Body Dysmorphic Disorder: causes, symptoms and treatment.

People who look in the mirror and can't stand it.

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder, formerly known as dysmorphophobiais a disorder related to excessive preoccupation with one's own body image.

People who suffer from this disorder sufferers feel great anxiety and irrational perception about their own body that ends up causing destructive effects in their life, and that leads them to develop habits that are negative for their well-being, such as looking at themselves in the mirror excessively. These habits have a significant impact on how these people live their daily lives and undermine their self-esteem.

How a person with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) feels

Our self-image is one of the factors that play the most important role in our level of well-being. Even if it is not something tangible, This self-image linked to our self-esteem can not only make us feel better or worse about who we are, but also has an impact on how we behave.but it also has an impact on the way we behave. If our self-esteem is very low, we are more likely to neglect our hygiene, shy away from social interaction with strangers, and exhibit depressive symptoms.

However, if this low self-esteem takes the form of excessive preoccupation with real or imagined physical details that are perceived as imperfections or defects, what is known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder may appear.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

People with BDD suffer continually from their physical appearance and, although to a greater or lesser extent almost everyone is concerned about the image they project and what others will think of them, they take their obsession and preoccupation with their appearance to pathological extremes. It is an obsession that leads us to constantly ask ourselves how we can eliminate certain physical imperfections from our body and, at the same time, makes us fantasize about what our life would be like without that "ballast".

Worrying about our physical appearance has become normal considering the image culture in which we live immersed. But when that preoccupation becomes too much a part of our lives and leads to self-destructive behaviors, then we are talking about a serious problem that needs to be treated.

In summary, individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder tend to think, feel or behave as follows:

• They have a negative perception of their body image
• Feelings of shame, guilt or loneliness
• Tend to isolate themselves and avoid situations that may provoke anxiety or discomfort
• Depression or anxiety
• Often use pharmaceuticals or other drugs
• Self-injury
• Suicidal thoughts

It often happens that people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder do not seek help, because they are too worried about how people will judge them or whether they will think they are too vain. Therefore, many of these individuals do not receive treatment until they do, many of these individuals do not receive treatment until they have been experiencing this pathology for a long time..

Michael Jackson, the most famous case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

BDD is included in the category of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, and, therefore, these types of patients develop anxious symptoms and compulsive routines.. But of course, the characteristic of this disorder is the excessive fixation on their own body image, which leads them to see themselves badly in front of the mirror and magnify what they do not like about their body.

We all know the famous case of Michael Jacksonthe artist known worldwide as the King of Popwho was at the top of the music world for more than three decades. No one can dispute his talent as a singer and dancer and his contribution to music, but his continuous exposure to the media and his harsh childhood marked his private life. "MJ" was transforming his body after several surgical interventions, and, although there are many speculations, rumors and information regarding what happened inside his mind, it is clear that he was never at ease with his body.

Signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Many wonder how someone who has been, is and will be the inspiration for so many individuals suffered so much during his lifetime. Clearly, few people are going to be exposed from a young age to fame and continuous media exposure like Michael Jackson. But even though everyone experiences Body Dysmorphic Disorder in their own way, there are a number of signs that characterize Body Dysmorphic Disorder, there are a number of signs that characterize this disorder.

Obsessions about one's own body are so frequent that these individuals may spend several hours a day thinking negatively about their physical appearance. In addition, they tend to focus on a specific area of their body that causes them constant anxiety.

These people tend to:

• Obsess about their facial features: nose, eyes, hair, chin, skin, lips, ears....
• Obsess about particular areas of the body, for example, breasts or genitals.
• Having a negative perception of some body feature and thinking that it is out of proportion
• Having a perception that some body feature and thinking it is asymmetrical
• Looking too thin or obese
• Having eating problems
• Carrying out compulsive behaviors to avoid the anxiety of the obsession: wearing makeup when in public, continuous combing of the hair, wearing clothes that cover the body, constantly undergoing surgery or taking medication to lose weight or gain weight, etc.

What causes Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

It is difficult to determine what exactly causes this disorder. However, research has concluded that there are several different causes of this disorder. esearch has concluded that there are different causes that cause an individual to suffer from this disorder.

Image culture

It is clear that image culture and the influence of the media are clearly theWe are continually surrounded by magazines and advertisements that send us the message that if we don't have the perfect body we are worthless. The best way to counteract this negative influence is education from an early age so that we value other things in life.

Bullying

People with BDD may have developed a negative perception of their self-image as a result of being bullied during adolescence. having been bullied during adolescence (although also at earlier or later ages), when the individual is more sensitive about his or her body appearance. In addition, teasing from schoolmates can cause this type of disorder.

Low self-esteem

Low self-esteem can be a consequence of BDD but also a cause, which can cause an individual to see him/herself as worse than he/she is. For example, he/she may think that he/she has extra pounds.

Fear of being alone

Fear of not having friends or a partner can cause an individual to develop thought patterns that lead to BDD. For example, if a person thinks that because of appearance they can have more friends and be more popular, the extra pressure to achieve this can lead to BDD.

Perfectionism

Perfectionists are very hard on themselves and demand a lot from themselves.. Their obsession with perfection may be focused on their physical appearance, which predisposes them to BDD.

To learn more about perfectionism, you can read our article: "Perfectionist personality: the disadvantages of perfectionism".

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatment

When a person suffers from this disorder, the first thing to do is to accept it and seek help.. It is necessary for the person to talk to family members or close friends so that he/she does not feel alone. The next step is to seek professional help. The first person to contact is probably the family doctor.

The family doctor can make a first diagnosis, but it is necessary to contact a psychologist specialized in the subject, because it is necessary to re-educate the individual to acquire positive behavior patterns and realistic thinking patterns.

The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is usually the treatment of choice for this type of disorder, although not all treatments work for everyone. The goal of the cognitive behavioral therapist is to identify the connections between the patient's thoughts, feelings and behavior, so that the patient can acquire practical skills to overcome this disorder. Therapy can be group or individual.

In the treatment of BDD, cognitive behavioral therapy will usually focus on the individual's attitude toward his or her own body and physical appearance, with the goal of reduce the need to engage in negative behaviors and help the patient feel less anxious about his or her own body image.. Different cognitive behavioral techniques are often employed: expository techniques, social skills and cognitive restructuring.

To go deeper into cognitive behavioral therapy we invite you to read our article: "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: what is it and what principles is it based on?"