Why do i have bdd

Insight about body dysmorphic disorder varies. You may recognize that your beliefs about your perceived flaws may be excessive or not be true, or think that they probably are true, or be absolutely convinced that they're true. The more convinced you are of your beliefs, the more distress and disruption you may experience in your life. Shame and embarrassment about your appearance may keep you from seeking treatment for body dysmorphic disorder.

But if you have any signs or symptoms, see your primary care provider or a mental health professional. Body dysmorphic disorder usually doesn't get better on its own. If left untreated, it may get worse over time, leading to anxiety, extensive medical bills, severe depression, and even suicidal thoughts and behavior. Suicidal thoughts and behavior are common with body dysmorphic disorder. If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, get help right away:.

It's not known specifically what causes body dysmorphic disorder. Like many other mental health conditions, body dysmorphic disorder may result from a combination of issues, such as a family history of the disorder, abnormalities in the brain, and negative evaluations or experiences about your body or self-image. Body dysmorphic disorder typically starts in the early teenage years and it affects both males and females.

Certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering body dysmorphic disorder, including:. Complications that may be caused by or associated with body dysmorphic disorder include, for example:. There's no known way to prevent body dysmorphic disorder. However, because body dysmorphic disorder often starts in the early teenage years, identifying the disorder early and starting treatment may be of some benefit.

Long-term maintenance treatment also may help prevent a relapse of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. You can become obsessed with any part of your body. The most common areas are your face, hair, skin, chest, and stomach. A mental health professional will diagnose BDD based on your symptoms and how much they affect your life. There are other mental health disorders that are common in people with BDD. They include obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.

Specific treatment for BDD will be determined by your healthcare provider based on the following:. Treatment for BDD may include talk therapy or medicines. The best treatment is probably a combination of the two. Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT is the most effective talk therapy. In CBT, you work with a mental health professional to replace negative thoughts and thought patterns with positive thoughts.

Antidepressant medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors usually work best for BDD. The best way to prevent BDD from becoming a serious problem is to catch it early. BDD tends to get worse with age. Plastic surgery to correct a body flaw rarely helps. If you have a child or teenager who seems overly worried about his or her appearance and needs constant reassurance, talk with your healthcare provider. If you have symptoms of BDD yourself, talk with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional.

Treatment for BDD can be a long-term commitment. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes body dysmorphic disorder? What are the risk factors for body dysmorphic disorder?

Eating disorders and BDD both involve a debilitating concern with body image. The difference, though, is that individuals with eating disorders worry about the shape of their bodies and how much they weigh. Those with body dysmorphic disorder develop anxiety about specific body parts, such as:.

Even loved ones may find it difficult because individuals go to great lengths to try to hide the problem. Take this body dysmorphia quiz to determine if you or a loved one should seek professional treatment. Those who live with body dysmorphia may go to great lengths to try and cover the perceived flaw or develop unhealthy routines or rituals. For instance, they may constantly pick at their skin or look in a mirror.

Eventually, they obsess over their appearance to the point that their social, professional and personal lives suffer. Unfortunately, no one has pinpointed the cause of body dysmorphia. It often starts in the teen years and can continue into adulthood without treatment. Other factors that may contribute to body dysmorphia include a perfectionist personality type, a traumatic life experience, family history with body dysmorphia or similar mental disorder, and abnormal levels of brain chemicals, specifically low serotonin.

Our body dysmorphia quiz is a great starting point to get an idea of whether their symptoms coincide with those that are common with BDD. Instead, discuss the results with the team of specialists at Eating Disorder Solutions in Dallas, Texas to ensure proper treatment. Hard to resist or control, people struggling with body dysmorphia can hardly focus on anything but their imperfections.

Over time, it can lead to low self-esteem and depression. It may be hard to verify the signs of body dysmorphia in a loved one as they will often take extreme steps to hide their unusual behaviors from missing out on social activities to wearing baggy clothes.

Some of the body dysmorphic disorder symptoms include:. Many of these behaviors are compulsive and repetitive in nature as the individual will try to hide or improve their flaws for temporary relief. People who experience body dysmorphic symptoms also live with anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder, depression, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or obsessive compulsive disorder.