Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

Nobody likes everything about their body. But people struggling with BDD are fixated on a particular flaw in their body in a way that is distressing, time-consuming, and often leads to significant anxiety or depression. Like many other mental disorders, “body dysmorphia” is often used in a joking manner by people who don’t really struggle with it. If you actually struggle with it, then you likely experience significantly more distress than the average person about your dislike of a certain part of your body.

If you spend at least an hour a day thinking about this perceived flaw, regularly look in mirrors or purposely avoid mirrors, cover up the disliked part of your body, or seek a lot of reassurance that this part of your body looks okay (asking or searching online), then you might be struggling with BDD. One major sign that you are struggling with this disorder—rather than a typical insecurity that most people experience—is that few, if any, people also notice your perceived flaw. People with body dysmorphic disorder are often somewhat irrationally obsessed with an “issue” that nobody else has noticed, but the struggling person often feels like everyone else notices and is judging them for it.

How is BDD Different Than an Eating Disorder?

It isn’t easy to completely distinguish between BDD and eating disorders. They often occur together. Therefore, anything you read probably won’t be sufficient to help you fully determine your diagnosis. You need to be assessed by someone who specializes in BDD and/or eating disorders because diagnosis is going to require an in-depth conversation.

BDD is estimated to occur in 1–3% of the general population, while eating disorders affect up to 5% of the population in the United States. Surprisingly (to me, anyway), it affects men and women in statistically similar ways. In general, those with BDD experience more impairment in daily life than those with eating disorders. They also experience more depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. Those with BDD often have restrictive eating patterns and concerns about weight just like those with eating disorders, but they are commonly obsessively focused on their face, head, skin, nose, hair, jaw, teeth, and hips. At younger ages, this is typically just an obsession with more mild attempts to conceal or “fix” the perceived flaw. One major concern with this group is that they often pursue cosmetic surgery when they get older. Many of them pursue surgery, regret it, don’t find the relief they were hoping for, and then move on to obsessing over other parts of their body. It’s a vicious cycle.

Eating disorders often include behaviors like intense calorie restriction, binge eating, purging after meals, frequent use of the bathroom after eating, or unexplained weight changes. Core symptoms of anorexia include drastic weight loss, low body weight, fear of becoming fat, and a disturbed experience of one’s body or weight.

How is Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treated?

Research shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often effective for those struggling with BDD. CBT helps clients see the bigger picture, challenge their negative assumptions about themselves, and challenge the negative assumptions they believe others have about them. Body dysmorphic disorder is functionally related to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), so some Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) interventions typically used to treat OCD can be helpful as well.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatment in Mississippi

Tyler Slay is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who treats clients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in Mississippi. He sees clients both in person and online throughout the state of Mississippi. Tyler works with clients to help them put their perceived flaws in proper perspective and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression related to their struggles with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. The disorder is treatable, and significant life satisfaction gains are possible if you find someone who understands the disorder and the treatment.