How do I know if I have a Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

The growing interest and awareness about mental health and possible emotional disorders that we can face, has increased self-observation and interest in the self care. Among the mental disorders, those that are related to alterations in perception and the relationship with our body seem to be one of the most commented upon, finding its presence and influence on the part of the mass media or in the mere socialization.

This is the case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), previously known as dysmorphophobia, dermatological hypochondria or beauty hypochondria. The main problem in this disorder resides in the existence of a persistent concern for a defect in the physical appearance. This concern does not correspond to the reality of the possible defect, since this is usually difficult to detect or non-existent (without entering into the debate of what we could consider a defect in appearance and what No).

Many health professionals speak of Body Dysmorphic Disorder as an underdiagnosed problem, and it is that, despite being found clinical references of this dating back to the 19th century, its study and scientific and clinical knowledge has not intensified until the last decade.

In this article, we are going to delve into TDC, identifying its most common signs and symptoms to know how to identify if we may be going through a disorder like this, for which it is important to know how to have professional psychological therapeutic support.

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What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

As previously presented, the main characteristic of TDC is the presence of a very intense preoccupation. and persistent over time in relation to a physical characteristic, normally almost imperceptible or even non-existent. According to the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, these concerns can be focused on any point of the body or change over time and throughout the course of the disorder.

Following the diagnostic criteria of this manual, there are two specifiers to consider in order to develop a diagnosis of BDD. These are:

1. Degree of understanding of the problem

This specifier refers to the way in which the patient understands her problem and this understanding is reflected in the excessive concern and attention paid to this "defect". This is reflected in a continuum that can range from an adequate level of concern to delusional levels of conviction.

Around a third of those diagnosed with BDD are part of the group of people with a conviction delusional, complicating its treatment and being able to increase comorbidity with other disorders psychological.

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2. Additional presence of muscle dysmorphia

In some cases, the TDC focuses on thinking that the body has a low muscular development, which leads patients to excessive physical activity. with the aim of increasing muscle, adherence to specific diets to increase muscle, or even the use of anabolic or steroids. This, in the long term, can lead to physiological problems of muscle dysmorphia, making treatment a more complex process. It is important to note that this muscle dysmorphia is much more common in men than in women.

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What symptoms does Body Dysmorphic Disorder have?

To answer the main question of this article, we are going to review the most common symptoms related to BDD. It is important to self-observe and become aware of a problem in the case of having it in order to reach a solution. If you think you may be going through a TDC, it is important that you resort to therapeutic and psychological help; it's probably the only way you have to get out of this.

1. Overwhelming and excessive worry

As previously presented, the main component of TDC is overflowing concern, maintained over time and obsessive in relation to a defect in most cases non-existent.

2. Behaviors to “hide” the defect

This overflowing concern triggers behaviors that can be more or less repetitive to hide or disguise this physical defect that generates concern. These behaviors can be of a very diverse nature, from recurrent glances in mirrors to verify the existence of this defect, constant observation and comparison with other people, excessive tanning, the use of makeup in specific ways to hide this problem or excessive questions to other people about their own appearance or the defect it generates worry.

On occasions, as previously mentioned, these behaviors can reach extremes that put health at risk, such as excessive bodybuilding, the use of anabolic drugs, adherence to dangerous diets or the use of cosmetic surgery in an obsessive and repetitive. What characterizes TDC is that, no matter how many physical remedies are tried, this defect continues to exist for the people who suffer from it.

3. suicidal ideation

Long-term studies of BDD patients demonstrate the existence of ideation suicidal in 57.8% of cases, reaching autolytic behaviors or suicide attempts in 2.6% of these. This is mainly due to hiding the symptoms and feeling misunderstood by the majority of those around them. For these people, this physical "defect" accounts for most of their days and worries, and not receiving understanding from their environment can mean feelings of loneliness and isolation that can evolve into suicidal ideation.

The importance of asking for help

In conclusion, BDD is a very serious disorder that can lead to suicide. In addition, in most cases, the associated symptoms lead patients to develop behaviors that can be very harmful to their bodies in the long term.

Therefore, it is important to identify to what extent the obsession with a part of our body is normal and the search for remedies or solutions that we can do with it. If you think you are experiencing symptoms characteristic of BDD, seek professional help; The most important thing to be comfortable with our body is learning to love and respect it.