Have you heard of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
Almost everyone has at some point felt insecure or self-conscious about their body. Maybe you wish your skin was clearer, your nose was smaller or you think your thighs are too big. Feeling self-conscious is relatively normal and is so common that it can be considered as being a ‘typical’ part of development, particularly during adolescence and young adulthood.
However, if these feelings become so distressing that they are impacting on your everyday functioning and feel as if they are taking over, then it may be Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a chronic and debilitating disorder of self-perception that is classified under the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. According to the DSM-5, the classification system of mental disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder differs from “normal” body image disturbances in that an individual is preoccupied with a part of their body that they perceive is deformed or defected in some way but is generally not observable or may appear slight to others. These individuals may perceive themselves as severely ugly, unattractive or abnormal. Although any part of the body can be the seen as flawed the most common preoccupations are around the skin, hair and nose. Other parts of the body such as eyes, teeth, weight, lips, jawline, mouth, breasts, genitals and legs are often focal points.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is also marked by intrusive thoughts regarding an individual’s perceived flaws and appearance which can increase feelings of anxiety, disgust and shame. As a result of these intrusive thoughts, individuals will perform repetitive behaviours (mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking) or mental acts (comparing their appearance to that of others) as a response to their appearance concerns. These behaviours can be time consuming, difficult to control or resist and may increase anxiety.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder can have a significant impact on an individual’s life by causing clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Additionally, it is important to note body dysmorphia can commonly co-occur with depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety.
12 Symptoms and features of Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Strongly believing they have a physical defect that makes them ugly, which is incorrect, slight or not observable.
Frequently checks appearance in mirror or avoid mirror
Engages in excessive grooming or skin picking
Frequently touching parts of the body that are considered flaws
Attempting to change appearance
Experience of intrusive thoughts
Constant comparisons of self to others
Avoiding social situations
Undergoing cosmetic surgery to change appearance or body
Limiting food intake
Taking medication or excessively exercising to change their body
Engaging in self harm behaviours
Avoidance of social outings or being with other people
What causes Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
There is no single cause to this disorder, rather a number of influential factors such as genetic, psychological and environmental factors need to be consider. For example, there may be a family history of obsessive compulsive disorder or someone may have been bullied in school for their appearance. Even standards of beauty in different cultures or social contexts are considered to have an impact on an individual’s perception of self.
Billie Eilish has opened up about her mental health (Picture: Petra Collins/Rolling Stone)
It is important to note that Body Dysmorphic Disorder does not discriminate and can affect all different people from different backgrounds. For example, Billie Eilish is a popular music artist that has captivated fans around the world and is known for wearing oversized and androgynous streetwear. In an article with Rolling Stone, Billie discusses her difficulties with her own self-perception and feeling self-conscious about her body. She describes how, at the peak of her Body Dysmorphic Disorder, she became so preoccupied with her appearance that she could not look at herself in a mirror at all. Billie also candidly talks about her difficulties feeling comfortable in tight clothes and comparing herself to others as well as her co-morbid difficulties with depression.
What is done to help someone with Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
It is important to seek professional help for symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder as they symptoms usually get worse over time. The literature indicates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) including exposure is the most effective treatment for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. CBT aims to
Provide education about Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Alter dysfunctional thought and behaviour patterns by learning new skills that build an alternative self-perception
Reduce self-focused attention and decrease self-defeating coping strategies
Develop more positive coping mechanisms and improve quality of life through response prevention
In some cases, medication may also be effective when used in combination with professional support.
In conclusion
Overall, Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a disabling preoccupation with perceived defects and flaws. Friends and family can often feel shocked and perplexed at the efforts someone will go to, to change their appearance as they may see nothing out of the ordinary. It is important for them to understand that these “flaws” feel very real for an individual and cause significant distress and impact most areas of their life. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing some of the above difficulties with Body Dysmorphia and would be interested in finding out more, please contact us as we would be more than happy to help!
