What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (B.D.D)

This is when a person can obsess about their appearance often thinking that their is something wrong with their features.  This causes distress to the person and can have a terrible impact on their lives.

Who are affected by the illness

Men and women are both affected by the illness ages 11yrs up.

What Are the Symptoms of B.D.D

• Delusional thoughts and beliefs related to appearance
• Social and family withdrawal
• Social Phobia
• Loneliness
• Suicidal thoughts
• Major depressive disorder
• Chronic low self esteem

What are the common areas of Preoccupation with B.D.D

B.D.D is often a complicated disorder people who suffer with this illness may be dissatisfied with their

• Face
• Hair
• Skin
• Scars
• Veins

The person suffering the disorder may think they need plastic surgery. They may also try to disguise themselves by wearing baggy cloths and hats. Women affected by the disorder may not leave the house without make up on.

What are the factors that cause B.D.D to develop

• Biological Genetic
• Chemical imbalance in the brain caused by low levels of serotonin. This can be treated with S.S.R.I medication.

Psychological

People who are already genetically vulnerable to the illness may also been bullied or neglected, physically abused, this may be a trigger in developing B.D.D.

Environmental

Media could be an influence to people who are genetically vulnerable and have low self-esteem.

Treatment for B.D.D

Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour therapy can be an effective way in treating B.D.D this works well for some people.

Another treatment used in treating B.D.D is S.S.R.I drugs which help boost low levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain.

Interesting websites:

www.thebddfoundation.org