As if there isn’t enough for women and young girls to worry about when it comes to their physical appearance, Body Dyspmorphic Disorder (BDD) adds to the growing list concerning the struggle to look perfect. Like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, BDD can be just as deadly if it isn’t treated immediately.

In a world where looking physically perfect appears to be such a priority, many young girls and adult women have become vulnerable to conditions that push their bodies and even their mental capacity to the limits. Anorexia and bulimia is the most common but one condition you may not hear much about is that of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD. This type of disorder is particularly harmful for those who suffer from it because it is considered by medical experts to be a mental illness, with an unknown origin. Even though BDD deals with the physical appearance of a person, the symptoms that come with it have yet to be medically explained in a way that would classify BDD as an actual physical disorder. What does that all mean?

Those with BDD carry the imagined idea that they are somehow physically defected or have other serious flaws that only they can see. This often results in thinking that they are extremely ugly or hideous to the point where it is all they can think about. The most extreme cases even go as far as seeking plastic surgery to correct the imagined deformity or flaw.

Even though BDD is somewhat similar to eating disorders and obsessive-complusive disorders, those with BDD are usually heavily concerned with a specific body part or area. Both men and women are prone to BDD and this disorder typically shows up during the teenage years or early adulthood. The concern over the area can be so great that a person with BDD may turn to unnatural behaviors that involve constantly obsessing over the body part in the mirror, picking and scratching the area or trying to find a way to correct the problem. Sometimes this preoccupation can become so involved that the person may not leave their home or may have difficulty in doing everyday activities such as socializing and going to work or school. This is where the destructive side of BDD comes in.

Common areas that many with BDD tend to focus on include: facial features, hair, skin imperfections, genitals, thighs, breasts, muscles, buttocks, and body odor. The most common symptoms of someone with BDD include, but aren’t limited to: constantly measuring, touching or analyzing the defected area, constantly asking for reassurance from others that their imagined defect isn’t as bad or visible as they think it is, performing time-consuming activities and behavior like looking in the mirror, picking at the area or trying to hide the defect, and sudden problems at work or school because of their obsession.

A combination of psychotherapy and medication (usually antidepressants) is the common form of treatment for BDD. This treatment is very extensive and involves trying to change the person’s way of thinking, behavior patterns and to see that their defect or flaw is really just inside of their head. Group and family therapy may also be used since having support from friends and loved ones can go a long way in convincing someone with BDD that there was nothing wrong with them in the first place. No one can technically be “cured” of BDD but with time and hard work, the symptoms can be reduced.

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