Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): A Guide

Written by Nidhi Kulkarni

Body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, is a mental condition in which you cannot stop over examining said flaws and defects in your appearance.

These flaws may be very minor or even non existent to other’s eyes but you feel ashamed to the point where you would avoid social gatherings all together.

As a teenager, this is a very similar description of what I see in my family, friends, and sometimes, even myself. Because of the prevalent use of social media and technology, it isn’t uncommon to obsess over one irrelevant flaw in your appearance.

When you have BDD, your appearance starts to take over your life- from checking the mirror often to completely destroying your confidence and mental health.

A few symptoms of BDD are: believing that a flaw in your appearance makes you look ugly, thinking that others will notice your flaws and mock you, obsessively putting in unnecessary efforts to hide your flaws, constantly comparing your appearance with others, and avoiding social situations.

Obsessing over your appearance can sometimes be very uncontrolled and can go by unmanaged due. This can cause heavy distress on your social, work, and school life.

The most common features people tend to fixate about are: facial features, acne, body hair, skin color, muscle size, and genitalia.

Talking to someone you trust or seeking professional help is very important to manage this condition and eventually find a way out. It is extremely crucial to talk to a doctor if you experience suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression.

A type of treatment for BDD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps people recognize patterns in their behavior and thinking, which helps them alter their thoughts about their appearance and how they choose to act on it. It identifies triggers, and uses exposure and response prevention (ERP) techniques. ERP exposes individuals to anxiety-provoking situations related to their appearance, helping them find healthier ways to cope.

Another technique, called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), uses antidepressants to slow down the symptoms and side effects of BDD. The goal is to slowly reduce the dosage to avoid symptoms from coming back and prevent withdrawal symptoms from occurring.

The need to raise awareness for BDD is especially important now more than ever, as the side effects can impair a person’s ability to function and live a happy, healthy life.

References

“Body Dysmorphic Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 13 Dec. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353938.

“Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/body-dysmorphia/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Written by Nidhi Kulkarni from MEDILOQUY