Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition where you cannot stop thinking about one or more defects or flaws in your appearance. When you have BDD you might spend hours worrying about your appearance which might cause significant distress and affect your ability to function in your daily life. The severity of BDD varies. For instance, some people know their feelings aren’t justified, while others are almost delusional in their conviction. People with BDD may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to fix their perceived flaws but this may only bring temporary satisfaction.
SYMPTOMS
- Having perfectionist tendencies
- constantly comparing your appearance to others
- belief that others take special notice of your appearance in a negative way
- feeling compelled to repeatedly look or check your apperance
- changing your appearance frequently
- repeated medical procedures such as cosmetic surgery, to try fix your “flaws”
- thoughts of self-harm or suicide because of your appearance
- avoiding going out or being with other people, or being photographed
Causes
It is not fully understood what causes BDD. BDD may result from a combination of issues which include negative evaluations or experiences about your body, family history of the disorder and abnormal brain function or abnormal levels of the brain chemical called serotonin.
RISK FACTORS
Certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering body dysmorphic disorder. The factors include:
- Societal pressure or expectations of beauty
- having another mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression
- certain personality traits
- negative life experiences such as childhood teasing, neglect or abuse
- having blood relatives with body dysmorphic disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder