Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition where a person is obsessed with the flaws in their appearance.
These flaws are often invisible to others. BDD is common in the teen years but can affect people of all ages. It affects all genders.
The cause of body dysmorphic disorder is thought to be a combination of environmental, psychological, and biological factors.
Some of the environmental factors that may contribute to the development of BDD include bullying or teasing which may create or foster feelings of inadequacy, shame, and fear of ridicule.
Traumatic experiences such as abuse or bullying can cause one to develop a negative self-image which may lead to one obsessing about their appearance.
Experiences such as homophobia, biphobia or transphobia have been shown to contribute to feelings of low self-esteem.
Psychological factors that may contribute to the development of BDD include low self-esteem.
A person who is extremely critical of themselves might develop BDD as they tend to fixate on the qualities they dislike. Judging yourself on whether you are inferior or superior to your peers and using negative words to describe yourself may result in BDD4. Experiencing colourism may pressure us into trying to change parts of ourselves.
Your mental patterns may change if you worry about not fitting in, being rejected, or feeling lonely. You could get preoccupied with your appearance if you think that having specific physical characteristics will help you keep friends or find a mate. Your concerns could become greater if a relationship fails or if your pals’ group changes.
Biological factors that may contribute to the development of BDD include genetics. In some cases, BDD may be inherited. According to twin studies, genetic factors account for about 44% of the variance in body dysmorphic disorder symptoms.
Diagnosing BDD
There are no diagnostic medical procedures for BDD. To diagnose BDD, a mental health professional will speak with you about your symptoms, thought and behaviour patterns, lifestyle, and other factors.
Utilizing screening tools, such as well-crafted questionnaires or checklists, to see if you meet the requirements for a BDD diagnosis is necessary.
The majority of BDD sufferers are not diagnosed for 10 to 15 years after their symptoms become severe enough to meet diagnostic standards.
This is partially because they are unaware that the thoughts and feelings are symptoms of a mental health problem, or because they are too embarrassed or hesitant to ask for treatment.
As a result, it is critical to discuss BDD if you or a loved one exhibit any of its symptoms
How to support a friend with body dysmorphia
Try to understand their emotions. You must understand that a person with body dysmorphia experiences true emotions about their looks, even though you may not share their perspective.
Accept their feelings and, most importantly, recognize how difficult it is for them to deal with these emotions. Don’t label them as egocentric.
Take time to listen
Create a private location where people can speak. Because they find them uncomfortable, people with body dysmorphia sometimes struggle to recognise and express their thoughts and feelings.
You should be aware that speaking with someone about your problems is the first step in getting help, therefore, you should try to be there for your friend or relative.
Encourage them to engage in self-help activities. You can help someone with body dysmorphia by just going with them to their therapy appointments or self-help sessions.
Give useful assistance.
You can give a person with body dysmorphia more time to attend self-help or therapy sessions by helping with practical matters like housework or child care.
Recognize little victories.
It can be difficult to live with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, so motivating someone with body dysmorphia might involve applauding, for instance, how little time they spend indulging in certain behaviours.
Find out what makes compulsive behaviour start.
Some circumstances might be exceedingly challenging and lead to recurrent behaviours. Even while such kinds of circumstances cannot always be avoided, doing your best to resolve them gradually can be quite beneficial.
Try to stay out of discussions about issues related to looks, and encourage others to do the same.
Assist them in locating care and assistance. People who are struggling with their mental health frequently turn to their family and friends before seeking professional help. This implies that the assistance you can provide is quite valuable.
It’s crucial to understand that you don’t need any specialized training to be able to provide emotional support to a loved one who has body dysmorphia.
