Thank you for taking our body dysmorphia test! Below is a little bit more information about this disorder as well as links to mental health professionals who can help you.
What is Body Dysmorphia?
Most people dislike something they see in the mirror about themselves. However, these imperfections don't cause them to get in the way of daily living.
People with body dysmorphia disorder obsess about their flaws, whether they are real or perceived, for hours each day of the week. Their negative obsessive thoughts overtake their thinking and they can't be consoled by their friends and family members who try to assure them that nothing is wrong.
According to Dr. Amy Boyers:
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a disabling mental health disorder with a high level of co-morbity with other mental conditions, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Hair Pulling Disorder, Social Phobia and Depression. A person with Body Dysmorphic Disorder can’t stop thinking about real or perceived defects or flaws in their appearance. In many cases, these defects or flaws are perceived as minor by others or are not even observable. But to the person with this disorder, these flaws majorly impact their behavior and psyche.
Common Areas of Concern for a Person with Body Dysmorphia
While a sufferer of body dysmorphia can obsess about any of their body parts, here are a few common obsessions according to Dr. Oliver Pyatt:
Body weight
Sufferers of body dysmorphia often obsess about their body weight and how toned their muscles appear.
Hair
The amount of hair can be obsessed about by sufferers of body dysmorphia, whether it's too much hair or not enough hair.
Facial Features
Sufferers of body dysmorphia often focus on their nose, but can focus on any part of their face.
Skin Imperfections
Those suffering from body dysmorphia sometimes focus on their skin imperfections, such as: wrinkles, acne, and scars.
Do I have Body Dysmorphia? Symptoms and Signs of Body Dysmorphia
According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 1 in every 50 people in the United States have body dysmorphia. People with this disorder may be reluctant to discuss their symptoms and may not receive a formal diagnosis. If you're wondering "Do I have body dysmorphia", here are a few common signs:
Many Sufferers of body dysmorphia often:
- Avoid social situations
- Seek cosmetic procedures but often are disappointed with the results
- Constantly compare their appearance to others
- Believe that a small defect makes them unattractive
- Become so obsessed with their physical appearance that they struggle juggling their social life, school or work attendance, and other social gatherings
- Don't allow their picture to be taken
- Avoid mirrors
- Ask for reassurance often
- Spend way too much time trying to hide their flaws
- Hide in the dark
- Measure or touch their flaw constantly
- Believe everyone is always noticing and judging their flaws
- Constantly think about their appearance
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Body Dysmorphia
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM), or DSM-5, outlines that the following criteria must be met for diagnosing body dysmorphia:
- Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others.
- At some point during the course of the disorder, the individual has performed repetitive behaviors (e.g., mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking) or mental acts (e.g., comparing his or her appearance with that of others) in response to the appearance concerns.
- The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning.
- The appearance preoccupation is not better explained by concerns with body fat or weight in an individual whose symptoms meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.
Specify if:
With muscle dysmorphia: The individual is preoccupied with the idea that his or her body build is too small or insufficiently muscular. This specifier is used even if the individual is preoccupied with other body areas, which is often the case.
Specify if:
Indicate degree of insight regarding body dysmorphic disorder beliefs (e.g., “I look ugly” or “I look deformed”).
With good or fair insight: The individual recognizes that the body dysmorphic disorder beliefs are definitely or probably not true or that they may or may not be true.
With poor insight: The individual thinks that the body dysmorphic beliefs are probably true.
With absent insight/delusional beliefs: The individual is completely convinced that the body dysmorphic beliefs are true.
Types of Treatment for Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphia can be a traumatic and destructive disorder for a sufferer to endure day in and day out. Here are some common types of treatment for body dysmorphia:
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or cognitive therapy, can help a sufferer change the way they think. Behavioral therapy can help a sufferer change their behaviors related to their disorder. The goal of psychotherapy is to change the false narrative a sufferer thinks about themselves.
Medication
Medications such as SSRI antidepressants are used to treat body dysmorphia disorders. Antipsychotic medications are also used.
Group or Family Therapy
Getting support from your loved ones is a critical step in overcoming body dysmorphia disorder. In family therapy, family members are taught to understand how body dysmorphia works and also learn symptoms that go along with it.
Body Dysmorphia Treatment
Body dysmorphia can be treated by proven methods of psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common technique for treating body dysmorphia, as well as improving related symptoms such as depression and anxiety. SRI medications are also effective for treating body dysmorphia symptoms.
If you need help, there is hope! Reach out to a licensed mental health professional that treats body dysmorphia.
