BODY DISMORPHIC DISORDER

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.

If you find yourself spending a lot of time obsessing over, hiding, or trying to correct what you see as flaws, you may have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) 

The common body features people with BDD focus on include:

• Facial features, such as the nose
• Skin scars and acne
• Muscle size or tone
• Size and shape of genitalia or breasts
• Body hair including facial 

Signs and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder

If you suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, you may:

• Repeatedly check your reflection in the mirror or stay away from mirrors altogether.
• Isolate yourself so others will not see the offending body part.
• Spend a lot of energy camouflaging or covering up the perceived flaw.
• Go to lengths to avoid having your picture taken.
• Bleach your skin. 
• Seeking reassurance if you look okay 
• Spend a significant amount on personal grooming
• Compare yourself negatively to others.

Causes of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

There is no known cause of body dysmorphic disorder

What can I do to manage body dysmorphic disorder?

You can do the following to help you manage body dysmorphic disorder

• Learn and read more about body dysmorphic disorder
• Stay away from drugs and alcohol
• Replace anxious thoughts with positive ones
• Learn how to relax
• Eat healthily and exercise
• Identify your triggers and try avoiding them
• Talk to a trusted friend, adult, or family 
• Seek help from a professional counselor 
• Do something fun or nice for yourself
• Spend time with people who make you feel safe and good about yourself
• Get enough sleep
• Don’t blame yourself. 
• Work on improving your self-esteem

If you're worried about your body dysmorphic disorder, it's important to seek help as soon as possible.