Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental health condition in which a person becomes excessively preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance. These perceived flaws are usually not noticeable—or are only minor—to others, yet they cause significant distress and can impair daily functioning.
Key Points:
- Common Fixations: Skin, hair, nose, body shape, or weight.
- Behaviors: Excessive mirror checking, seeking constant reassurance, attempting to hide perceived defects with makeup or clothing, and in some cases, repeated cosmetic procedures.
- Overlap: Often co-occurs with anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
- Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (especially specialized CBT for BDD), SSRIs, and sometimes exposure and response prevention (ERP) techniques.
