BDD BEHAVIOURS: MEASURING
Measuring is another form of checking and reassurance seeking. Am I the right size? Do I look okay? People who think they’re too short may repeatedly check their height. Maybe I’m not such a midget! Women who think their waist is too large may repeatedly measure it. Muscle girth, breast size, and penis size may be measured over and over again.
One man measured his penis with a tape measure up to 10 times a day, even though a urologist had told him it was normal. When it seemed somewhat larger than usual, he felt better. But, when the measurement confirmed his fear that it was tiny, he felt devastated. When I asked him why he kept measuring it when he was so often disappointed with the results, he responded. “I measure it because I hope it will be bigger this time.” This response echoes that of people who check mirrors, pick their skin, and seek reassurance: this time it might be different.
*113\204\8*
