Concern about physical appearance, to a greater or lesser extent, is common nowadays, since we live immersed in the culture of image.
Now, when this worry becomes too important a part of our life and leads us to engage in self-destructive behavior, then maybe we are talking about the Adonis complex a serious problem that must be treated in psychotherapy
In this article we will talk about the Adonis complex and delve into its causes, symptoms and treatment.
The Adonis complex It is what is popularly known as vigorexia muscle dysmorphia or reverse anorexia. People with this disorder continually suffer from their physical appearance and especially from their obsession and fixation with acquiring a muscular body, which would represent the maximum expression of the male body image. This obsession and preoccupation lead the individual to pathological extremes.
The term “Adonis complex” is not usually used in the medical environment, but rather is the popular name for vigorexia. This curious name is taken from Greek mythology, which represented Adonis as half man and half god. Adonis was considered the supreme being of male beauty and, according to mythology, his body was so beautiful that he won the love of Aphrodite, queen of all the gods.
On the other hand, it should be said that the concept of “reverse anorexia” can cause confusion. In fact, while there is no debate about whether anorexia is an eating disorder, Adonis syndrome does not easily fit into that category; In this second psychopathology, what is important is not so much the problematic way of relating to food, but rather what the person feels in front of her body; Food is only one of the many areas of management of this discomfort.
Furthermore, it is also worth clarifying that although people with Adonis syndrome tend to look in the mirror a lot and muscle a lot, this should not be confused with narcissism: everything they do is based on complexes with their own body and, in general, They are vulnerable when interacting with others because of their very low self-esteem.
Causes
As some research states, in Spain there are approximately 700,000 cases of the Adonis complex or vigorexia. Mostly It is men between the ages of 15 and 35 who usually suffer from this disorder; However, cases of women with this condition have also been reported.
Although the exact cause of this disorder is difficult to determine, scientific studies conclude that a series of factors can cause the appearance of the Adonis complex. They are the following:
1. Low self-esteem
low self-esteem It is both a cause and a consequence of this disorder, and individuals with Adonis complex tend to value themselves negatively and have a lack of self-confidence. They become obsessed with physical appearance thinking that this way they will feel better. They are not good with themselves and seek external approval that does not favor their mental well-being at all.
2. Image culture
The image culture and the values and beliefs that this society promotes have an effect on how people interpret the environment and value ourselves. We are continually surrounded by media that makes us feel bad if we do not meet the unrealistic expectations that we may have as a result of the Western beauty canon. Education is the best way to counteract these toxic values or beliefs.
Some individuals may develop this condition after having a negative self-image that is a consequence of how they have been bullied in the early stages of their life. For example, because of teasing from classmates at school.
4. Perfectionism
The perfectionist personality is closely linked to the desire to have a perfect body. This type of behavior leads to obsession because perfectionists are very hard on themselves and do not accept themselves as they are.
Symptoms and signs
Individuals who suffer from the Adonis complex are obsessed with their physical appearance and may spend several hours a day thinking about their body in a negative way and looking in the mirror over and over again. Vigorexics are people who take extreme care of their diet, because They want to have a body without fat but at the same time voluminous and muscular. They are never happy with the way they look because they never look good.
Not looking good makes them uncomfortable and they try to counteract the anxiety and low self-esteem they feel with some harmful behaviors. For example, they take anabolics, eat unhealthy foods, and They practice sports obsessively leaving aside health benefits and focusing purely and exclusively on body image, even sacrificing their well-being.
Treatment
Psychological therapy can be really effective in the treatment of this disorder, but the first step in overcoming the Adonis complex is for the patient to accept that they have a problem and be willing to seek help. If you are aware that he is suffering from vigorexia, you may first go to the GP to explain the problem. Although this professional can make a first diagnosis, it is necessary to contact a psychologist specialized in this type of disorders.
Psychological therapy is useful because it reeducates the patient to learn positive and realistic thinking patterns and behavioral patterns. Although there are other treatments such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which belong to third generation therapies and help the patient to accept themselves and adopt an attitude non-judgmental regarding her body, Classic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is usually the treatment par excellence. It has enough scientific evidence to affirm that it is an effective treatment.
CBT can be group or individual, and its purpose is to recognize and establish connections between the patient’s thoughts, feelings and behavior, so that the patient can acquire practical skills to overcome their problems. In this case, the objective will be to focus on the beliefs that the patient has regarding their own body and their physical appearance, which will allow them to modify harmful behaviors.
Different techniques are used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: cognitive restructuring, exposure techniques, social skills training, among others.
