Vigorexia emphasizes the excessive concern that the patient feels about their physical appearance and for the image it projects to others. He does not observe a real and accurate perspective of his body. This always seems to show potential for improvement. More specifically, he thinks he doesn’t look muscular enough. The patient suffers from muscle dysmorphia that affects his lifestyle.
How does vigorexia affect the patient’s lifestyle?
Their eating habits and excessive physical exercise are aligned with one intention: to enhance muscle mass. That is, there is no balance and moderation in the exercise routine. In this way, the person dedicates more and more time to sport. On the contrary, he reduces the time he shares with his friends and loved ones.
Social life is damaged for another relevant reason: the patient also significantly changes your eating habits. It is common that you prefer to avoid those gastronomic plans and family events that revolve around the table. Obsession not only affects the quality of personal life. Its level of impact transcends ties with others.
Thus, can negatively interfere with the romantic relationship. The other person may feel that their partner does not dedicate the necessary time to them. Likewise, she is likely to notice frequent mood swings and not understand some behaviors. These variations produce unexpected turns in conversations and coexistence.
Your own professional development may be conditioned by this issue, since you suffer from an obsession that affects your concentration, motivation, productivity and performance. Vigorexia limits your current reality, but it also interferes with your long-term work development (if the situation persists over time).
There is an apparent search for physical perfection that, however, is never definitively achieved. Person Observe the reflection of your body in the mirror to carry out numerous checks on your appearance.
Damaged self-esteem
The patient who has developed vigorexia tends to have low self-esteem. There is an important link between the corporal and psychological levels. The patient tends to associate a muscular appearance with strength, confidence and security. On the contrary, a thin body seems to project an image of weakness and vulnerability.
When a person observes his or her reflection in the mirror, he or she focuses mainly on those defects and imperfections that he or she perceives from his or her point of view. That is, he compares his current image with the ideal that he wants to achieve in the short term. And he directs all his efforts in that direction. Thus, sport is not a source of well-being, joy and enjoyment. In fact, it is common to experience a feeling of guilt when you do not comply with the planned plan during a day.
Even when the person is not practicing physical exercise, they are very aware of their own body condition. Many of his thoughts revolve around this issue, for example, he sets new goals in his training. Maybe I’ll make a readjustment in his schedule to dedicate more time to the sport.
Intrusive and recurring thoughts They can break in at any time. However, the suffering caused by these thoughts is not definitively alleviated through the habits adopted. The person lives in a permanent state of dissatisfaction with their own body image.
Does not realistically observe their bodily or personal characteristics
Has a distorted and negative physical self-concept. It is advisable to go one step further to understand the impact that this situation has on the patient. Her desire to perfect his physical appearance hides an important search for recognition and approval. Therefore, vigorexia can also lead to the avoidance of some social plans when personal dissatisfaction increases the fear of rejection. This disorder is known as the Adonis Complex.
The person does not maintain a kind relationship with his or her own body, nor with sport. The exercise routine becomes an absolute obligation to the point that you are likely to increase the time you spend in the gym. That is, the level of dependence on sport increases.
It is important not to interpret any possible symptom in a personal way. That is to say, the exact diagnosis must be made by a professional who knows the patient’s history. According to the DSM-5, a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, this concept is integrated into body dysmorphic disorder. The obsession revolves around the recurring idea that the physical structure is small.
