Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a driving force behind many eating disorders. A person who sees their body differently than other people may take unnecessary steps to alter it. This includes overeating, undereating, binging, purging, and more. This guide provides an overview of body dysmorphic disorder and how eating disorder treatment can help.
What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Body dysmorphic disorder is a condition that causes a person to perceive his or her body differently than how it looks in reality. We all have imperfections that we are self-conscious about, but those negative thoughts get pushed to the side during the day. Someone with BDD cannot ignore these thoughts. They fixate on their flaws or the flaws that they have created in their mind, and they do whatever they can to correct these issues.
Symptoms Of BDD
Body dysmorphia causes people to focus on slight imperfections or non-existent imperfections on their bodies. This could be in regards to their weight, or it may have to do with a specific feature (face, hair, nose, fingernails, etc.). This fixation on perfection can cause the person to develop extreme social anxiety, self-consciousness, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and more. It can also cause the person to become isolated from friends and family members because they are worried about their appearance.
The Effects Of Body Dysmorphia
A person with BDD may undergo plastic surgery to correct their perceived physical flaws. This does not get rid of the root cause of the problem through – the actual mental condition. Instead, the person will find a new thing to analyze and correct, creating a vicious cycle that can be stopped with eating disorder treatment and therapy.
BDD can disrupt a person’s day-to-day life. For instance, one patient at our eating disorder treatment center in Michigan could not drive because he got too distracted by the car mirrors. Another missed too much work because of her fixation, and she eventually lost her job. Thankfully, with proper treatment, these compulsions and addictions can be controlled.
Getting Treatment For Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder treatment is closely linked with eating disorder therapy. The goal is to reverse negative thought patterns while improving your overall health and happiness. In the program, you can work closely with a nutritionist to get to a healthy weight, whether you are underweight or overweight. You can also work with a therapist to boost your self-esteem and overcome the mental obstacles that sparked this disorder.
To learn more about eating disorder treatment, contact Perspectives Of Troy Counseling Centers in Michigan. We look forward to working with you.