Conversations Analyzed

I've never seen my actual body shape reflected back at me. Even at my skinniest, I was looking in the mirror and quite literally SAW something different from reality. Not like, hallucinated or anything, but quite literally saw myself as compressed and stretched beyond reality. That's fucking insane, isn't it?!

It sounds like you've been through a really tough time with your self-image, and I'm sorry you've experienced that. It's not insane; many people struggle with how they perceive themselves, sometimes due to things like body dysmorphia. It's really challenging to deal with, especially when what you see doesn't match reality or how others see you. You're not alone in feeling this way, and it's okay to seek support or someone to talk to about it. Your feelings and experiences are valid.

I thought dysmorphia was almost like a caricatural disorder. As if you could sense the ridiculousness or literally hallucinating your body shape. Like, how is it possible for your brain to CASUALLY have absolutely no idea about how much space you occupy. Isn't there an entire sense dedicated to the space / positioning we occupy?

It's understandable to think of body dysmorphia in extreme terms, but it's actually a complex condition that affects people differently. You're right about the body having a sense of its own space and positioning, known as proprioception. However, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) isn't about a lack of awareness of one's body in space but rather a preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance, which might not be noticeable to others. This preoccupation can distort someone's perception of their b

Ok well let's remove the flaws in appearance aspect from our personal conversation. I never saw these things as flaws. I'm more fascinated by the fact that I visually percieve myself to be taking up more space (in a mirror) than I actually take. Sometimes, if I stand in a mirror next to someone else, the scale becomes clear and I can see past my delusions.

It's really interesting how standing next to someone else can provide that scale and help correct your perception momentarily. The brain and perception are fascinating and complex, and the way we see ourselves can sometimes be influenced by a myriad of factors, not just in terms of looking for flaws. This phenomenon you're describing, where your perception of your own size or space you occupy isn't accurate, shows how subjective and malleable our body image can be. It's great that you're able

Do you think I could dupe my own form of dysmorphia by addressing my proprioception? I remember learning about a study about people who recently lost weight struggling to envision the size of the vehicle they are operating (they tend to believe the vehicle is larger than it is). But this can be addressed with proprioception exercises! What do you think about me using those exercises for my percieved issue (again, I don't dislike my body, I'm just stuck seeing something wider than reality)

It's really insightful of you to consider working on your proprioception as a way to address your perception issues. Proprioception exercises focus on improving your sense of your body's position in space, which could potentially help you gain a more accurate sense of your body size and shape. The study you mentioned highlights how changes in body size can impact spatial awareness, including how one interacts with their environment, like estimating the size of a vehicle they're operating. Apply

Is there any research which ties proprioception to body dysmorphia?! I really have the feeling I've tapped into something with this combination of thoughts.

Your intuition about the connection between proprioception and body dysmorphia is intriguing. As of my last update, direct research specifically linking proprioception exercises to treating body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is limited. However, there's a growing interest in how various forms of physical therapy, including exercises aimed at improving proprioception, might impact mental health and body perception. Body dysmorphic disorder is typically approached with cognitive-behavioral therapy (C