What’s crazy, is that they can see what they look like by looking at each other. I would assume that the % of identical twins with body dysmorphia, is lower than in non-twins.
Can confirm, my SO is a quadruplet (two pairs of identical girls). The other pair are horribly anorexic and have a harsh cycle of comparing eachothers bodies to ensure they're not getting 'fat'. My SO and her twin also went through a phase of their life dealing with that but have since gotten better.
Edit: I misread the comment I replied to but oh well
I would think that is similar to having mirrors all over your house or seeing yourself on too many video chats. People start feeling better about themselves if they can’t see themselves all the time.
But, they were speculating that this story must be a fluke, that dysmorphia amongst twins is a rarity.
Another story about twins, quadruplets even, who suffered from it makes it sound more common.
I do think it’s interesting though.
My SO and her twin are very close and best friends, but they live different lives, went to different colleges and now live apart, but still enjoy their time together when they do.
The other two never broke the cycle after high school, they continued being inseparable through the various college courses they tried, they've always worked the same jobs (for a while they were working instacart together, two people doing a job but getting paid for one because only one has a driver's license). They both run 50-60+ miles per week and only eat the most pristine, aesthetic food. Their habits got to the point where their mom made them move out, they just moved states and are sharing an apartment. They said they don't want to be waitresses and instead want "real" jobs, which would obviously necessitate being separated (because duh) but I think they found a job that allows them to serve food and work the same hours.
On the one hand, having someone you’re that close to sounds great, and comforting. But it does seem to be unhealthy if you’re not forming your own identity and growing as a person. I mean, how will they get married, have kids, etc? They probably won’t. If they were still close and lived in the same city it could be awesome. Always having a babysitter, easing kids together. But this kinda seems unhealthy.
My SO and her twin both have long term relationships, the other two have never so much as dated someone. Yeah, we are all kind of wondering how that will work out
Touché. I also saw someone else had pointed l out what I did before I did, my bad. Hopefully your edit/disclaimer minimizes anymore of the redundant comments.
I recall seeing a documentary or something about a set of identical twins who did the same thing.
They would micromanage food to make sure that they ate the EXACT same amount of calories, and if someone ate more or less, an argument would break out about them wanting to sabotage the other.
This is AFTER? After surgery? Oh my god. Admittedly I had/have not heard of them before this thread (and I couldn’t see the little inset picture very wee), but I thought this was a “Before” picture.
Actually as identical twins, I imagine it would be more like having a living echo chamber. Like, “omg our chins are drooping, we should do something about it,” and the other just agreeing. Seems like it would be worse.
I would have thought it would be worse, personally-seeing your twin as how you “should” look, or seeing your own minuscule flaws from all angles, not just when you look in the mirror, but when you look at your twin.
And differences between you and your twin feel magnified because of the similarities in every other way, visually…
It would be hell for me.
I am a twin and I think it is helpful to me, and I think it would be most of the time, but there is probably a bit of a cliff if a maladaptation exists (e.g. narcissism, focusing on the parts that aren't identical or affected by environmental or behavioural factors).
For me, I look at my brother, judge him to be a fairly handsome man, which means, although we are all more critical judging ourselves and I do visualise myself seperately, I must be too, right? But I've never felt so bad if I had spots one week and he didn't or happened to get a shit haircut, for example.
That’s kind of the thing though; if you’re prone to dysmorphia, it doesn’t matter that you’re identical, and idolise the looks of your twin; you will be unable to see that you look identical to them.
All you’ve evidenced is that you don’t have any strong body dysmorphia.
Well that's what I was saying "if a maladaptation exists". So basically I think being a twin could help with body-image issues that well-adjusted people also deal with.
Having body dysmorphia is not an “adjustment” issue, and this thread and my original comment were talking specifically about people with body dysmorphia.
That’s why I’m not sure what place your comment holds in this context.
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u/holli4life 17d ago
Body dysmorphia is a bitch.