Thread: People With Body-Image Disorders Process 'Big Picture' Visual Information Abnormally

Yea no shit.

You see what you want to see.

"Life is a Rorschach Ink Blot".
- Alan Watts

I think the reason people with BDD show higher than normal brain activity when looking at a less detailed image is because their brain is practiced or maybe even genetically predisposed to finding flaws and therefor struggles to make sense of something that lacks details to scrutinize.

I wonder if people who get really fat can't see how fat they really are because their eyes are squinty?

Originally Posted by maniclion

I wonder if people who get really fat can't see how fat they really are because their eyes are squinty?

That is a good point.

Clearly the people on the reverse side of the spectrum have "abnormal" brain functioning as well, right?

Originally Posted by maniclion

I wonder if people who get really fat can't see how fat they really are because their eyes are squinty?

It could also be related to the fact that they have an addiction or psychological disease that they can't control. The cravings that they have can be compared to those who abuse drugs. Many factors can come into play, whether it be chemical imbalances (dopamine, norepinephrine, etc.) or some other part of their brain not functioning properly, they have a problem...period.

Now those who are just fucking lazy and choose not to eat healthy or take care of themselves, well there is no excuse.

Originally Posted by djlance

It could also be related to the fact that they have an addiction or psychological disease that they can't control. The cravings that they have can be compared to those who abuse drugs. Many factors can come into play, whether it be chemical imbalances (dopamine, norepinephrine, etc.) or some other part of their brain not functioning properly, they have a problem...period.

Now those who are just fucking lazy and choose not to eat healthy or take care of themselves, well there is no excuse.

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

So your saying people with depression do not have a chemical imbalance? Or a chronic smoker, drinker or drug abuser does not have an addiction that they can't control, without medical intervention and treatment?

Originally Posted by djlance

So your saying people with depression do not have a chemical imbalance? Or a chronic smoker, drinker or blood abuser doesn't have an addiction that they can't control?

Yea buddy!

People get "depressed" and that leads to a chemical imbalance.

Like wise when something happens that a person deems as
"good" they have chemical imbalance in the other direction.

They can control the "addiction". It's quite simple.

Stop smoking/drinking/whatever.

Unless it's something they've been using for years and years, they should be able to quit cold turkey.
If not, they can taper down.

Our body follows the mind's lead. Whatever we think or believe, our body will make it true.

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

Yea buddy!

People get "depressed" and that leads to a chemical imbalance.

Like wise when something happens that a person deems as
"good" they have chemical imbalance in the other direction.

They can control the "addiction". It's quite simple.

Stop smoking/drinking/whatever.

Unless it's something they've been using for years and years, they should be able to quit cold turkey.
If not, they can taper down.

Our body follows the mind's lead. Whatever we think or believe, our body will make it true.

So dopamine and norepinephrine have nothing to do with depression? I was talking about chronic patients with addictions, not someone who just started something and deemed themselves "addicted".

I like your holistic approach though. Good argument.

Originally Posted by djlance

So dopamine and norepinephrine have nothing to do with depression? I was talking about chronic patients with addictions, not someone who just started something and deemed themselves "addicted".

I like your holistic approach though. Good argument.

I don't think you got my point.

For example:
A person is in a relationship and is happy (they are chemically balanced).
Their partner breaks up with them and makes them feel unhappy (they become chemically imbalanced).

If their will to be happy again isn't strong enough, they will continue feeling bad and their chemical make-up will stay in an "unbalanced" state.
The longer they remain this way, the harder it will be to shift back to a more
"natural" state.

It's very simple really. The brain works just like the other organs.
If say dopamine is heavy in a certain area of the brain for a long period of time it will become more sensitive to it, thus going back to that same schematic (or state of being) more easily from that point forward.

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

I don't think you got my point.

For example:
A person is in a relationship and is happy (they are chemically balanced).
Their partner breaks up with them and makes them feel unhappy (they become chemically imbalanced).

