Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health disease in which you can't stop obsessing about one or more perceived flaws in your appearance, even if they're small or invisible to others.
Introduction
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health disease in which you can't stop obsessing about one or more perceived flaws in your appearance, even if they're small or invisible to others. Often, they’re imagining the defect or it’s so minor that others can’t see it. These feelings consume the person’s thoughts, affecting their social activities and job. You may, however, avoid countless social contacts due to embarrassment, humiliation, or anxiety. A person may find it hard to maintain a relationship and may even go up to an extent of finding it impossible to make regular employment or family life.
When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you obsess over your appearance and body image, checking the mirror, grooming, and seeking reassurance repeatedly throughout the day, sometimes for many hours. Your self-perceived faults and repeating actions give you much discomfort and interfere with your capacity to function in daily life.
Symptoms
The following are some of the signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder:
Being preoccupied with a perceived flaw in one's appearance that others overlook or dismiss.
A strong conviction that you have a physical flaw that makes you look ugly or deformed.
A belief that others make nasty comments or mock you because of your appearance.
Performing difficult-to-control activities, such as frequent checking of the mirror, grooming, or skin picking, to fix or hide the perceived fault.
Covering up perceived flaws with styling, cosmetics, or clothing.
Comparing your looks to that of others regularly.
Seeking external validation for your appearance regularly.
Being a perfectionist.
Looking for cosmetic procedures but not receiving the results you want.
Keeping out of social situations.
Risk Factors
Both males and females are affected by body dysmorphic disorder, which frequently develops in early adolescence. The following factors appear to raise the chance of acquiring or triggering body dysmorphic disorder:
Having a blood family who suffers from body dysmorphic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder is a risk factor.
Examples of negative life experiences are childhood taunting, neglect, and abuse.
Perfectionism, for example, is a personality trait that many people have.
Societal pressure or beauty standards.
Anxiety or depression are examples of mental health conditions.
Complications
Body dysmorphic disorder can cause or be connected with a variety of complications, including:
Low self-confidence
Isolation from others
Other mood disorders, such as major depression
Suicidal ideas or actions
Anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder, are common (social phobia)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of obsessive-compel
Anorexia nervosa
Misuse of drugs
For example, skin picking can cause health problems.
Physical discomfort or the risk of deformity from repeated surgical procedures
Treatment
Body dysmorphic disorder is frequently treated with a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy and medicines. You can use a range of cosmetic procedures to improve your perceived appearance. You may feel momentary relief or a lessening in your distress thereafter, but the anxiety usually returns, and you may begin looking for alternative ways to correct your perceived mistake.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on:
Assisting you in gaining a better understanding of how negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors contribute to the persistence of difficulties over time.
Learning new strategies to deal with cravings or rituals will help you cut down on mirror checking, reassurance-seeking, and overuse of medical services.
Developing more flexible ways of thinking and changing your innate negative body-image attitudes
Other habits that can be taught to assist you to improve your mental health include resolving social avoidance and boosting engagement in healthy supports and activities.
Medications
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are antidepressants that work by preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed in the brain (SSRIs). SSRIs may be advised because problems with the brain chemical serotonin may play a role in body dysmorphic disorder. SSRIs appear to be more effective for body dysmorphic disorder than other antidepressants, and they may help you control your negative thoughts and actions. Developing more flexible methods of thinking and challenging instinctive negative attitudes about your body image. Learning new strategies to deal with cravings or rituals will help you cut down on mirror checking, reassurance seeking, and overuse of medical services.
Conclusion
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychological condition. If you have BDD, you may be preoccupied with your appearance to the point where it interferes with your ability to operate normally. People with body dysmorphic disorder must seek treatment to ease the distress and intrusive thoughts that can make it difficult to function normally.
References
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