Aphantasia and Body Dysmorphia

I'm new to the community so I apologize if this overlaps another discussion! Growing up I have always grappled with body dysmorphia -- the image of my body has never existed as one thing to me and I have alwasy struggled with "seeing" myself as I really am or as others see me. I tend to have vastly different ideas of what my body looks like day to day, mood by mood. It varies from surprising myself with how good I look in a mirror to actively avoiding reflections because it looks like a stranger staring back I am realizing as I age that my aphantasia and consequential inability to visualize myself likely exacerbates my experience of dysmorphia. Is this something others in the aphantasia community can relate to? Do you think aphants have a different relationship with oursevles and our physical bodies compared to those who can close their eyes and see themselves clearly?

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Myra Sontheimer•recently

YES! I'm always surprised when I catch my reflection. I know it's me, but my visual memories of myself are based on photos I have seen repeatedly. I have never liked looking in the mirror much; it always feels a little wrong. I do 100% know it's me, so this is not a delusion or anything.

Marie Arias-Stein•recently

Hi Sam - I absolutely relate to this, and have wondered the same thing!