If their will to be happy again isn't strong enough, they will continue feeling bad and their chemical make-up will stay in an "unbalanced" state.
The longer they remain this way, the harder it will be to shift back to a more
"natural" state.

It's very simple really. The brain works just like the other organs.
If say dopamine is heavy in a certain area of the brain for a long period of time it will become more sensitive to it, thus going back to that same schematic (or state of being) more easily from that point forward.

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

Yea buddy!

People get "depressed" and that leads to a chemical imbalance.

Like wise when something happens that a person deems as
"good" they have chemical imbalance in the other direction.

They can control the "addiction". It's quite simple.

Stop smoking/drinking/whatever.

Unless it's something they've been using for years and years, they should be able to quit cold turkey.
If not, they can taper down.

Our body follows the mind's lead. Whatever we think or believe, our body will make it true.

should read, "people have a chemical imbalance then become depressed.

the chemical imbalance in the 'other direction' is the dopamine reward system.

the chemical imbalance may be a genetic predisposition or the result of repeat trauma(especially during childhood) which supresses dopamine, serotonin, endogenous opioids, endogenous cannabanoids, sometimes growth hormone, norepinephrine.

this is why ppl with BPD, ADHD, BDD, etc usually become anhedonic during normal events/social interactions. since they lack the normal neurotransmission, drug/food abuse puts these chemicals at normal or even supraphysiologic levels.

example: when a person is actively hypoglycemic, there is an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain. typically, there is anxiety, depression, personality changes. Also, hunger takes places as the body perceives the need for more glucose. You eat and glucose increases; you feel normal.

the same can be said for the things i listed above the example. just thought your cause and effect were backwards.

Originally Posted by manic my friend

should read, "people have a chemical imbalance then become depressed.

the chemical imbalance in the 'other direction' is the dopamine reward system.

the chemical imbalance may be a genetic predisposition or the result of repeat trauma(especially during childhood) which supresses dopamine, serotonin, endogenous opioids, endogenous cannabanoids, sometimes growth hormone, norepinephrine.

this is why ppl with BPD, ADHD, BDD, etc usually become anhedonic during normal events/social interactions. since they lack the normal neurotransmission, drug/food abuse puts these chemicals at normal or even supraphysiologic levels.

example: when a person is actively hypoglycemic, there is an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain. typically, there is anxiety, depression, personality changes. Also, hunger takes places as the body perceives the need for more glucose. You eat and glucose increases; you feel normal.

the same can be said for the things i listed above the example. just thought your cause and effect were backwards.

Nah son, you just ain't reading it right.

It's true that physical causes can create "Chemical Imbalances" (Will refer to as CI from her on) which can lead a person to be depressed.

You gave some good examples. In the situation where someone can have a nervous system disorder or other disordered functions that directly affect a person's chemical schematic, it's true that Physical cause -> mental dispositon.

But what about disorders/diseases/environmental pollution that doesn't DIRECTLY affect these neuron synapses? But generally causes discomforts of other kinds? Physical pain, exhaustion, etc.

These symptoms of other illnesses can LEAD to depression when someone begins to believe that they can no longer "take it".

At the point, the CI occurs.

The original discussion was based on the premise that in general
a CI will cause depression.
And my argument was that, in general, someone's mental state will impact their own body chemistry.
So mental cause - > physical reaction.

Exactly. Well said.









OTE=manic my friend;2323686]should read, "people have a chemical imbalance then become depressed.

the chemical imbalance in the 'other direction' is the dopamine reward system.

the chemical imbalance may be a genetic predisposition or the result of repeat trauma(especially during childhood) which supresses dopamine, serotonin, endogenous opioids, endogenous cannabanoids, sometimes growth hormone, norepinephrine.

this is why ppl with BPD, ADHD, BDD, etc usually become anhedonic during normal events/social interactions. since they lack the normal neurotransmission, drug/food abuse puts these chemicals at normal or even supraphysiologic levels.

example: when a person is actively hypoglycemic, there is an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain. typically, there is anxiety, depression, personality changes. Also, hunger takes places as the body perceives the need for more glucose. You eat and glucose increases; you feel normal.

the same can be said for the things i listed above the example. just thought your cause and effect were backwards.[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by RazorS

Exactly. Well said.

