Body dysmorphic disorder is a disease where an individual is obsessed about the appearance of a particular part of their body. Body dysmorphic disorder is sometimes abridged as BDD. This is mental disorder where the individuals are excessively concerned about the minor defects in their appearance. People suffering from Body Dysmorphia always keep on complaining about a particular feature of their appearance, or in general about their appearance.
The researcher Morselli documented this disease in the year 1886. He called this condition simply Dysmorphophobia. But the American Psychiatric Association first recognized BBD in the year 1987. For a person suffering from Body Dysmorphia the obsession about their appearance might often lead to many psychological disorders that may affect their day to day functioning or the social aspect of the individual’s life.
This type of disorder is generally seen in the individuals who are extremely critical about their appearance regardless of the fact that there is no such defect in their appearance. These people consider themselves extremely ugly and defective. However in reality they might often be quiet good looking.
People suffering from this disease often have the wish that they could change their appearance. Most of the BBD suffering individuals who has normal appearance and are often extremely attractive suffer from inferiority complex, which further hinders their social interaction due to the fear that they might be humiliated. These people are also very reluctant to seek for help in the fear of getting embarrassed or humiliated by others.
Causes of Body Dysmorphia
The actual cause of Body Dysmorphia is not very clear. However some researchers have mentioned that this is a genetic disease and is triggered by a chemical imbalance in the brain. A research has shown that about 1% of the total UK population is affected with this disease. Body Dysmorphia occurs when the family of the individual has the history of social phobia or depression. This disease is likely to occur in the adolescent period when people are most conscious about their appearance. This disease can equally affect both men and women.
Symptoms of Body Dysmorphia
The individuals suffering from Body Dysmorphia are extremely worried and anxious about their appearance and about particular body parts, which they perceive as defective. They continue to believe that they have defective appearances despite the reassurances. The obsession can be with any part of the body but commonly it is with the face.
The most common symptoms that can be seen in people suffering from BBD are the use of excessive make ups in order to hide their defects. Other symptoms include continuously looking in the mirror and seeking reassurances, pricking skin and plucking their eyebrows frequently as well as touching and perceiving the defective part continuously.
Apart from this the sufferer often exercise and diet excessively, undergo medical treatment with the defective part and get anxious when many people are around. In severe cases of Body Dysmorphia the sufferer stops socializing. They even find difficult to maintain relationship with others. These people are often found to suffer from inferiority complex due to the perceived fault in their appearance. In some cases their hatred for themselves increases to such an extent that they often try to commit suicide.
Types of Body Dysmorphia
There are several types of Body Dysmorphia but among them the most common is Muscle Dysmorphia. This is sometimes referred as Reverse Anorexia Nervosa and Bigorexia. In this type the individual is preoccupied by the idea that he is not enough muscular. These individuals have the illusion that they too small or too skinny but in reality they often have average muscle.
Individuals suffering from this type of Body Dysmorphia constantly examine themselves in mirror and generally hate their reflection. They generally become depressed if they miss their work out one day and they also have the tendency to take dangerous anabolic steroids. They also neglect their job, family and any relation due to excessive exercise.
Treatment for Body Dysmorphia
People suffering from this type of disease should immediately be taken to the doctor for treatment. Treatment of Body Dysmorphia may include cognitive behavioral therapy or antidepressant or at times both.
Individuals suffering from Body Dysmorphia should be treated very carefully and a constant eye should be kept on them as they have the tendency to take harmful medicines and commit suicide.
