Body Dysmorphic Disorder - San Diego Therapy
By Katherine Pica LCSW
When you look in the mirror, the person looking back at you does not look like you. ‘Do I really look like this?’ you wonder. As you turn to the side, you pull the skin on your flat, slim stomach. You start to question why your diet or workouts are not working.
Beside you, your friend rolls her eyes and says, “What are you talking about? You don’t have any fat—you’re just pulling on the skin!” You turn your attention back to the mirror but still don’t see what your friend sees.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is also known as Body Dysmorphia, and is a mental health disorder involving an obsessive focus on a perceived flaw in one’s appearance. People affected by BDD often focus on a flaw that is minor or one that can not be seen by others.
Men and women both can be affected by BDD, and 1 in 50 people are diagnosed with it. The exact cause of BDD is not known, but it often occurs in people that already suffer from mental health problems like depression or anxiety. Some causes that might influence body dysmorphia include:
Trauma or bullying in childhood
Low self-esteem
Critical parents or coaches
Interpretation biases and information processing abnormalities (focus on details/self-focused attention, misperception of neutral facial expressions and situations as threatening)
Family history
Brain chemicals
Psychological factors, and personality traits (e.g., over-importance of appearance, perfectionism, focus on aesthetics, rejection sensitivity)
Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Those experiencing Body Dysmorphic Disorder have a skewed view of themself. People experiencing signs of BDD could be so obsessed about their appearance that it can get in the way of their home, work, and social life. Their view could cause problems down the road if left untreated.
Some symptoms of body dysmorphia include:
Imperfections that others may not see
Obsession with a perceived flaw
Excessively comparing self to others
Trying to hide a perceived flaw
Needing constant reassurance from others
Engaging in time-consuming compulsions like looking in the mirror, excessive grooming, or picking at skin
Emotional stress
Self-consciousness and self-isolation
Avoiding people or places or situations
Seeking advice from medical professionals like dermatologists or plastic surgeons
Body Dysmorphic Disorder Perceived Flaws
A person experiencing signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder could perceive a flaw in any part of their body. The most common areas of concern for BDD are the following:
Skin, including acne, scars, or wrinkles
Hair and body hair or the lack thereof
Stomach
Weight
Nose
Other areas of concern could include:
Eyes
Muscles
Thighs
Bone structure
Teeth
Body Dysmorphic Disorder vs. Eating Disorders
Body Dysmorphic Disorder and eating disorders both concern one’s body image. The difference is that when experiencing an eating disorder, the person’s main focus is their size and shape. A person experiencing BDD is often anxious about a perceived flaw in one body part.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder vs. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder where a person might have thoughts or obsessions that they have a difficult time controlling. This can go hand in hand with Body Dysmorphic Disorder by resulting in compulsions. For example, their obsession with a certain body part may cause them to routinely check themselves in the mirror or pick at their skin.
Common compulsions for Body Dysmorphic disorder
Camouflaging perceived flaws exp: wearing a hat to cover hair, wearing a mask to cover
Mirror checking
Excessive grooming
Comparing/ Scrutinizing
Questioning
Skin picking
Tanning excessively
Therapy For Body Dysmorphic Disorder - San Diego
There is treatment available for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If your symptoms start to worsen or new symptoms start to appear, it may be time to reach out to get the necessary help and support.
Therapy is a great place to start as a way to reduce symptoms and get back to enjoying your life. If you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to make changes to better your life, there is help available. Book an appointment to get started today!
I offer evidenced based treatment for Body Dysmorphic disorder at Resilience Counseling. I serve the greater San Diego Area and offer in person and online therapy for all over California.