Dumb.

If someone breaks up with you and you become depressed,
was it because your chemical make-up suddenly changed
or because YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT?

You're a young person and one of your parents dies in a car accident.

Do you get depressed and then your body reacts.

Or does your body react and then you get depressed months down the road??

A person think he's up for a promotion after 10 years on the job, but then gets fired instead.

He becomes depressed.

Who's to blame, his body chemistry, or his mentality?

A person works his ass off for a triathlon, but get's disqualified before the event starts.
He becomes depressed.

Physical cause or mental cause?

I hate dummies like RazorS who post stupid shit.
I become depressed.


Physical cause or mental cause?

yah, i see what you're saying. kinda like situational depression. something bad happens and you get depressed until the problem is resolved. and yes, repeated exposure to this can have long-term consequences.

too, i take a very liberal and scientific stance when it comes to human behavior and addictions. i dont think addicts can truly control avoiding what they're addicted to. people with opiate addictions should be in opiate replacement therapy. meth and cocaine abusers should be able to go to clinics and get dextroamphetamine, desoxyn, or MPH. alcholics given high dosed baclofen. steroid abusers put on trt. etc. if people are happy, safe, and can live a productive life while abusing then so be it. they are not bothering me. if not, they need replacement treatment.

Originally Posted by manic my friend

yah, i see what you're saying. kinda like situational depression. something bad happens and you get depressed until the problem is resolved. and yes, repeated exposure to this can have long-term consequences.

too, i take a very liberal and scientific stance when it comes to human behavior and addictions. i dont think addicts can truly control avoiding what they're addicted to. people with opiate addictions should be in opiate replacement therapy. meth and cocaine abusers should be able to go to clinics and get dextroamphetamine, desoxyn, or MPH. alcholics given high dosed baclofen. steroid abusers put on trt. etc. if people are happy, safe, and can live a productive life while abusing then so be it. they are not bothering me. if not, they need replacement treatment.

Druggies gonna be druggies.

Until someone is able to fulfill whatever it is, that caused them to grow attached to drugs in the first place, they will stay addicts.

Sure the pain of withdrawals sucks, but its only when a person thinks they have nothing else to live for that they continue down the path of self-destruction.


S'why I live for the BOO-TE!!!
Where my niggas at???

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

A person think he's up for a promotion after 10 years on the job, but then gets fired instead.

He becomes depressed.

Who's to blame, his body chemistry, or his mentality?

Could be either or both, stress can cause physical or mental problems....

Originally Posted by manic my friend

too, i take a very liberal and scientific stance when it comes to human behavior and addictions. i dont think addicts can truly control avoiding what they're addicted to.

Can you clarify?

OMG!!! Some people have a very legit chemical imbalance that manifests itself in a true depression. No wonderful event---not hitting the lottery, not the best fill-in-the-blank thing in the world could change or will change it. Not without pharmaceutical assistance and/or therapy to learn how to cope with it.

There is, on the other hand, a depression of sorts that is reactionary--like in response to a death or a break-up. The latter is the type that people have more control over. And also is the one where the addage "time heals all wounds" comes into play.

They're both equally paralyzing.

The body dysmorphic, whether anorexic or bodybuilder, statistically is prone to depression---and I'm going to opt for the chemical imbalanced in nature.

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

It's very simple really. The brain works just like the other organs.
If say dopamine is heavy in a certain area of the brain for a long period of time it will become more sensitive to it, thus going back to that same schematic (or state of being) more easily from that point forward.

emotional equilibrium is determined by the triple balance model and communication between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and gonadal (HPG) axes and neuro-endocrine system.

