appearance ocd?

can you have ocd about how you look? i’ve never been diagnosed with body dysmorphia so i don’t wanna say that’s what it is but everything i read about it i heavily relate to. i dunno if the two overlap but i’ve always been overly obsessed and critical with my appearance. constantly checking in the mirror (or completely avoiding mirrors) and rethinking even the smallest of things like how i do my hair, something i’m wearing, my body, etc. looking at old pictures of myself or comparing myself or others online when i feel bad. i have thoughts about how ugly i must be and if anyone says otherwise i’m convinced they’re joking or lying. like i sometimes genuinely feel so ugly that i shouldn’t be seen and that it would be an embarrassment for anyone to talk to me or be seen with me. it’s especially bad when i think of being in a relationship, like i should just stay away from other people, even just trying to talk to people. i’ve never talked to a therapist about this because it feels embarrassing but i genuinely don’t know if this is ocd related or something completely separate.

Young adults with OCD

Allison💗🦊

Date posted: 22h

Omg yes I relate to this so much I’m always thinking about how I look like 24/7. My old therapist said body dysmorphic disorder is related to ocd

worryywart

Date posted: 22h

@Allison💗🦊 ughhh this disorder sucks 🙃 good to know tho, i’ll have to talk to my therapist about it

jpg123

Date posted: 21h

I have the same thing !! I'm glad I'm not alone in this.

VVbee

Date posted: 20h

Omg same !! ^^ it's a massive problem for me as well, I never knew that others had this problem as well but in some of my posts on here I sort of hint this sort of issue. The thing for me is that whenever I finally get the reassurance, such as someone/many times a family member saying "you're a pretty person, cute, etc.." I finally see myself as that . I feel confident in myself and sometimes I feel really pretty. I always constantly ask if my photo looks bad or not and if they say no I feel fine. (Also reassurance) But only for a long while until the anxiety is back and I start freaking over my appearance again and worry about the future and if people will just be too grossed out when it comes to looking at me. I also do the constant checking and it gets really bad during school or when mirrors are nearby, for me at least . I've been severely bullied at school when I was younger, and have gotten some teasing then and there even to this day. So my lower self worth has definitely amplified the OCD . Enough about my experience though, I'm really sorry you're going through this, : ( thanks to that awful disorder . I wish you didn't see yourself in that sort of light but OCD really has to ruin it all . Our experiences may not be 100% the same for every aspect but I'm glad there's some relatability in the obsession itself. I hope you're feeling okay .

worryywart

Date posted: 20h

@VVbee i heavily relate to everything you just said. i’ll get compliments from my friends and family but sometimes it’s hard to just believe them. i was also made fun of/bullied for my looks a lot so i think that’s carried over to my lack of self esteem now. i’m so sorry you’ve experienced the same thing because it’s truly awful but you’re not alone at all. it’s good to know it’s not just me out there and i hope you can see yourself the way people in your life see you!

Clurp

Date posted: 18h

I want to be pretty so bad but I struggle with the conventional things to do to be a female that is in makeup with a coordinated out fit and I’m really hard on myself for that and not looking like I’m 20 again bc now I’m 26 and your body changes!!!!! It sucks

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