Red carpets, paparazzi, luxurious life, world-class accommodation -- what can a celebrity ask for more? This is what we always imagine to be the life of A-listers. But what we forget is that they’re human beings as well who have self-doubts and body image issues. Some of them prove that they are just like every one of us, who must soldier on the hustles of life. Add to that the many personal issues they must face, that’s why props must be given to those who are brave enough to come out and be honest about what they feel.
Entertainment Tonight | Lili Reinhart reveals her body dysmorphia stemmed from her cystic acne
Riverdale star Lili Reinhart bared in her interview with Glamour one problem she’s dealing with that we may know all too well. The actress has been vocal about her cystic acne, even sharing to her fans how she has been soaring through her body image battle. However, she revealed that the problem branched out to body dysmorphia. Whenever she sees acne, she obsesses over it, so much so that it makes her want to hide.
What Is Body Dysmorphia?
Just reading about what Lili has been going through is heartbreaking. But in order to understand what she is experiencing, let’s first learn about the disorder. Body dysmorphia is a mental health problem that is characterized by obsessively thinking about a person’s supposed flaws that may or may not be real. These defects may or may not be noticeable by other people, Mayo Clinic explained.
Despite the nonexistence or the slightness of the flaws, those with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) can’t help but think about them, which sometimes eats hours of the day.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, those with BDD tend to dwell on their negative thoughts uncontrollably despite other people saying they look OK. Sometimes, it gets so bad for them that it affects their daily functioning – they can miss school or work or isolate themselves because they are scared that other people might notice their defects.
How Will You Know if You Have BDD?
Being conscious about how we look at times is common, but up to what extent is it still normal? It is when the behavior causes distress and affects how you move on a daily basis. Although a flaw may be minor or even unreal, those who suffer from BDD may find it significant, thereby prompting anxiety. Because these thoughts are uncontrollable, it is hard for them to focus on their task or on other things, which may branch out to self-esteem issues and isolation.
Psycom | One sign that you have BDD is repetitive behaviors like avoiding mirrors
Those with BDD tend to do repetitive actions to try to mask their imperfections, which usually only become a temporary comfort. Examples of these are: avoiding or always looking at mirrors, unhealthy comparison with others, going under the knife, working out too much, and camouflaging with makeup, clothing, and even body positions.
Stars with BDD
Meanwhile, Lili certainly isn’t the first one to reveal she suffers from BDD. In fact, it affects 1.7 to 2.4 percent of the population. Hayden Panettiere, who may be best known for the series Heroes, revealed in an interview that she suffered from the disorder for so long after a magazine published her photo with the word “cellulite” smothered over it when she was just 16.
NPR | Michael Jackson went under the knife so many times
The late King of Pop Michael Jackson was known to have BDD, stemming from a rough childhood and illnesses that affected his appearance. His dad used to tease him while growing up, which may be the reason he had multiple rhinoplasties. He underwent 30 plastic surgeries throughout his career, which made him barely recognizable.
