Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder	Conversion Disorder
Hypochondriasis	Pain Disorder
Somatization Disorder	Somatoform Home

Individuals suffering from body dysmorphic disorder become deeply concerned about some imagined or minor defect in their appearance. Most often, they focus on wrinkles, spots on the skin, excessive facial hair, swelling of the face, or a misshapen nose, mouth, jaw, or eyebrow. Some worry about the appearance of their feet, hands, breasts, penis, or other body part. Still others are concerned about bad odors coming from sweat, breath, genitals, or the rectum.

Those with BDD may go to great lengths to conceal their "defects" or avoid contact with others. Many seek plastic surgery. Most cases of this disorder appear during adolescence. It appears to be equally common among both men and women and affects about 2 percent of the population of the US.

Individuals suffering from this disorder are distressed to the point where social, occupational or academic functioning is disrupted. They are continually checking their appearance and spend significant periods of time each day examining themselves. Some many avoid mirrors, pictures, and even showering in order to keep from being reminded of their imagined physical defects.

Some individuals with BDD may even become delusional, and these individuals are the most severely affected. They should be treated with SSRIs and not antipsychotic medications as might be expected.

Diagnostic Criteria:

A. Preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person's concern is markedly excessive.

B. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

C. The preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., dissatisfaction with body shape and size in Anorexia Nervosa).

Personal Stories of BDD:

"Hi my name is Tracey and I am 23 years old. When I was 15/16 I suffered with anorexia nervosa and was hospitalised with it. I had the strength to overcome anorexia, however it is still with me to this day. Anyway that is not why I am writing to you, my problem now is with BDD. I have such an obsession with my skin and it affects me so much everyday. I have tried so many different medications and I felt better for a while but now it's all back again. I hate my skin. Everyone else always tells me it's fine but I just feel so ugly when I have spots on my face or anywhere on my neck, back or chest.Usually there is nothing anyone can see but I feel, check and pick things and create things that aren't really there in the first place (according to other people). I have tried to cut my wrists and end everything before but that never worked and now I just feel like I am going crazy. I feel like I have something in my head that continuously tells me I am ugly and that my skin is horrible. I avoid so many situations and things that I love because of this horrible disorder. I have had alot of time off work where I work as an assistant accountant and fortunately for me my boss's are very patient. An example of how bad this problem is today when my fiance and I were supposed to go to the Perth Cup. I shopped the day before and bought and unreal outfit and hat I was so excited but when today came I couldn't face it. I looked in the mirror and thought there is no way I could go out looking the way I do. I was so disappointed in myself and I felt so bad for Mark my fiance. We had especially stayed in Perth the night to go but as usual I couldn't. My fiance has been with me since the start of my BDD and I wonder everyday why he has bothered to stay with me. I wish that someone out there could help because I seriously feel like I don't have the strength to get through this anymore.All I do is cry and wonder why this has happened to me.

If anyone would like to talk to me about there problem my email address is: Tracey.Devlin@bdrbusiness.com.au. It would be nice to be able to know I have someone to talk to who feels the same way I do."

"Hi my name is Nicky I am a 36 year old happily married mother and as far back as I can remember I have hated the way my body is even when I was alot younger size 10-12. I always had a protuding tummy that looked as if I was 4 months pregnant. 2 kids later and a few years on it still looks as if i am 4 months pregnant. I have been on every diet known to man and tried every diet pill on the market at one stage I was absolutely hooked on them at least now I know that they wont do anything to help my problem. I excersice constantly and now my knees legs and back are starting to hurt from always punishing myself at the gym. Sometimes I think I m not to bad and then it takes over me again the self hatred looking at myself in the mirror constantly comparing myself to other woman always thinking that every body is looking at my stomach I hate any one who is thin and with a flat stomach {I dont have many female freinds}. I cant tell you the self loathing that I go through sometimes when i am at the gym or at the shops I feel as If i just want to go home because i get so paranoid about my stomach i have even been asked if i am pregnant once or twice. I hate buying clothes i hate the mirror and i dont let my husband see me naked or if he does happen to come into the bathroom i will cover up straight away. all the dieting and excersice has not helped me as a last resort i have convinced my husband to finally let me have plastic surgery i am going to have liposuction done i am so scared and i know that this wont make me look like a model or anything like that but it has got to be better than what it is now.

I have realised that I do have a problem and i would like to get help and i would like to also find out why i am like this, this insecurity about myself and my body has got me into some terrible situations in life in the past i just thank god that my husband loves me the way i am i wish i could except myself though and actually learn to like my body for a change it seems to be getting worse. if you would like to email me please do at ledge007@optusnet.com.au

For more personal stories of living with this disorder please visit this page.

If you would like to share your personal story of living with body dysmorphic disorder, please email me and I will include it here on this page.