Health/Wellness/Lifestyle
How To Help Someone With Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD)
Body Dysmorphia Disorder is often seen in young adults, although it can happen at any age.
What Is BDD?
A person who suffers from body dysmorphia disorder (BDD) spends a lot of time worrying about certain flaws in the body, e.g. a birthmark, despite that the flaws might not even be noticeable. It is a kind of mental health disorder and very common among young adults, although it can affect people of any age with low self-esteem.
Sufferers are not necessarily vain or self-obsessed but lack confidence because of their flaws and believe that is the only thing others observe in them, despite the flaws are often unnoticeable.
Untreated, BDD can lead to severe depression and suicidal thoughts due to perceived ugliness and therefore should not be ignored.
What Causes BDD?
It is not documented what causes BDD per se, but it involves multiple factors. For example, if one is bullied as a young person because of the disorder, and you have a victim mentality, it can make a permanent impact on the person in multiple ways.
Other medics believe it can be a genetic disorder, for instance, if your relative suffers from BDD or OCD (Obsessive Compulsory Disorder), low self-esteem or depression, BDD can surface in the person.
A chemical imbalance in the brain can also cause BDD.
Personality traits and or cultural influences because different cultures have different standards of beauty and appearance, can cause BDD.
Symptoms of BDD
You worry a lot about what you believe is an imperfection and spend a lot of time thinking about making it right. You deliberate on it a lot, look at it all the time, and want to conceal the flaw by any means.
If the flaw is on the face, you use make-up to conceal it, avoid going out without concealing it, or avoid socialising because of the flaw. Sometimes, you tend to favour clothes that you believe conceal the flaws. For example, a lady with a knock-knee will try to avoid trousers but wear only long dresses or skirts.
Suffering from BDD can have a huge impact on one’s ability to relate well to others, both in work and play. It can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm or thoughts of suicide.
You feel shameful, guilty, lonely, depressed, and anxious or you may feel you need an unnecessary surgical procedure, which can lead to misuse of alcohol and drugs.
How To Treat BDD
As in all mental health disorders, the first help is to discuss with your GP, (General Practioner) who will know how best to handle the treatment. Depending on the outcome of your discussion, the GP will refer you to group therapy (CBT) or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This treatment is for a mild case.
For serious to bad cases of BDD, there is what is called SSRI, (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). This is an antidepressant medication. This however will depend on your overall health, medical history and age.
A combination of CBT & SSRI is used if the two above do not work.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is mind-altering therapy that makes you think differently about what is causing you anxiety. CBT identifies what triggers the way you think and behave and offers solutions.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRIs)
These are forms of antidepressants, the most commonly used is fluoxetine. This medication is continued for a long time (up to 12 weeks and above) for it to have an effect.
SSRIs are usually a last resort if all else has failed.
Another related post by the same author:
The Takeaways
- BDD can vary in severity from person to person and from day to day.
- Practising mindfulness might help sufferers with BDD.
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), also known as ‘dysmorphophobia’, is an underrecognized yet relatively common and severe mental disorder that occurs around the world.
- Experts estimate that BDD affects about 3% all over the world.
DISCLAIMER
Although great research has gone into this post to give the genuine substance to it, nevertheless it does not still represent professional or financial advice in any way. It is therefore given for readers’ information and entertainment only.
Please seek professional help regarding any health condition or concerns. Thank you.😑
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