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. Even though These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.
People of any age can have BDD, but it’s most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women.
Having BDD does not mean you’re vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life.
Symptoms of body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
You might have BDD if you:
- worry a lot about a specific area of your body (particularly your face)
- spend a lot of time comparing your looks with other people’s
- look at yourself in mirrors a lot or avoid mirrors altogether
- go to a lot of effort to conceal flaws – for example, by spending a long time combing your hair, applying make-up, or choosing clothes
- pick at your skin to make it “smooth”
BDD can seriously affect your daily life, including your work, social life, and relationships.
BDD can also lead to depression, self-harm, and even thoughts of suicide.
Getting Help for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
You should see a GP if you think you might have BDD.
They’ll probably ask several questions about your symptoms and how they affect your life.
They may also ask if you’ve had any thoughts about harming yourself.
You may be treated by the GP, or they may refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.
It can be very difficult to seek help for BDD, but it’s important to remember that you have nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about.
Getting help is important because your symptoms probably will not go away without treatment and may get worse.
Risk Factors
Body dysmorphic disorder typically starts in the early teenage years and it affects both males and females.
Certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering body dysmorphic disorder, including:
- Having blood relatives with body dysmorphic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Negative life experiences, such as childhood teasing, neglect, or abuse
- Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism
- Societal pressure or expectations of beauty
- Having another mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression
Treatments for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
The symptoms of BDD can get better with treatment.
If your symptoms are relatively mild, you should be referred for a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which you have either on your own or in a group.
If you have moderate symptoms, you should be offered either CBT or a type of antidepressant medicine called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
If your symptoms are more severe, or other treatments do not work, you should be offered CBT together with an SSRI.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help you manage your BDD symptoms by changing the way you think and behave.
It helps you learn what triggers your symptoms and teaches you different ways of thinking about and dealing with your habits.
You and your therapist will agree on goals for the therapy and work together to try to reach them.
CBT for treating BDD will usually include a technique known as exposure and response prevention (ERP).
This involves gradually facing situations that would normally make you think obsessively about your appearance and feel anxious.
Your therapist will help you to find other ways of dealing with your feelings in these situations so that, over time, you become able to deal with them without feeling self-conscious or afraid.
You may also be given some self-help information to read at home and your CBT might involve group work, depending on your symptoms.
CBT for children and young people will usually also involve their family members or carers.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are a type of antidepressant.
There are several different SSRIs, but fluoxetine is most commonly used to treat BDD.
It may take up to 12 weeks for SSRIs to affect your BDD symptoms.
If they work for you, you’ll probably be asked to keep taking them for several months to improve your symptoms further and stop them from coming back.
There are some common side effects of taking SSRIs, but these will often pass within a few weeks.
Your doctor will keep a close eye on you over the first few weeks. It’s important to tell them if you’re feeling particularly anxious or emotional, or are having thoughts of harming yourself.
If you’ve not had symptoms for 6 to 12 months, you’ll probably be taken off SSRIs.
This will be done by slowly reducing your dose over time to help make sure your symptoms do not come back (relapse) and to avoid any side effects of coming off the drug (withdrawal symptoms), such as anxiety.
Adults younger than 30 will need to be carefully monitored when taking SSRIs as they may have a higher chance of developing suicidal thoughts or trying to hurt themselves in the early stages of treatment.
Children and young people may be offered an SSRI if they’re having severe symptoms of BDD.
Medicine should only be suggested after they have seen a psychiatrist and been offered therapy.
Further Treatment
If treatment with both CBT and an SSRI has not improved your BDD symptoms after 12 weeks, you may be prescribed a different type of SSRI or another antidepressant called clomipramine.
If you do not see any improvements in your symptoms, you may be referred to a mental health clinic or hospital that specializes in BDD.
They may offer you CBT or a different kind of therapy, as well as a different kind of antidepressant.
Causes of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
It’s not known exactly what causes BDD, but it might be associated with:
- genetics – you may be more likely to develop BDD if you have a relative with BDD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or depression
- a chemical imbalance in the brain
- a traumatic experience in the past – you may be more likely to develop BDD if you were teased, bullied, or abused when you were a child
Some people with BDD also have other mental health conditions, such as OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, or an eating disorder.
Things you can do to help with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Support Groups for BDD
Some people may find it helpful to contact or join a support group for information, advice, and practical tips on coping with BDD.
You can ask your doctor if there are any groups in your area, and the BDD Foundation has a directory of local and online BDD support groups.
Mental Wellbeing
Practicing mindfulness exercises may help you if you’re feeling low or anxious.
Some people also find it helpful to get together with friends or family or to try doing something new to improve their mental wellbeing.
It may also be helpful to try some relaxation and breathing exercises to relieve stress and anxiety.
Kazmo Brain Center is a counseling center in Frisco, Texas specializing in mental health counseling and will work with you toward a happier and more satisfying life.
If you or your loved ones are facing any mental illness and you think that you need help, Request an appointment at the Kazmo Brain Center and we are here to help.
Resources:
www.nhs.uk
www.mayoclinic.org
