Is there a single word that means "unhappy about one's appearance"?
E.g., Anne of Green Gables was very unhappy about her hair and never missed an opportunity to try to dye it.
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Perhaps "self-critical," although that could apply to more than just appearance.– user173015Commented May 15, 2016 at 16:14
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A quick glimpse at a list of "diseases of the soul" (coined by Ursula Le Guin) doesn't have anything specific to appearance. But anguish is the general thing, I think.– Phil SweetCommented May 15, 2016 at 16:39
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Thanks for the suggestion, but I think "anguish" is too strong.– sdsCommented May 15, 2016 at 16:43
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3 Answers
self-conscious, according to vocabulary.com
Being self-conscious goes beyond just being aware of yourself — when you're self-conscious, you constantly question the way you appear to others
Expanding on the OP's example:
Anne is very self-conscious about her hair. She is always trying new shampoos and conditioners and experimenting with new styles.
A person who is self-conscious about their weight may or may not be too heavy (or too thin) but they think they are.
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Anne of Green Gables was self-conscious about her hair ... Commented May 17, 2016 at 1:04
It is difficult to find such a word but try stress
to feel very worried or anxious about something.
"Anne of Green gables was very stressed about her hair."
answered May 15, 2016 at 17:35
I couldn't find a single-word for it. If it's a disorder, it might be:
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to have a distorted view of how they look and to spend a lot of time worrying about their appearance.
Source: nhs.uk
It also explains the following:
- When does low confidence turn into BDD?
- Who is affected?
- Typical behaviours of someone with BDD
- What causes BDD?
- Getting help
- Treating BDD
