The following article addresses the causes, symptoms and treatment of Dorian Gray syndrome. This is a mental disorder characterized by a strong delusion of youth. Psychologists and sociologists see the causes of the syndrome in the unrealistic beauty standards of modern society.
What is Dorian Gray syndrome?
Dorian Gray syndrome is a mental disorder that manifests itself in an obsessive desire not to age. According to estimates, about three percent of the German population suffers from the syndrome. Affected patients refuse to mature externally, as well as internally. They are very focused on their bodies, which they perceive as exceptionally unaesthetic. In order to live up to their ideas of an ideal appearance, they abuse lifestyle drugs such as appetite suppressants and sexual enhancers. Aesthetic surgery is also usually used several times. It was named in 2000 by the psychologist Burkhard Brosig from Giessen. This syndrome is named after a novel character from Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. The protagonist in question sacrifices his soul in exchange for eternal youth. Ultimately, the fulfillment of this wish drives him to suicide. This represents a parallel to the actual course of the disease.
Causes
Dorian Gray syndrome is considered to result from the pursuit of physical perfection. The media confront consumers with flawless ideal people on a daily basis, and beauty is propagated as a highly desirable good. Anyone who does not meet the standard cannot be successful either financially or in a partnership. This illusion is anchored in consumers’ brains and causes self-doubt. The comparison of the ideal body in the glossy magazines with one’s own turns out to be sobering, and the desire to change arises. People with low self-esteem are susceptible to the syndrome. Sufferers not only long for perfection, but also have inhibitions about coming to terms with aging. The youthful person has no responsibility. Those who mature must learn to act on their own responsibility and bear the consequences. However, if one persists in eternal youth, one is supposedly spared this.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
The symptoms of Dorian Gray syndrome are first noticeable as a symptom complex. Inferiority complexes and dissatisfaction with one’s own body are common. In DGS patients, however, it is striking how strikingly different the self-perception and the perception by others are. A pronounced narcissism results from the detailed examination of one’s own appearance. This also functions as overcompensation for the lack of self-esteem. By degrading others, the sufferer feels more valuable himself. This makes interpersonal interactions difficult for the patient. The lack of mental maturity is also striking. Long-term healthy relationships cannot be conducted. This often leads to isolation. The constant confrontation with one’s own problems and perceived flaws, combined with loneliness, often causes depression. This is often accompanied by suicidal tendencies. To achieve perfection, DGS sufferers make use of numerous lifestyle drugs. These include potency and hair growth products, appetite suppressants and antidepressants. However, the latter are not consciously taken to combat depression, but are considered pleasant mood enhancers. Frequent and extreme exercise is also considered a symptom. The frequent use of aesthetic surgery, laser treatments and other procedures, also serves as an indication.
Diagnosis and course
Because the syndrome is a relatively new phenomenon, there is no official diagnosis code to date. However, if the above symptoms occur in combination with abuse of at least two lifestyle medications and/or unnecessary medical interventions, a person is considered to have the disorder. As with any mental disorder, the sooner the disorder is recognized and treated, the greater the chances of recovery. If the Dorian Gray symptom is not treated, it will take on self-harming forms later in life. Frequent cosmetic surgery carries numerous risks. Cardiac arrest during anesthesia, malpractice and wound infections.If a patient does not find the satisfaction he is looking for in the permanent change of his appearance, he will find other ways of compensation. This often leads to increased drug and alcohol consumption. If the syndrome becomes unbearable for the patient, this can also lead to suicide. If no treatment is given in the presence of Dorian Gray syndrome, the behavior of the sufferer takes on self-harming forms. Unnecessarily performed cosmetic surgery involves numerous health risks. These include, in particular, wound infections, malpractice, and even shock or cardiac arrest during anesthesia. If changes in the appearance of the patient do not lead to the desired satisfaction, other ways of compensation are often sought. This often occurs in conjunction with increased alcohol and drug consumption and abuse of medication. In the worst case, this can lead to death or suicide of the ill person.
Complications
Since the clinical picture was only characterized as such in 2015, the state of research here is accordingly still in the early stages. In general, psychotherapy is recommended for the treatment of the disorder in any case. As a requirement for the treating physician or psychotherapist, it is necessary to conduct a medical history and to uncover connections of the disease. In the case of Dorian Gray Syndrome, it is of crucial importance to determine whether the symptomatology is related to a personality disorder. In that case, targeted work on the personality disorder in question represents an accompanying main goal of treatment. Depending on the nature of the disorder, different types of treatment are recommended, which may include specific medication. The patient’s first goal should be to develop an awareness of the problem during therapy. Without this in particular, complications can occur even with treatment. Once the disease enters the patient’s consciousness, the patient may react to it in different ways. Here, the patient’s problems and behavior can worsen, due to a conscious suppression of emotions. Therefore, regular sessions are of vital importance. It can also be helpful to help the patient establish a social support network. This can provide supportive reinforcement for him to manifest a positive sense of self.
When should you see a doctor?
