What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an excessive concern with flaws in one’s physical appearance. The flaw may be imagined or, if a slight physical flaw is visible, the level of concern is clearly disproportionate.
Here are some examples:
- I hate the skin on my face... The colour is abnormal and the texture is strange. I spend hours every day putting on makeup to try and hide my flaws, but I’m never completely satisfied.
- I find my nose unbearably asymmetrical. If I could afford plastic surgery, all my problems would be solved and I would be perfectly happy.
- I always wear a hat to hide my baldness... I’m sure that if a woman were to see me without a hat, she would be disgusted and would never want to see me again.
- I’m fanatical about physical training I’m never satisfied with my muscle size, so I train constantly to develop my body.
Any body part could be the cause of concern, but the most common ones are:
- Head (shape/size)
- Eyes
- Nose
- Ears
- Hair
- Hands
- Muscles (not big enough)
- Genitals
Common compulsions
- Constantly looking at oneself in the mirror or avoiding looking at oneself
- Constantly seeking reassurance from others, e.g., “Do you find me attractive?”
- Concealing the flaw by means of clothing or cosmetics
- Avoiding social situations or performing
- Avoiding romantic relationships
How Is BDD Treated?
Treatment of BDD is typically based on the same treatment approaches as OCD. Studies have shown that, overall, exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy are helpful.
The involvement of family members or close friends can speed up the progress of therapy. Our support group, which is open both to affected people and their family members, is thus greatly appreciated by those involved.
Read more about a specialized treatment offered by our team.
For more information
- Feeling Good about the Way You Look: A Program for Overcoming Body Image Problems, by S. Wilhelm.
- The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder, by K. Phillips.
- The BDD Workbook: Overcome Body Dysmorphic Disorder and End Body Image Obsessions with Worksheet, by J. Claiborn & C. Pedrick.