What is “generational dysmorphia”?
Many of you have heard of “body dysmorphia”. The definition of it reads: “Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.” As defined by the NHS in the United Kingdom.
Dysmorphia has come to include social media dysmorphia. Comparing ones self to others. How we view people we know through the prism of social media. That friend of yours that is going to France (again) and documenting their lavish lifestyle on Instagram. That young couple that is always going to fancy restaurants. All this why you’re failing to make it to Encino to pick up your dry cleaning. Or the best classy dinner you’ve had comes from that sketchy taco truck in Arleta.
Now, what I am referring to by “generational dysmorphia” is not a deadly health issue. Or even a valid mental health issue, but it can lead to one.
Defining “generational dysmorphia”:
We’ve already touched on what dysmorphia is in a mental health sense. When I refer to the term, I’m reducing it to a more plausible terminology that people can identify. I coined the term as someone who “creates a mental image of their youth (or generation) that is flawed or fictional compared to their actual experience.” In simpler language, it’s people that compare their own experiences to invalidate the experiences of younger generations.
I came to this term while watching TikTok videos of all things. I follow this Gen-X creator and was answering to a comment that someone left on her video. The comment stated that Gen-X (from their perspective) was law-abiding, did what we were told, kind, and just played outside. Never bad kids.
Her response was the same as mine: where did you grow up?
In my childhood, my friends and I were chased off a hospital parking lot by a security guard in a golf cart. My 10th grade English class torment our teacher so much, she left due to a mental breakdown. Only to die a year later. The black kids (that were bus in from LA) had a race riot during the last week of school against the Mexican gangbangers. Some kids I knew took part in “tag the fag”, which meant to beat up the kid they thought was gay.
I’m not proud of this.
This is not like some humble brag. I am not proud by any of this, but that was the childhood I grew up in. So many people use generational dysmorphia to manipulate their own childhood experiences to prevent from learning new things. Accepting some of our past behavior was not cool. Acknowledging that other parts of the community exist.
Some of my generation like to believe that they don’t get offended by anything. “People are just soft.” Yet, many of them became MAGA, and they get offended by everything. To me, that equates to people that say they don’t have a problem with “gay people” until they move into the neighborhood.
This is going to be the direction of my existence as of late. Pointing out the hypocrisy from someone who is a true Gen X. Sarcastic, nihilistic, and just wants a good life. You be you. Gays, MAGA, Christians, atheists, trans: none of your actions affect my life. Okay, except for MAGA. And many evangelical Christians. They want me to live their life. Once you start telling me how to live my life, by your rules – that’s where we have a problem.
We were not that cool
Many in the Gen-X community think that this generation is soft. Who made them that way? Someone on Reddit got annoyed because some nineteen year-old didn’t know who Walter Cronkite was. He, of course, complained about how they didn’t know history. Just as much as MAGA say they love the Constitution and the Bible yet never read either. Saying how “it was before I was born” was not a valid excuse.
Not knowing some media personality that retired while I was in high school is fine. It’s like getting mad at someone for not knowing who Kato Kalin was. But they got mad when I said they do the same thing. When you get dragged for not knowing some popular singer. I’m too old for that. You are doing the same thing.
It is simply a knee jerk reaction that you are getting old. That is all that it is and you can’t stand it.
If you were true Gen-X, you wouldn’t be MAGA
We were the punk rock generation. The ones that were suppose to fight the power. Grew up on rebellious MTV. Mainstreamed hip-hop. Knew who NWA, 2 Live Crew, and Run DMC were. Metal heads. Skaters. I know some metal heads that went full MAGA. People that complain how they don’t like Rage Against the Machine. Since they became political. Did you ever listen to the music?
Many in Generation X have developed this “generational dysmorphia”. Drinking from a hose as a kid isn’t the flex you think it is. We were supposed to roll on and join the fight. I get choosing your fights. But when you believe that immigrants are stealing all the jobs, you’re insecure.
Gen-X lost the plot. Take the “L” and let the next group try. And help them when you can.