Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) - Gaining An Understanding

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an anxiety disorder that is related to body image.



You may be given a diagnosis of BDD if you:

• experience obsessive worries about one or more perceived flaws in your physical appearance; and the flaw cannot be seen by others or appears very slight
• develop compulsive behaviors and routines, such as excessive use of mirrors or picking at your skin, to deal with the worries you have about the way you look

...........If you have BDD, these obsessions and behaviors may cause emotional distress and can have a significant impact on your ability to carry out your day-to-day life. 

BDD can also cause other problems such as:

• feelings of shame, guilt or loneliness
• isolation 
• depression
• anxiety 
• drug abuse
• feeling you need unnecessary medical procedures, such as cosmetic surgery
• eating disorders
• self-harm habits
• suicide thoughts

A lot of people with BDD do not seek help because they are afraid that people will judge them. This means that many people with BDD are likely to experience it for a long time before they think about seeking support.

What are the common signs of BDD?

People with BDD see themselves differently than how others see them. Although everyone's experience of BDD is different, there are also some common signs. These are:

Common obsessive worries about the body

If you have BDD you may experience intrusive, negative thoughts about one specific area (or several areas) of your body which you think may be:

• out of proportion
• too big or too small
• disfigured
• lacking symmetry

These thoughts may cause high anxiety.

BDD can affect any area of the body but common areas of anxiety include skin, hair, nose, chin, lips or genitals.

Reference: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd/about-bdd/?o=6259#.Wel4jHZrzIU

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                               Gammon M.S.
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Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure

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