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

S'why I live for the BOO-TE!!!
Where my niggas at???

tha's what i'm screamin nucka!

Originally Posted by KelJu

Can you clarify?

the liberal and scientific stance were stated above. there is a cause for every effect. this cause being chemical. when you spend your whole life avoiding a part of yourself that is missing, it controls you in the same manner as it would if you spend all of your time chasing it. it's hard to live a productive life avoiding it, and it's hard to live a productive life chasing it. that's why i think maintenance is so important. there are some who can avoid one addiction. most people dont truly beat addiction. they exchange one addiction for another. example: go to an NA or AA meeting. the people who avoid their drug of choice attend meetings 2,3, or 4 times a week. during the meetings all they talk about is how something got them down and they almost relapsed. in a sense, they are addicted to NA/AA meetings. they become proactive members and sponsors. they live for it but their old addiction is like an ex-fiance that they will never forget about. it can take over social and home life. and most of them relapse. nothing wrong with NA/AA if it works but you're not treating the underlying cause. also, not saying replacement therapy is for everybody. it should be easily accessible for those who want help. more people would have jobs and would probably spend more time with their families. there would probably be a dramatic decrease in border wars and drug trafficking. prolly. still wouldnt be a perfect world but we would have more happy mutherfuckers 'round here. my wife is watching extreme couponing in here and i'm really distracted so i hope this all makes sense.
btw, love the mitch hedberg quote kelj

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

Nah son, you just ain't reading it right.

It's true that physical causes can create "Chemical Imbalances" (Will refer to as CI from her on) which can lead a person to be depressed.

You gave some good examples. In the situation where someone can have a nervous system disorder or other disordered functions that directly affect a person's chemical schematic, it's true that Physical cause -> mental dispositon.

But what about disorders/diseases/environmental pollution that doesn't DIRECTLY affect these neuron synapses? But generally causes discomforts of other kinds? Physical pain, exhaustion, etc.

These symptoms of other illnesses can LEAD to depression when someone begins to believe that they can no longer "take it".

At the point, the CI occurs.

The original discussion was based on the premise that in general
a CI will cause depression.
And my argument was that, in general, someone's mental state will impact their own body chemistry.
So mental cause - > physical reaction.

It works both ways and it isn't as simple as you seem to think it is.

Originally Posted by manic my friend

tha's what i'm screamin nucka!



the liberal and scientific stance were stated above. there is a cause for every effect. this cause being chemical. when you spend your whole life avoiding a part of yourself that is missing, it controls you in the same manner as it would if you spend all of your time chasing it. it's hard to live a productive life avoiding it, and it's hard to live a productive life chasing it. that's why i think maintenance is so important. there are some who can avoid one addiction. most people dont truly beat addiction. they exchange one addiction for another. example: go to an NA or AA meeting. the people who avoid their drug of choice attend meetings 2,3, or 4 times a week. during the meetings all they talk about is how something got them down and they almost relapsed. in a sense, they are addicted to NA/AA meetings. they become proactive members and sponsors. they live for it but their old addiction is like an ex-fiance that they will never forget about. it can take over social and home life. and most of them relapse. nothing wrong with NA/AA if it works but you're not treating the underlying cause. also, not saying replacement therapy is for everybody. it should be easily accessible for those who want help. more people would have jobs and would probably spend more time with their families. there would probably be a dramatic decrease in border wars and drug trafficking. prolly. still wouldnt be a perfect world but we would have more happy mutherfuckers 'round here. my wife is watching extreme couponing in here and i'm really distracted so i hope this all makes sense.
btw, love the mitch hedberg quote kelj

Not sure I agree with that. Brains are placid. If you were born with a propensity to being a coke addict, I think you will be just fine if you never try it. It isn't like that person would have some huge void in their soul if they aren't snorting it up. You would just train your dopamine reward system to reward you for something else. That is why lots of people don't like working at at the start. They have to train their body to reward itself for doing something they had never done before.