"When you look in the mirror, do you see happiness?"
A mirror hangs in my office, not because I particularly enjoy staring at my reflection, but because many people I seek to help struggle with this.
Mirror avoidance is a common but infrequently discussed phenomenon associated with a variety of challenges. Individuals struggling with body image difficulties sometimes engage in compulsive checking in the mirror and are upset upon seeing their image (Vale and Riley, 2001). In an experiential study of participants living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and neurotypical participants, where individuals were given the choice to face a mirror or non-mirror image found that 90 percent of individuals with BPD chose to look away from their image compared to 26.7 percent of those without (Winters et al., 2015).
When significant, some individuals struggling with depression, body image disturbance, and low self-worth find that looking into the mirror creates such distress that they will cover their mirrors.
Mirror exposure is a therapeutic strategy involving a guided exercise of examining oneself in the mirror. It is often done in periods of as short as one to five minutes in the beginning. Sometimes, individuals are instructed to practice a neutral gaze, simply describing their body as if to an artist. Other protocols instruct participants to take note of aspects of their body that they feel negatively or positively toward.
Research has shown that over time, sessions of mirror exposure can increase body satisfaction and decrease mirror avoidance (Jansen et al., 2016). While research examining the role of mirror exposure in eating disorder treatment is still evolving, initial findings have been promising (Butler and Heimberg, 2020). Modifications using mirrors in therapy for individuals struggling with self-image may also have benefits.
One creative experiential treatment method aimed at improving self-worth involves decorating a mirror with words and images as a way of expressing and challenging negative beliefs about oneself. Strategies such as this offer a way to distance oneself from one's thoughts through defusion, meaning that they're able to observe one's thoughts rather than react to them. The activity is a way to reflect, literally and figuratively.
If you struggle with looking into the mirror, know you are not alone. Psychotherapy can help you create a more positive relationship with yourself. Mirror exposure, in particular, is a strategy using trials of mirror-gazing to intervene.
To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
References
Butler, R. M., & Heimberg, R. G. (2020). Exposure therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 78, 101851.
Jansen, A., Voorwinde, V., Hoebink, Y., Rekkers, M., Martijn, C., & Mulkens, S. (2016). Mirror exposure to increase body satisfaction: Should we guide the focus of attention towards positively or negatively evaluated body parts?. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 50, 90-96.
Veale, D., & Riley, S. (2001). Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the ugliest of them all? The psychopathology of mirror gazing in body dysmorphic disorder. Behaviour research and therapy, 39(12), 1381-1393.
Winter, D., Koplin, K., & Lis, S. (2015). Can’t stand the look in the mirror? Self-awareness avoidance in borderline personality disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 2, 1-6.
Why Some Therapists Keep Full-Sized Mirrors in Their Offices
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29.03.2024
"When you look in the mirror, do you see happiness?"
A mirror hangs in my office, not because I particularly enjoy staring at my reflection, but because many people I seek to help struggle with this.
Mirror avoidance is a common but infrequently discussed phenomenon associated with a variety of challenges. Individuals struggling with body image difficulties sometimes engage in compulsive checking in the mirror and are upset upon seeing their image (Vale and Riley, 2001). In an experiential study of participants living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and neurotypical participants, where individuals were given the choice to face a mirror or non-mirror image found that 90 percent of individuals with BPD chose to look away from their image compared to 26.7 percent of those without (Winters et al., 2015).
When significant, some individuals struggling with........
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