Many people today struggle with body image concerns, from their weight to skin problems. For some, this could simply be a case of normal insecurity, or it could become a mental health condition called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). In this week’s post, we will further examine what this condition is, whether body dysmorphia is a mental illness, and what treatment options are available for it.
What is Body Dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is defined as a mental health condition in which a person becomes so obsessed with their physical appearance that they can’t stop thinking about one or more defects or flaws of it. You intensely focus on your appearance and body image by repeatedly checking any available mirrors wherever you are, consistently grooming yourself, or always seeking reassurance from others. A person with BDD is usually very critical of themselves and never content with the way they look. This constant obsession with their appearance and rectifying every imperfection can impact their ability to function in their lives. Some common features that are critically looked at are the face, weight, skin, hair, and muscle size/body shape. This mental disorder could affect people of all ages and genders.
Is Body Dysmorphia a Mental Illness?
Body dysmorphia is classified as a mental health disorder that is recognized in diagnostic manuals used by mental health professionals. It’s also known as an obsessive pathological disorder because uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts are a huge part of the condition.
Now you may initially associate the disorder with physical insecurities. But it’s a little different from having bad days when you’re not feeling your best. It’s more compulsive and comes with severe, obsessive distress. While a person with normal insecurities has temporary feelings of inadequacy, a person with BDD could experience this on a prolonged, serious level.
You could also classify it as an anxiety disorder because BDD impacts various aspects of your mental health. It could lead you to becoming depressed, isolating yourself, developing obsessive thinking, and having low self-esteem.
Signs and Symptoms of Body Dysmorphia
There are several signs and symptoms to look out for in recognizing body dysmorphia. You can become fixated with any particular body part, such as your lips, eyes, nose, ears, weight, etc. The chest, skin, hair, or stomach are all other common areas of BDD. Some of the behavioral symptoms of BDD include avoiding mirrors, always picking at your skin or the specific body part you dislike, having unnecessary plastic surgeries, not going out of the house, especially in the daytime, seeing many healthcare providers about your appearance, avoiding social gatherings, not believing others when they say you look fine, and even thinking about suicide.
What Causes Body Dysmorphia?
In terms of what exactly causes body dysmorphia, it’s still unclear. It could stem from a family history of the disorder, negative experiences about your body or self-image, and abnormal brain function or levels of the brain chemical called serotonin. So it could be a combination of your environment, psychological well-being, and biological factors. For example, if you’ve been bullied or teased a lot about your nose or any other imperfect part of your face, that could potentially trigger feelings of inadequacy, shame, or fear of ridicule.
Treatment Options for Body Dysmorphia
If you’ve been suffering from body dysmorphia, there are various treatment options available for you. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common form of treatment, and one of the most critical components of it for BDD is exposure therapy. This technique involves exposing a person to their biggest fears. For example, if you have a person who doesn’t like her face, a mental health professional could try suggesting that this person go out of the house without any makeup. So it involves exposing the patient to doing something out of their comfort zone. Psychotherapists utilize exposure therapy to replace the patient’s stigmatizing language with more factual language. Some people may benefit from prescribed medications such as antidepressants. However, the best treatment for BDD is a combination of CBT and medications.
So body dysmorphia disorder is a real mental disorder that should be taken seriously. While there’s no cure for it, there are treatment options, including CBT, medications, nutritional supplements, etc., that are geared toward the individual’s brain. This condition is a brain disorder that could become severe if you don’t get the complete help that you need. If appearance-related thoughts are affecting your daily life, seeking support is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. May the professional and medical help that you receive alleviate your symptoms and allow you to like and accept yourself better.
Are you or someone you know dealing with body dysmorphia disorder? Feel free to share your thoughts on the condition in the comments below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next person you know dealing with this condition.
