ZOOM GLOOM –
June 9, 2021 – The International OCD Foundation states that about 1 in 50 people have BDD symptoms, many of whom suffer in silence, and that number is only increasing. A 2020 article in Vogue suggests that “in recent decades, dissatisfaction with body image in general, and by extension extreme body image disturbances such as BDD , have been on the rise”; Some experts attribute this to “social media and cultural shifts,” while others point out that continued webcam use could be one of the problems.
Another expert mentions that some of the symptoms of this Zoom dysmorphia are when one “worries about his own appearance during the call, gets stuck fixing his appearance for the call by changing his makeup, lighting or camera angle and becomes distracted during the call. comparing his appearance with that of others. “This fixation on one’s appearance,” he continues, “could detract from one’s ability to focus on work.”
Although other problems on the list have a quick fix, being obsessed with one’s appearance as a masochistic Narcissus cannot be cured simply with a small black square taped over one’s Zoom reflection. Doctors recommend psychotherapy for BDD,and the prognosis is usually good.
