29-02-2016, 09:53 PM
Hi Dianna,
your notion about possible connection between body dysmorphic disorder and transgender issues is interesting. But according to current level of understanding those are different clinical entities.
Without digging too deep into psychopathology, let's just say that different psychiatric symptoms can appear in different individuals to different extent and it doesn't have to mean that exact individual suffers from mental disorder. In fact, symptoms like anxiety, sad mood, obsessive thoughts, are an integral part of normal human experience. In mental disorders, symptoms are present in such extent that they impair normal functioning of an individual. Moreover, symptoms usually appear in specific clusters (syndromes). To make things more complicated, some mental disorders ("diagnoses") can share symptoms with another disorders. For example obsessive thoughts are usually thought to be just a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but obsessive thoughts are prominent in broad range of different disorders, for example anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders etc.
Body dysmorphic disorder is, according to International Classification of Disorders 10th edition, subset of hypochondriac disorder. It revolves about appearance of specific part of the body. Basically, the main symptom is body image impairment. But as I have stated before, specific symptoms can appear in different conditions or in otherwise healthy individuals as well. So body image impairment is the symptom that may appear for example in eating disorders or sexual identity disorders, but it is not the most important feature.
Now, I don't know enough to give you any advice, but from your description I would guess you may show some of the symptoms of depression (like lassitude, sleep problems). I don't say that you are suffering from depressive disorder or that you should take antidepressants. Some depressive or anxiety symptoms can appear as a reaction to stress. In that case, solving underlying problems should help. If your symptoms get any worse, however, maybe you should consider seeking a counsel from a psychotherapist...
your notion about possible connection between body dysmorphic disorder and transgender issues is interesting. But according to current level of understanding those are different clinical entities.
Without digging too deep into psychopathology, let's just say that different psychiatric symptoms can appear in different individuals to different extent and it doesn't have to mean that exact individual suffers from mental disorder. In fact, symptoms like anxiety, sad mood, obsessive thoughts, are an integral part of normal human experience. In mental disorders, symptoms are present in such extent that they impair normal functioning of an individual. Moreover, symptoms usually appear in specific clusters (syndromes). To make things more complicated, some mental disorders ("diagnoses") can share symptoms with another disorders. For example obsessive thoughts are usually thought to be just a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but obsessive thoughts are prominent in broad range of different disorders, for example anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders etc.
Body dysmorphic disorder is, according to International Classification of Disorders 10th edition, subset of hypochondriac disorder. It revolves about appearance of specific part of the body. Basically, the main symptom is body image impairment. But as I have stated before, specific symptoms can appear in different conditions or in otherwise healthy individuals as well. So body image impairment is the symptom that may appear for example in eating disorders or sexual identity disorders, but it is not the most important feature.
Now, I don't know enough to give you any advice, but from your description I would guess you may show some of the symptoms of depression (like lassitude, sleep problems). I don't say that you are suffering from depressive disorder or that you should take antidepressants. Some depressive or anxiety symptoms can appear as a reaction to stress. In that case, solving underlying problems should help. If your symptoms get any worse, however, maybe you should consider seeking a counsel from a psychotherapist...