The truth about body dysmorphia

You might be thinking, what the hell is body dysmorphia? Or, you might believe that it’s some rare disorder that doesn’t affect you or anyone around you.

Sadly, Body dysmorphia, or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), is a mental health condition that affects a lot more people than you might think.

It has only come to light in the last few years, as awareness spreads about people’s experiences.

A person struggling with BDD will over-analyse and obsess over their appearance in a negative way, that is different from what others see.

Common misconceptions

Seeing someone constantly looking in the mirror or asking how they look might seem like they are vain or self-obsessed, but it could be a sign of a deeper issue.

A person with body dysmorphia does not worry about their flaws in a normal way. We all have days where we are insecure about our features and appearance and are unhappy about the way we look. Having elements of this is normal however when this becomes obsessive and starts to have a big impact on a person’s life, it starts to enter the bounds of the disorder.

What is it?

Some signs of BDD are:

> Spending an excessive amount of time comparing your appearance to others

> Being very worried about particular features

> Going to a lot of effort to cover up your flaws

> Compulsively checking what you look like or avoiding mirrors and photographs

> The way you see yourself does not reflect how others view your appearance

> Avoiding social situations because of the way you look

These symptoms can harmful to your daily life. Body dysmorphia can also lead to other mental health conditions like depression, self-harm, and anxiety.

BDD can cause obsession over flaws on your face and body, including muscles. A type of body dysmorphia is muscle dysmorphia - a preoccupation with building muscle, to the point where the person goes above and beyond usual efforts.

Who does it affect?

BDD can affect people of all ages, although it is most common in teenagers and young adults.

According to the latest Mental Health of Children and Young People survey, one in a hundred 5 to 19-year-olds struggle with the disorder. BDD is most prevalent in girls aged 17 to 19, with the findings showing that one in eighteen girls this age were experiencing it at the time of the 2017 study.

Countless celebrities have come forward about their struggles with body dysmorphic disorder, in an effort to spread awareness and show that it does not have to control your life.

What causes it?

There is no determined cause for BDD but it has been linked to:

Genetics – having a relative with BDD, OCD or depression might increase the likelihood of you developing it

Societal pressures for meeting beauty standards – I talked about the effects of social media on this in my previous post which you can read here

Traumatic experiences – such as bullying and abuse

Chemical imbalances in the brain

Other conditions like anxiety or eating disorders often have overlapping symptoms.

How to manage body dysmorphia

Reaching out for help can be very difficult for those with BDD, as often they might be unaware that they have a disorder or are too ashamed to talk about their experiences.

Coming to terms with the fact that you have BDD is a crucial step in getting the help you need, as symptoms will remain persistent or even get worse if not treated.

There is lots of help out there as BDD has become widely recognised. You can get help from GP, who may refer you to a mental health specialist who will be able to assess you and offer help.

Whether you choose to reach out for professional help or start by opening up to those close to you, body dysmorphia should not be a silent struggle.