All About Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

A person with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is preoccupied with a perceived physical flaw or a minor flaw that others frequently cannot detect. Because of this, those with this illness frequently avoid social situations or undergo plastic surgery to improve their appearance.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and BDD have some characteristics in common. However, whereas someone with BDD is worried about a single body area, a person with an eating disorder is concerned about weight and the contour of their entire body.

The most common areas of worry for those with BDD are:

Skin flaws: A few examples of skin flaws are wrinkles, scars, acne, and pimples.
Hair: This could refer to body or head hair and the lack of hair.
Facial features: Frequently, this refers to the nose, although it might also apply to the shape and size of facial features.
Body weight: Sufferers may become fixated on their size or level of muscle.

What are the causes of Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD?

It is believed that a combination of environmental, psychological, and biological factors are the root causes of body dysmorphic disorder. The emotions of inadequacy, embarrassment, and fear of mockery may be induced or cultivated due to bullying or teasing.

What are the symptoms of BDD?

Any body part might cause you to develop an obsession. The most frequently affected areas are the face, hair, skin, chest, and stomach.

BDD symptoms include:

Constantly looking in the mirror
Avoiding the use of mirror
Attempting to conceal a body part with a scarf, hat, or makeup
Continuous grooming or exercise
Comparing yourself with others
Keep asking people about your appearance
Not trusting others' statements that you look fine
Avoiding social interactions
Not leaving the house, especially throughout the day
Seeing multiple medical professionals for your appearance
Undergoing pointless plastic surgery
Using tweezers or your fingers to scratch at your skin
Sensing fear, depression, and humiliation
Thinking of committing a suicide

How is BDD diagnosed?

There are no diagnostic medical procedures for BDD. To diagnose BDD, a mental health professional (such as a psychologist or psychiatrist) will speak with you about your symptoms, thought and behavior patterns, lifestyle, and other factors. Utilizing screening tools, such as well-crafted questionnaires or checklists, to see if you meet the requirements for BDD diagnosis is necessary.

Is it easy to diagnose it?

Most BDD sufferers are not diagnosed for 10 to 15 years after their symptoms become severe enough to meet diagnostic standards. This is partially because they are unaware that their thoughts and feelings are symptoms of a mental health problem or because they are too embarrassed or hesitant to ask for treatment.

As a result, discussing BDD if you or a loved one exhibit any of its symptoms is critical. You or a loved one may avoid this condition's most severe effects by discussing the symptoms and seeking care before they become serious.

What conditions are similar to BDD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Social Phobia
Agoraphobia
Anorexia Nervosa
Hypochondriasis
Trichotillomania

Treatment for Body Dysmorphic Disorder or BDD

The treatments for BDD are as follows:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ( CBD): It teaches patients how to alter ingrained attitudes so that they can think and feel differently. This entails developing the ability to withstand the discomfort of "exposing" their perceived flaw to others and refraining from rituals connected to concerns about one's looks.
Coping and management skills: Training in anxiety symptom management is known as "coping and management skills." For instance, the person might learn how to relax and stop hyperventilating.
Medication: Medication, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are antidepressant drugs (SSRIs). Many BDD symptoms, such as compulsive thinking, depression, and anxiety, are lessened by these medicines. Usually, medicines and psychotherapy are combined to treat the problem.

Some people who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder go under the knife to "fix" a real or imagined physical imperfection. Medical professionals disagree on the morality of doing cosmetic surgery (sometimes known as "non-therapeutic mutilation" or "extreme bodily modification") in these situations.

Any surgical or medical procedure carries hazards to your health. Unnecessary attempts to alter one's appearance through surgery could worsen a person's BBD and lead to unhappiness with the outcomes.

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