What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a relatively common and highly debilitating disorder that is thought to be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Its hallmark symptoms are preoccupation with one or more perceived physical flaws, behaviors or “rituals” aimed at improving and/or concealing these flaws, and feelings of intense shame, anxiety, and sadness about one’s appearance. Effective treatments for BDD are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Common Rituals in BDD
- Excessive mirror checking
- Excessive grooming
- Avoidance of mirrors
- Camouflaging with makeup, clothing, hats
- Negative impact on daily functioning
- Positioning the body to hide flaws
- Avoidance of being in photos
- Researching plastic surgery
- Comparing appearance to others
- Asking others for reassurance about appearance
Common concerns in BDD
- Excessive mirror checking
- Avoidance of being in photos
- Avoidance of mirrors
- Camouflaging with makeup, clothing, hats
- Excessive grooming
- Positioning the body to hide flaws
- Researching plastic surgery
- Comparing appearance to others
- Asking others for reassurance about appearance
What does Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatment look like?
If you struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), you likely know that trying to convince you out of your concerns is unhelpful. Persuading you that your perceived flaws are imagined can actually worsen the disorder over time.
BDD therapists do not aim to argue about the specifics of one’s BDD concerns, such as if your nose is actually “hideous.” Rather, treatment for body dysmorphia aims to help individuals challenge their beliefs about:
- The importance of appearance to others
- The need to be perfect in order to be attractive
- The role of appearance in relationships and daily life
Therapy for BDD Includes CBT and ACT
As part of Body Dysmorphic Disorder treatment, you are also encouraged to abandon the rituals that get in the way of your life. These rituals are time-consuming and actually exacerbate distress about appearance concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for BDD can help you identify your priorities and values and spend more time focusing on them.
Therapy for BDD incorporates mirror attention retraining to help you look at your appearance in a more objective and balanced way. This helps you stop avoiding mirrors or engaging in excessive mirror checking and eventually reduces distress.
These steps may sound overwhelming. At Anxiety Care NY, we are here to be your partner in overcoming BDD. You can get better!
Body Dysmorphic Disorder Treatment
We are here to be your partner in overcoming BDD. You can get better! Treatment in Rockville Centre and online across NY & NJ. Contact us.