Muscle Dysmorphia

newrob · Apr 21, 2008

Muscle Dysmorphia or Bigorexia

just want to know if anyone can relate to this. i i've had a body-image disorder (bdd: body dismorphic disorder) since early adolescence. i preceive and/or obsess about not being big or muscular enough. it is specifically termed muscle dysmorphia (MDD). it is now recognized by the medical community and is seen as belonging to compulsive disorders (OCD). it is usually treated with behaviourial modification talk therapy alongside drug treatment with a seritonin type of medication (SSRI). i've really struggled with it and have been training on-and-off since i was 16 and am now 44. because of it and my frustrations, i've started using steroids. i'm being very carefull, using Test E only at a moderate dose and have hired a very experienced trainer to help me, mainly, with my diet. i've seen a doc about trying to get on HRT but my bloodwork showed Normal to Low, so it is a now go. i will, however, be monitored by my doc throughout my cycle and beyond. i've also talked to another doc about being treated for MDD and am being referred to a specialist. I'm a homosexual guy and i think that this has contributed to it but i also feel that any serious male gym rat has this "problem" in one way or another... what are u thoughts on all this?
Oh yeah, there was a seminal book on the subject written by 2 doctors a while back call The Adonis Complex. I remember reading it cover-to-cover. Has anyone been treated for MDD?

newrob · Apr 21, 2008

Any male been treated for Muscle Dysmorphia, Bigorexia, or Reverse Anorexia. This official medical term now is Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder.

cavemuscle · Apr 22, 2008

Hey Bro,

We ALL have it to some degree or another, but in my case, considering before I got hooked on lifting and getting big, I was hooked on drugs, booze and casual sex, being a bit obsessed with getting big is a minor thing.

I think the sexual revalation was not required, though. We all know there are gay members of this board, but we follow a bit of the "Don't ask, Don't tell" so we can keep the flame wars down.

Do what makes you feel good and uplifts you, and stop worrying about labels or whether you are "sick" or not. Enjoy the process, man, and the gains will come.

just my two centavos

Brock

OuchThatHurts · Apr 22, 2008

What you're talking about comes in vast degrees from people who are just generally unsatisfied with what might be an already decent physique to people who, no matter how big, will always believe they look small. It's such a wide range in fact, that you have to deal with it on a case-by-case basis. It's very hard to make generalizations. If you are suffering discomfort in public that is affecting your work or relationships or maybe your feelings about your body are otherwise adversely affecting your day to day living, then you should probably see a professional and try therapy. It will most likely be a combination of therapies and you may find yourself in a much better place.

The problem here is that in many cases, the person believes there is nothing wrong with them and all. It can be difficult at that point because you can't force someone to get treatment. Usually these people find themselves in treatment after a stay in the hospital for something directly related to their behavior. They might say they are fine while their families and friends are justifiably concerned.

It's unfortunate but sometimes it simply takes something drastic enough for the individual to finally question their own behavior. Hopefully, not too much physical damage has been done and the individual can recover with their long-term health intact.

morepain · Apr 23, 2008

I would venture to say anyone who is not a competitive athlete that is using anabolics for appearance purposes only is dealing with a certain degree of MDD...including myself. I compete in some local strongman stuff but nothing to warrant the amount of anabolics i used over the years. I guess what i have come to terms with is it is a part of me and if that is my worst issue than i am doing pretty good. Don't beat your self up too bad about striving to be better, yeah i know there is a point it becomes unhealthy (or so they keep telling me) but i live my life by my standards, not anyone elses.

gordo14 · Apr 23, 2008

I concur.....

Morepain has a good point. Why do we all worship the iron? I think we all have some form of this complex. Why else would we want to weigh 300 pounds of solid muscle? I know even when i am in phenomenal shape when i look in the mirror i still see that chubby kid i once was. Maybe i need a psychiatrist??????

King Leesus · Apr 30, 2008

I started because of the sport I'm involved in. Needed the competitive edge do to speak. I still use it to help keep my strength up when I'm preparing for competition, but over the past 7 or 8 months it's taking a turn towards looks.

For me personally it's gone from, "I'm only using this to stay competitive in jiu jitsu and thai" to "It's helping my sports, but I see the potential to have the body I will be respected for and will show my hard work better than genetics."

Kind of a mind fuck lately to tell the truth.

CB · Apr 30, 2008

I agree with Cave.......pretty much everyone on this board either has it at some level, or used to suffer from it. Guys think they are too small, and most figure girls think they are too fat even right before their shows. Unless it's an extreme case, i guess it just helps each of us work a little harder.

mikeheavypecs · Apr 30, 2008

CB said:
I agree with Cave.......pretty much everyone on this board either has it at some level, or used to suffer from it. Guys think they are too small, and most figure girls think they are too fat even right before their shows. Unless it's an extreme case, i guess it just helps each of us work a little harder.

