Muscle Dysmorphia is rarely talked about, but important to be aware of.
Ever get that feeling you’re small no matter how much you lift or how often you hit the gym? Do you feel inadequate compared to the mass monsters you see in FLEX magazine and professional competitions? If this sounds like you, chances are you may be suffering from a little something called “muscle dysmorphia” aka the “Adonis Complex.” What the hell is that you may ask? To put it simply, it’s a feeling of unfounded inadequacy. You have a six pack, you’re ripping through you shirts with your muscle mass, but somehow you still feel like you’re not doing enough.
If you turn on the TV these days it’s pretty hard to not feel like you’re inadequate, especially for the average Joe. For an avid bodybuilder who follows the pro circuit it can be down right debilitating. You push and push and the people around you all tell you that they’re impressed with your size and definition, but when compared to the pros, you feel like you’ve never lifted a day in your life. Most of us compare ourselves to an idealistic idol, but not all of us are stricken with this debilitating mental issue. Here’s some tips to keep you from falling down that slippery slope.
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How slippery can that slope get? Well, imagine having so much anxiety that you can’t miss a day of training. Imagine that anxiety is more painful then squatting with a torn, untreated ACL injury and severe hip damage. There are some people out there so committed to getting more ripped and lean, that they’ll train right through the most devastating and potentially life altering injuries.
At this point you may be calling bull, but the real factor that makes muscle dysmorphia a disorder is the person’s self image. The feeling of shame and anxiety dominates their life. The fact that a 250 lb. muscular man may think that they’re too small is a real issue that should be taken seriously. So the big question is, how exactly do we combat against the disorder? Besides admitting that you may have an issue and seeking out therapy, try taking before and after pictures. This way you’ll have something that documents your progress and keeps you in check. But we’re not experts is psychotherapy, so consider speaking to a health care physician if you have an extreme case.
What are your thoughts on muscle dysmorphia? Do you consider it a serious condition? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
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