A Guide to Mental Disorders

Body Dysmorphic Disorder ✓

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which you can't stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance — a flaw that appears minor or can't be seen by others. But you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed and anxious that you may avoid many social situations.

When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely focus on your appearance and body image, repeatedly checking the mirror, grooming or seeking reassurance, sometimes for many hours each day. Your perceived flaw and the repetitive behaviors cause you significant distress and impact your ability to function in your daily life.

You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" your perceived flaw. Afterward, you may feel temporary satisfaction or a reduction in your distress, but often the anxiety returns and you may resume searching for other ways to fix your perceived flaw.

Treatment of body dysmorphic disorder may include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication.

What's the difference between body dysmorphic disorder and body dysmorphia?
These are different names for the same condition. Body dysmorphic disorder is the condition's technical name, but "body dysmorphia" is more widely known.

How common is body dysmorphic disorder?
Experts estimate that BDD affects about 2.4% of adults in the U.S. overall. It affects about 2.5% of women and people assigned female at birth and about 2.2% of men and people assigned male at birth. Outside the U.S., it affects between 1.7% and 2.9% of people.

Who can develop body dysmorphic disorder?
BDD is most likely to start in your teens or early adult years. People usually develop BDD around 12 or 13 years old. Two-thirds of people with BDD develop it before age 18. However, BDD can also start in adulthood.

What are the symptoms for body dysmorphic disorder?
BDD affects how you see yourself and feel about your appearance, and its symptoms can take many forms. Some of the most common include (but aren't limited to):
- Spending excessive amounts of time thinking about at least one thing about your body you think is a "flaw" or "defect," even though others say it isn't significant or don't notice it. This can also cause you to compare your appearance to how other people look.
- Feeling compelled to repeatedly look at or check your appearance (using a mirror, a reflective surface like a window or asking others for feedback). On the other hand, some people may actively avoid being in photos or seeing their reflection to avoid the distress they feel seeing their own appearance.
- Changing your appearance frequently (tanning, changing your hairstyle, changing clothes, etc.).
- Frequently taking selfies (photos of yourself you take with a smartphone) to check your appearance, or using apps/photo filters to hide or change things you don't like about your appearance.
- Feeling fear or anxiety because you think others are staring, judging or making fun of the things you don't like about your body or appearance. Some people experience panic attacks when looking at things they don't like about their bodies in a mirror or reflective surface.
- Feeling shame or disgust about your body or appearance, especially the specific things you think are problems. Some of the most common words people with BDD use to describe themselves or parts of their body include "ugly," "hideous," "deformed," "abnormal," "defective" or "unattractive."
- Compulsive grooming behaviors that become harmful, such as plucking or pulling hairs (trichotillomania) or picking at your skin (dermatillomania). These are separate mental health conditions that are distinct from BDD, and they have different treatment approaches.
- Avoiding situations where people might notice the things you don't like about yourself. This can disrupt your work or school activities, or cause you to avoid social gatherings.
- Repeated medical procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, to try to "fix" the things you don't like about your appearance.
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide because of your appearance.