the way their newly-thin body looks, or they may have a hard time viewing themselves as anything but overweight.

That's Fit contributer Karla Carrington has experienced some of these concerns after her 200-plus pound weight loss. She had a tummy tuck and and arm lift, yet admitted she was still concerned with her thighs. "Now that I've got good arms and abs, all I can see are my sagging thighs, which look like melting ice cream." Karla wrote. But acceptance with yourself and your own body takes time. Karla's honesty with the process is refreshing and she's learning to embrace her healthy body as it is. In fact, she just went on a vacation and wore a bathing suit without a skirt -- way to go, Karla!

While great self esteem like Karla's can grow and develop over time with work and continued acceptance of yourself, body dysmorphic disorder is a condition that requires professional help.