Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition that causes someone to become obsessed with their real or perceived flaws. They focus on what they hate about their bodies for hours on end every day. And unlike most of us who can go on with life despite what we don’t like about out physical appearance, sufferers of this condition can’t control their negative thoughts.
No matter how much you may tell such a person that they look good, they won’t believe you. Negative thoughts about themselves interfere with their emotional health and hinder them from normal social functioning. They may miss school/ work, isolate themselves from friends & family, etc.
Body dysmorphic disorder typically starts in the early teenage years and it affects both males and females. The most common parts that sufferers obsess about are wrinkles, breast size, hair, genitalia, nose, skin, face and muscle size.
How To Tell That Someone Has Body Dysmorphic Disorder
People with BDD (also known as body dysmorphia) are persistently and intrusively preoccupied with imagined or slight defects in their appearance. As such, they may engage in compulsive or repetitive behaviour to try to hide or improve their flaws. Such behaviour only gives temporary relief. This includes:
- changing clothes excessively
- skin picking
- having perfectionist tendencies
- camouflaging (with body position, clothing, makeup, hair, hats)
- avoiding mirrors
- comparing body parts to others’ appearance
- excessive grooming
- seeking unnecessary surgery
- always seeking reassurance about one’s appearance from others
- checking in a mirror too many times
- excessive exercise
Treatment
BDD is a mental disorder that has no cure, but can be managed with various treatments. To begin with, a doctor or mental health professional is required for proper diagnosis. Once this is done they can prescribe the relevant treatment. Options include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)- patients are taught to recognize irrational thoughts and change negative thinking patterns. They learn to identify unhealthy ways of thinking and behaving and replace them with positive ones.
- Antidepressant medications- some like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help relieve the obsessive/ compulsive symptoms of BDD by controlling the amount of serotonin released by the brain.
