Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, is a relatively unknown but common emotional disorder in which the sufferer is preoccupied with obsessions over a perceived physical flaw or defect. The sufferer appears normal to everyone else, but they often believe that they are hideous or disfigured. Body dysmorphic disorder is considered akin to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and these two disorders often occur simultaneously.

Everybody wishes to change something about their appearance, but this is not body dysmorphic disorder. In order to receive a diagnosis of BDD, one must be excessively concerned about some aspect of their appearance, thinking obsessively about their appearance for at least one hour a day. Their preoccupation with their appearance must create extreme distress and cause impairment at work, socially, or personally.

Symptoms of BDD may include some or all of the following:

• Compulsive checking of one’s appearance in mirrors or reflective surfaces such as doors or windows
• On the other hand, compulsive avoidance of one’s appearance that may result in an inability to look at photographs of oneself or the removal of all mirrors from one’s house
• Constant need for reassurance from loved ones as to how one looks
• Compulsive touching of the perceived defect to check for presence and/or size
• Withdrawal from social interaction
• Depression
• An obsessive need to look at pictures of celebrities or models
• Compulsive grooming including hair brushing, shaving, brushing of teeth and plucking of hairs
• In severe cases, there may be an obsession with plastic surgery or multiple surgical procedures with little or no satisfaction
• Self-performed plastic surgery that causes serious injury

When a person with body dysmorphic disorder looks in the mirror, they do not see what everyone else sees. For example, someone with BDD may have a slightly pointy yet normal-looking nose, but they see a gigantic and deformed nose when they look in a mirror. The most common parts of the body that those with BDD focus on are skin, hair, nose, weight and stomach, although any part of the body can become an obsession for someone with BDD.

Body dysmorphic disorder is most often caught when someone seeks help for social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or extreme depression. Because BDD is such a secretive disorder and so many sufferers are embarrassed to seek treatment, this disorder has a higher suicide rate than almost any other. With treatment, symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder can improve.

Author: Nan Little
Website: http://www.InsightJournal.com/