Symptoms of Body Dysmorphia
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD, is a mental health diagnosis.
People who experience BDD are often so worried and so consumed with the way their body, or areas of their body, appear that it interferes with typical or normal functioning.
People struggling with BDD might see themselves as ugly, think about what they perceive as flaws for hours each day, miss work, school or activities because they don’t want to be with people, avoid spending time with people they care about, use surgical means in attempt to “improve” their appearance and experience significant emotional distress and self harming behaviors.
According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5) BDD can be diagnosed when the following criteria are met:
Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others
At some point during the course of the disorder, the individual has performed repetitive behaviors (mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking) or mental acts (comparing their appearance to that of others) in response to the appearance concerns.
The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning.
One out of every 50 people may have BDD.
There are factors that increase the risk of developing BDD including having family members who struggle with BDD and obsessive compulsive-disorder, childhood bullying, neglect or abuse, perfectionism, exposure to the societal expectations of thinness and beauty and having co-occurring mental health diagnoses like anxiety, depression or an eating disorder.
Not all people who struggle with BDD have an eating disorder.
Studies have shown that only 32% of people diagnosed with BDD meet clinical criteria to be diagnosed with an eating disorder.
and, not all people with eating disorders have BDD.
In both disorders, a negative body image is a common thread. What we know is that when someone is dieting or engaging in disordered eating behaviors, the brain actually changes, along with the ability to perceive a solid sense of self. A UCLA study found that people who struggle with BDD could have impairments in the visual cortex of the brain.
If you’re wondering, “do I have body dysmorphic disorder?” it's important to seek an evaluation and support from a body image therapist.
The therapists here at Reclaim specialize in treating body image concerns and Body Dysmorphia. Regardless of if you meet the clinical criteria for BDD or not, if you are suffering, you are deserving of support and treatment for experiencing some body dysmorphia symptoms. We hope to not only help you understand what triggers body dysmorphic thoughts and behaviors, but to move toward healing the roots of your distress and disconnection from your body. Contact us today to find the support you deserve!
Gently reminding you that your body is, and always has been, a good body.
🧡,
Looking for a different type of support?
Reclaim Therapy is a passionate group of therapists specializing in the treatment of trauma, eating disorders, and body image concerns. We offer online therapy in Pennsylvania and in-person therapy in Horsham, PA. We believe that everybody deserves support if they are suffering from symptoms of disordered eating, body shame, EMDR, or trauma. Feel free to learn more by visiting our blog today!