As a rule, Dorian Gray syndrome leads to various psychological complaints, so a doctor should be consulted whenever the affected person suffers from mental disorders or depression. Also, in case of suicidal thoughts or even a suicide attempt, a visit to a doctor is definitely necessary. Furthermore, the affected person should see a doctor if he or she has inferiority complexes or a significantly reduced self-esteem. Often, only outsiders can detect the symptoms of Dorian-Gray syndrome, so that they point out the disease to the patient. In severe cases, treatment in a closed clinic is also advisable. A doctor should also be consulted if the affected person takes appetite suppressants or sexual enhancers in a large quantity on his own action. This can prevent further damage to the body. Frequent plastic surgery may also indicate a mental disorder and should be investigated. Diagnosis and treatment of Dorian Gray syndrome should be done by a psychologist. Above all, family and friends and acquaintances should alert an affected person to the disease and convince him or her to seek treatment.
Treatment and therapy
Someone suffering from the Dorian Gray symptom should seek therapy. However, the affected person often sees no need for treatment himself and learns to come to terms with his disorder. In psychotherapy, the initial aim is to awaken an awareness of the problem in the patient. The sufferer must recognize that his behavior is compulsive and harmful to himself. Without this realization, it will be difficult to find an approach to therapy. After this process, the therapist will work toward strengthening self-esteem. Through mindfulness exercises, a sense of one’s emotions is taught. The patient learns to take himself and his inner experience seriously. Awareness of one’s own worth can then build on this. In addition, the therapist teaches the patient appropriate compensation strategies for inner insecurity.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis of Dorian-Gray syndrome depends on the patient’s understanding of the disease. In most cases, affected individuals do not seek treatment because they do not perceive themselves to be ill. Sufferers do not perceive that they have a mental disorder that is treatable or they are full of shame and refuse help for this reason. They choose to live with an obsessive desire for rejuvenation and try to deal with the symptoms independently. Intermittent phases may occur, during which the intensity of the symptoms increases. In the worst case, other diseases appear and the state of health deteriorates significantly. The prospect of relief changes as soon as the affected person enters therapy and commits to treatment. Through cognitive changes and awareness training, patients experience relief and the symptoms of Dorian-Gray syndrome reduce. Therapy may take several months or years before significant improvements occur. Success is tied to the patient’s cooperation. In some cases, no relief is observed despite therapy. The prognosis is particularly unfavorable in patients with an additional personality disorder. In addition to a lack of insight into the disease, the personality may cause the symptoms of Dorian Gray syndrome to consolidate.
Prevention
Since Dorian Gray syndrome is mainly caused by the standards of today’s society, it is difficult to make statements about prevention methods. The overall concept of “beauty” would have to be reconsidered. Individuals must be given back the feeling that their essence is not defined by their appearance. In addition, patients in beauty clinics should be more closely scrutinized and questioned in order to be able to recognize and treat Dorian Gray syndrome in time.
Follow-up
In Dorian-Gray syndrome, the measures or options for aftercare usually prove to be relatively difficult, as the disease cannot be fully treated. The affected individual is therefore dependent on early and, more importantly, rapid diagnosis to avoid further complications and discomfort that may continue to worsen symptoms. The earlier Dorian Gray syndrome is detected, the better the further course of the disease usually is. The treatment itself is usually carried out with the help of psychotherapy. However, some sufferers are also dependent on taking medication to alleviate the symptoms. When taking this medication, it is important to ensure that it is taken regularly and in the correct dosage to avoid other complications. In case of questions or uncertainties, a doctor should always be consulted. As a rule, self-healing cannot occur with Dorian Gray syndrome. Not infrequently, intensive discussions with one’s own family or with friends and acquaintances are also useful. For relatives it is advisable to deal with the disease in order to understand it better and to respond to it. The life expectancy of the affected person is usually not reduced by Dorian Gray syndrome.
What you can do yourself
Dorian Gray syndrome is a rather new field of psychological treatment. The affected person compulsively leads and directs his life according to the need of eternal youth and beauty. To treat this requires professional therapeutic measures and is not manageable in self-help. The patient has such a false self-image that the inevitable course of aging leads to bouts of depression, alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide. The patient must learn to question his self-perception and to bring it into balance with the perception of others. This only happens when the sufferer becomes aware of the danger of his actions. As a self-help measure in everyday life, so-called lifestyle drugs such as sexual enhancers, antidepressants and appetite suppressants should be dispensed with immediately. These drugs have a counterproductive effect on health. If aesthetic surgery is performed too frequently, the cardiovascular system is subjected to unnecessary stresses that interfere with everyday life. As self-help, photos of one’s own reflection serve to confront the situation in the presence of an independent neutral observer. Strengthening physical acceptance and self-esteem can be achieved through sensible sports such as swimming, yoga and running.Meditative mindfulness exercises and Tai-Chi bring back the feeling for one’s own body. To cope with suppressed emotions as well as wrong eating behavior, keeping a diary and visiting an artistic social network is helpful.
