Dysmorphophobia Unknown fear of one's own ugliness

Disturbed perception leads to the impression of being disfigured
The look in the mirror is a psychological burden for those affected. The other's looks are also scanned and supposedly analyzed. According to experts, around one million people in Germany suffer from dysmorphophobia. The patients feel ugly for no reason at all. The reasons for this are still poorly understood. It is clear that in many cases the reasons lie in childhood.

Up to one million people affected by KDS
"I am ugly and disfigured and everyone stares at me" - who thinks this way, possibly suffers from a so-called dysmorphophobia, a perception disorder that affects up to one million people in Germany. Characteristic of the disease, also known as body dysmorphic disorder (CDB), is the fear of being severely disfigured by a defect - even though it does not exist or is only minimally recognizable. Most often, the face and head are perceived as deformed, for example, by a supposedly too large nose, a suspected asymmetry of the facial features, acne or scars.

The unfounded fear of being ugly. Image: Jürgen Fälchle-fotolia

Fear of rejection often leads to social withdrawal
As a result, those concerned excessively deal with the imaginary blemish, which more and more solidifies the impression of their own unattractiveness and even in the event of a slight physical anomaly, an exaggerated concern arises. As a result, those affected feel constantly stared at by others and fear that the alleged disfigurement could lead to rejection and contempt. This often has fatal consequences again, because the fear of rejection, many people withdraw with KDS from social life and isolate themselves.

Affected are often very attractive
For outsiders often an incomprehensible behavior, because "the victims are often very attractive. Your self-assessment differs greatly from their actual appearance, "explains the psychologist Viktoria Ritter of the University of Frankfurt / Main to the news agency" dpa ". In her research on dysmorphophobia she found out, among other things, that those affected by KDS were above average sensitive to aesthetic proportions and therefore would immediately perceive minimal differences. But that this could actually be a disease, is often recognized late, because the question "Am I beautiful?" Every now and then, the psychologist continues.

Bullying and rejection in childhood as a possible cause
The specific triggers of dysmorphophobia are not yet known, but experts consider both biological and sociocultural factors to be possible. Accordingly, for example, bullying or teasing or even media-mediated beauty ideals could favor the emergence of a KDS, because especially in formats such as "Germanys Next Top Model" or many early evening series attractiveness and success are usually closely linked. "The causes are often in childhood," said the psychotherapist Stefan Brunhoeber compared to the "dpa". Among other things, an "overprotection", but also constant criticism and rejection could lead to people feeling ugly and disfigured, the expert continued. (sb, no)