I've been aware that I have this "disorder" for a while. I just hit 261 at 7% bodyfat and in my mind I feel like a twig. When I'm walking through a mall I feel tiny although guys with me say that people are looking at my arms etc. IN my mind I am tiny. SO, now I'm shooting for 270 at the same bf! Wonder what will happen when I am 270

Mike

JETHRO TULL · May 4, 2008

I think it is much the same in most endeavors one might choose to do.

You can always be a better artist. Someone out there is better.

You can always be a better shot. [I hunt and shoot shotguns, pistols, compound bow, etc]

Some is always faster, stronger, a better basketball player.

People are competitive, that's the bottom line. Athletes tend to be the most insecure due to that fact that they are always being judged and judging themselves based on their last performance.

That's the nature of the game.

Those behaviors only become a problem when they affect a persons daily life in that they lose relationships, jobs, promotions, joy in normal activities, etc...

Once a person gets to the point where these areas of normal functioning are impared THEN you have a DISORDER.

Until then, you are just like everyone else. Messed up to one degree or another.

tkav1980 · May 4, 2008

People around me are always saying things like"dude, your arms are as big as your waist! How much bigger do you want to be?" but i swear to god every time i look in the mirror i dont think i look any different that i did at 15 yrs old and 135lbs. Its only recently that i learned to use some restraint when it comes to steroids and not just pump my body as full of chemicals as it can take. but the idea of growing pretty much dominates my thought on a daily basis. well that , food, and women. but thats for another topic.

OuchThatHurts · May 5, 2008

JETHRO TULL said:
Once a person gets to the point where these areas of normal functioning are impared THEN you have a DISORDER.

Until then, you are just like everyone else. Messed up to one degree or another.

Well put brother.

daron_e · May 5, 2008

I HAVE IT FOR SURE. PEOPLE TELL ME ALL THE TIME HOW BIG I AM AND I STILL DON'T SEE IT. I WOULDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH. AS STATED ABOVE, THERE ARE WORSE THINGS TO BE HUNG UP ON.

GymDudeVA · May 6, 2008

JETHRO TULL said:
Those behaviors only become a problem when they affect a persons daily life in that they lose relationships, jobs, promotions, joy in normal activities, etc...

Once a person gets to the point where these areas of normal functioning are impared THEN you have a DISORDER.

Exactly. It pisses me off that almost all bodybuilding is considered by some to be a disorder. Does a tennis player who always tries to improve his game have a disorder? Does a businessman who is always trying to make more money for his company, have a disorder? It's just that fat psychologists understand those drives. But to them, working hard to get huge muscles makews no sense and is an unhealthy compulsion. Actuslly, it's only a problem if you are really unhappy or it gets in the way of a semi-normal life. Most of us LOVE the way we look but STILL want to get bigger, which in my book is perfectly normal.

Frank-Oh · May 7, 2008

JETHRO TULL said:
You can always be a better artist. Someone out there is better.

You can always be a better shot. [I hunt and shoot shotguns, pistols, compound bow, etc]

Some is always faster, stronger, a better basketball player.

People are competitive, that's the bottom line. Athletes tend to be the most insecure due to that fact that they are always being judged and judging themselves based on their last performance.

That's the nature of the game.

Those behaviors only become a problem when they affect a persons daily life in that they lose relationships, jobs, promotions, joy in normal activities, etc...

Once a person gets to the point where these areas of normal functioning are impared THEN you have a DISORDER.

Until then, you are just like everyone else. Messed up to one degree or another.

Well said. Especially the part Ouch quoted at the end.

I am one of these people, but I just sort of started out. I ended up losing crazy amounts of weight due to being over weight.. I feel undersized and weak. Friends of mine who don't workout or are smaller than me to me look better than me..larger.. weird.

I ain't too worried.. Science > Genetics

OuchThatHurts · May 7, 2008

GymDudeVA said:
It's just that fat psychologists

Good point but dayum! Fat psychologists!?! Hmph.... No Christmas card for you!

Steak Helmet · May 8, 2008

mikeheavypecs said:
I've been aware that I have this "disorder" for a while. I just hit 261 at 7% bodyfat and in my mind I feel like a twig. When I'm walking through a mall I feel tiny although guys with me say that people are looking at my arms etc. IN my mind I am tiny. SO, now I'm shooting for 270 at the same bf! Wonder what will happen when I am 270

Mike

I cannot agreee more...I have people saying WOW your arms are as big as my legs...I say NAH I am just a fat kid

but in reality, I do not see myself 70lbs bigger than the guy standing infront of me. If I am standing next to someone that is 5'8" 160lbs, I see myself as 5'8" 160lbs, but really I am 6'0" 250 to 260ish.

CRAZY how the mind plays tricks on you.