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Body Dysmorphic Disorder

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Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental illness in which a person becomes fixated on a minor or fictitious flaw in their appearance. When thinking about their bodies, people with BDD may feel guilt, discomfort, and unable to concentrate on anything else. Additionally, those with BDD engage in repetitive, compulsive actions intended to reduce anxiety or “correct” any perceived flaws in their appearance. BDD patients feel compelled to carry out these actions, which may offer momentary solace but ultimately exacerbate their worry over how they look. Depending on the individual, BDD symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • The idea that they are intrusive or unsightly to other people
  • They can’t concentrate on other things since they are preoccupied with physical characteristics.
  • A fear of looking bad that prevents you from functioning at your job, school, or social events
  • Excessively seeking approval from family and friends on appearance
  • Not taking others’ assurances concerning looks at face value
  • Evaluating their appearance in comparison to others
  • Embarrassment or contempt at appearance
  • Avoiding situations where their “defects” can be seen, avoiding social settings, excessive mirror checking
  • Grooming too much
  • Frequently changing your hair, makeup, and outfits
  • Skin picking or plucking out hair
  • Opting to have cosmetic surgery
  • Suicidal thoughts or symptoms of depression that co-occur

This disorder, which can affect men and women, is regrettably underdiagnosed. We specialize in treating this pervasive mental health illness and associated disorders at Connected Care Behavioral Health LLC. Our clients have had excellent success overcoming their body-related anxiety and learning to appreciate their physical attributes as they are. For the treatment of BDD, we combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP). Through ERP, people with BDD learn to face their feared physical flaws systematically and progressively. To gradually reclaim their lives from BDD, ERP also assists people with BDD in reducing the use of compulsions and attempts to change their looks. Through CBT, people with BDD learn to dispute their exaggerated perceptions of their bodies and to swap them out for a more accurate and nuanced evaluation of their looks. Finally, please call us at 443-219-9236 if you or someone you know could benefit from our specialized BDD treatment services.