Many women cannot imagine their life without a mirror. They use it to apply makeup, comb their hair and check their appearance. But scientists at the London Institute of Psychiatry have found that this can lead to serious mental disorders.
A study conducted by scientists found that women who look in the mirror several times a day begin to suffer from depression and anxiety about their appearance over time. Unlike men, women are much more critical of their appearance and find many non-existent or insignificant flaws in themselves. On average, British women look in the mirror 38 times a day, while their compatriots of the opposite sex look in the mirror just 18 times a day.
To test this hypothesis, scientists conducted an experiment in which volunteers who were satisfied with their appearance took part. They were asked to spend at least 10 minutes a day in front of the mirror for several weeks. At the end of the study, a significant proportion of participants showed persistent anxiety about their appearance, and some experienced progressive depression. The scientists were surprised by these results because they expected that stress would only be worse in people with body dysmorphic disorder, a condition known as constant worry about a minor deficiency.
However, this does not mean that you should avoid the mirror completely. It is important to learn to correctly evaluate your appearance and accept yourself for who you are. Excessive mirror introspection can lead to negative consequences, so try not to look in the mirror too often. Remember that every person is beautiful in their own way, and appearance should not become a cause of mental suffering.