Is there a name for this

Blaithnaid1

Since I was a child I would freak out if someone took a photo of me, I still experience this today to the point where I would burst out crying knowing someone had a photo of me.

I cry because I found myself so ugly that I get aniexty thinking they are looking at my photos at thinking the same as I do. There is times where I would cancel or have aniexty attacks before meeting new people I.e partners friends and gf/wives and knowing that i would be the ugliest out of the whole lot of them. I am always looking at treatments I.e Botox and lip fillers to change my appearance.

My partners friend took a picture of us without my knowing and I’m sick to my stomach of the thoughts of it.

Is this common or am I an odd ball. It’s gotten to the stage where it’s almost taken over my life

Thanks xx

hawley

Scopophobia or ophthalmophobia is what it's called. It's an anxiety disorder where you are worried about being judged negatively by someone else due to believing you are ugly or inadequate

ILoveYourVibes

I think its called body dsymorphic disorder. Maybe go to your GP first and ask if they know someone who can help.

Its not usual. But there are other people who have it.

People who see you don't see yourself as you do.

You are not ugly.

And looks are not everything anyway. The heart is the seat of beauty.

Be kinder to yourself.

Mrstcup

Thank you for replying to me. I’m here nearly physically sick from the thoughts of the photo. I know it sounds crazy but I have always been like this since a child.

Dial Hard

Mrstcup wrote: »

Thank you for replying to me. I’m here nearly physically sick from the thoughts of the photo. I know it sounds crazy but I have always been like this since a child.

Genuine question: why haven't you tried therapy?

ILoveYourVibes

Just ask your partner to delete it.

Then think about talking to a counselor so you can help yourself long term.

Then stop thinking about it for a while. Its just gonna make you worry.

All the best op.

Mrstcup

It’s my partners friend who took the picture. I haven’t tried therapy because I’m embarrassed to go Incase they think I’m a lunatic,

ILoveYourVibes

Mrstcup wrote: »

It’s my partners friend who took the picture. I haven’t tried therapy because I’m embarrassed to go Incase they think I’m a lunatic,

Sorry i got confused when you switched accounts are you the op?


They are supposed to think you are a lunatic (kidding). I am not being funny ..but they aren't supposed to think that this is 'normal'.



They will think you have a problem. And you have to accept you have a problem too. Its a mental illness.

They won't think you are insane. But they are not going to accept this obvious pain you are in as 'normal'. Because its not.

You have to accept you have a problem.

So yes ..they will see you have a problem.

However they won't undermine you. They won't negate the seriousness of the pain the problem causes you. They will sympathize with the pain caused by your problem. THEY WONT JUDGE YOU.

But they are going to see that you have some sort of dysmorphia/ophthalmophobia along with social anxiety and hopefully help YOU see that too.

I mean they are NOT going to go ...actually you are totally sane and you need plastic surgery. Are they? NO THEY ARE NOT.

They are going to say you have a warped view of reality due to a mental disorder.



It can be due to past abuse or bullying or low serotonin. It can be partially genetic.

You have to be kind enough to help yourself.