Having negative thoughts about your own body can be a significant source of distress – particularly if these feelings are constant. According to the National Butterfly Foundation in 2025, 18.9% of Australians had experienced body dissatisfaction in the last year. The number of young Australians (15-25 years old) reporting Body Image Distress has increased by 33% between 2009 and 2023.
In psychology, two of the most common conditions related to feelings of discomfort about one’s physical body and identity are body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria. As body dissatisfaction increases, it can develop into psychological conditions like shame, guilt, and body dysmorphia, or an eating disorder.
Australians that are most at risk of body dissatisfaction are women between 15 and 17 and the LGBTIQ+ community. There’s a strong correlation between body image and identity, particularly for those who are members of the LGBTIQ+ community or are struggling with their own feelings around sexuality.
Body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria are often confused for one another due to similarities in symptoms. This can lead to a misdiagnosis – and ultimately, the wrong support for the person.
What is Body Dysmorphia?
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition where a person becomes obsessed with a perceived physical flaw – the flaw is often unnoticeable or minor to others but is a significant source of discomfort and shame for the individual.
Body dysmorphia is often centred around the body or body parts being too big or small, asymmetrical, not the right shape, or colour. While it is generally quite common for people not to be 100% happy with how they look, a person experiencing body dysmorphia will often feel so intensely about these “flaws” to the point of developing compulsive behaviours.
Examples of such compulsive behaviours include:
- constantly checking themselves in mirrors
- drastic changes in eating habits, such as refusing to eat or purging after meals
- excessive skin picking, leading to bruises or bleeding
- frequent comparisons of oneself with others regarding appearance
People with body dysmorphia often feel anxious and frequently withdraw from social situations.
The distress from body dysmorphia is only related to one’s appearance, while gender dysphoria is felt due to an incongruity between one’s body and sense of self.
What is Gender Dysphoria?
Gender identity is a person’s internal sense of being a man, woman or other identity – it is not established by a person’s physical characteristics, or assigned sex at birth.
Gender dysphoria is experienced by those whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth. Gender dysphoria is expressed as a feeling of detachment with one’s body – feeling like you don’t belong in your own skin.
Experiencing gender dysphoria is not the same as disliking your body’s appearance (like with BPD). It is a deeper issue where your identity and sense of self are not being represented in your physical form.
Gender dysphoria can be experienced by anyone, but transgender and non-binary individuals are more likely to experience this condition.
Can Someone Experience Dysmorphia and Dysphoria at the Same Time?
Yes, a person can experience both body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria concurrently.
Gender dysphoria can cause someone to feel uncomfortable in their own skin because their gender identity does not align with their assigned physical sex. Simultaneously, they can also have a dislike for certain parts of their appearance unrelated to their sense of self.
The compounding distress from body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria can cause individuals to develop negative thoughts and change the way they behave around others and loved ones.
How Does Treatment for Body Dysmorphia and Gender Dysphoria Differ?
While body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria both involve feelings of distress about one’s physical body, the reasons for the distress are different – and so is treatment.
Treatment for body dysmorphia focuses on addressing the negative thoughts and compulsive behaviours related to the “flaws” a person sees in their body. Therapy modalities that have been found to be effective for BPD include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
As gender dysphoria is more closely tied to a person’s individual identity, mental health support requires more than psychological reframing, i.e. how they see themselves. Instead, psychologists help those experiencing gender dysphoria on multiple levels across social, medical, and psychological aspects. In many cases, treatment for gender dysphoria involves a combination of social transition, talk therapy, and, if necessary, medical intervention.
When to Seek Help for Body Dysmorphia and Gender Dysphoria
Body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria are both experienced on a spectrum – not everyone will be impacted the same way. Nonetheless, there are clear signs that indicate when mental health support is needed.
If you or someone you know experiences distress related to their physical appearance to the point of a sudden change, such as withdrawal from social gatherings, compulsive behaviour like mirror checking, or harmful coping mechanisms like self-harm or substance abuse, seeking professional help with a psychologist is recommended.
In Australia, there are registered and clinical psychologists experienced in treating BDD and gender dysphoria. At CFHP, we have a multi-lingual team of registered and clinical psychologists who can provide transgender counselling for gender dysphoria, as well as a range of counselling therapies for body dysmorphia.
