Muscle Dysmorphia

T

Typhon

2
I haven't been able to find any recent topics regarding this subject recently which I thought odd for a site like this so I thought I'd bring it up.

I'm starting to suspect that I suffer from muscle dysmorphia as I always see myself as painfully thin to the point of being anorexic yet I weigh 214 lbs and can bench over my body weight. I know that what I'm seeing can't be accurate because of my weight and measurements.
It seems that as I get bigger I still see the same tiny frame in the mirror but bizarely everyone else gets thinner.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and what did you do about it?

Edit:
I thought I would add some of the symptoms I copied from Wiki, I certainly don't display all of these symptoms but I'm developing a fair number of them including an almost paniced state if I don't think I've eatten enough calories and severe guilt if I miss a workout. The difference between me and the next guy is that the idea of eatting below my maintenance level for the day is turning into a phobia rather than a concern

Muscle dysmorphia can cause people to:

Constantly examine themselves in a mirror
Become distressed if they miss a workout session or one of six meals a day
Become distressed if they do not receive enough protein per day in their diet
Take potentially dangerous anabolic steroids
Neglect jobs, relationships, or family because of excessive exercising
Have delusions of being underweight or below average in musculature.
In extreme cases, inject appendages with fluid (e.g. synthol) to simulate cartoonish muscular proportions.
 
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Hi,

Why don't you go talk to a psychologist about that? You then could put that behind you or do something about that. If you indeed suffer from such condition, you probably can improve your life in many areas with a quick therapy, not just the body image aspect of it. It's probably nothing, but if you indeed get that diagnosis come back and I'll tell you about a very quick and effective therapy. Cheers!
 
HA, Muscle dysmorphia, they can come up with a name for anything these days.

I guess I have had it. In younger years I was over 300lbs and still thought I was small. The group I traveled in would never have considered it a problem, so I have never heard of this muscle dysmorphia.

It took me getting over 275lbs to stop thinking I looked anorexic. This is also what helped to push me to make better gains that the "average" person.

I have had a lot of those symptoms, though I am also very career oriented and it is important to me that I maintain a good relationship with my wife.

What I can say is this. If it is not negatively effecting your family life or the way you make a living, it is not a problem.

I can also say that after many years of training the performance result became more important to me than appearance.

including an almost paniced state if I don't think I've eatten enough calories and severe guilt if I miss a workout. The difference between me and the next guy is that the idea of eatting below my maintenance level for the day is turning into a phobia rather than a concern
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I have had that too. I think there is a fine line between being focused and being crazy. Most people I have known who have been successful lifters, body builders, or other athletes, are a little "off." Their lifestyle is very different than what people would consider "normal." They kept their lives from falling apart though. It takes a different type of person to make better than average gains.

So take a close look at yourself. It is perfectly normal to want more than you have, and be angry with yourself when you make mistakes like missing meals or workouts. At the same time, a MAN has the stones to keep his priorities straight.

There is nothing easy about it. That is what separates people who can be successful in many areas of life as opposed to people who have control of only part of their life.
 
Thanks goergen,

I'd almost forgotten that I wrote this. From what you said I think you understand exactly what I mean and that helps a lot. I'm currently approaching 220 lbs and still see myself as painfully skinny. I think I handle it a lot better now though, I still see myself as skinny but I just don't care so much anymore, I'm focusing on the weight I can shift rather than appearance a lot like you said happened to you.

As for being odd or 'off' as you put it, I'd say that's pretty much on the nose for me. Being a bit off is my favourite quality
 
Depends what wikipedia means by 'distressed' hehe.

I get worried if I don't get enough protein in a day. I will not stand for not eating meat in a single day, and eggs on workout days.

But I don't take it "too" seriously.
 
CCR said:
Become distressed if they miss a workout session or one of six meals a day
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I definitely feel this one sometimes.
 
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