Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a distinct mental disorder in which a person is preoccupied with an imagined physical defect or a minor defect that others often cannot see.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Body dysmorphic disorder (body dysmorphia) describes a condition where a person can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived flaws with appearance. The flaw can either be minor or one that is imagined. The obsession with these flaws will seem baseless, but to the person, appearance seems so shameful and distressing, in some cases, they don’t won’t want to be seen by anyone.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms:
- Frequently looking in the mirror
- Avoiding mirrors altogether
- Frequent cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction
- Excessive grooming, such as hair plucking
- Feeling extremely self-conscious
- Refusing to appear in pictures
- Skin picking
- Comparing appearance with that of others
- Avoiding social situations
- Preoccupation with physical appearance
- Wearing excessive makeup to cover up perceived flaws
- Using clothing to camouflage and cover up perceived flaws
- Believe others notice their appearance in a negative way
- Believe their defect in appearance makes them ugly
To receive a diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must cause the individual clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must also not be a result of substance abuse or another medical condition.
Signs of body dysmorphic disorder may include obsessive concern over various physical features such as:
- Nose
- Skin
- Acne and blemishes
- Breast size
- Genitalia
- Hair
- Moles or freckles
- Baldness
- Muscle size
Are you ready to make a change?
You are very welcome to get in touch, for any enquiries or questions you may have, or to schedule an appointment.