Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

[Kalmoon]

I suffer from Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), this means I am never satisfied with my appearance, I find flaws every day, I might think I'm too fat,  too tall, too goofy looking, it changes all the time. I am not writing this to gain sympathy, don't you dare tell me how sorry you are, that is very patronising.

I am creating awareness and dissemination of information:

People with BDD suffer from obsessions about their appearance that can last for hours or up to an entire day. BDD obsessions may be focused on musculature (i.e. fixation on muscle mass or definition). Hard to resist or control, these obsessions make it difficult for people with BDD to focus on anything but their imperfections. This can lead to low self-esteem, avoidance of social situations, and problems at work or school.

BDD sufferers may perform some type of compulsive or repetitive behaviour to try to hide or improve their flaws although these behaviours usually give only temporary relief.

Examples are listed below:

camouflaging (with body position, clothing, makeup, hair, hats, etc.)
comparing body part to others' appearance
seeking surgery
checking in a mirror 
avoiding mirrors
skin picking
excessive grooming
excessive exercise
changing clothes excessively

 

I also have ongoing treatment for anxiety and depression because of BDD, the therapies I have undergone and my own regimens, mean that after decades of fighting,  I now have this under control if you aren't sure that you have BDD or another disorder, please get help as soon as possible.

 

[Deleted Member]

Hi it’s me:) ha ha right? But all joking aside. I suffer from everything you do and more. Even before the pandemic I’m not sure if I would have got out if my house was burning down. Social anxiety,panic disorder, BDD, OCD,Manic depressive etc. you get the idea. Here’s my problem. Approximately 30 years being seen by primary Dr and specialist and my conditions have only seem to have declined. In addition they through meds ant me like beads at a Mardi Gras parade. All
They’ve seemed to make happen is turn me into a zombie! Cause at least I didn’t already have chronic fatigue syndrome. Lastly it made me gain 60+ lbs.! No good here. Not good at all.

[Th****]

Thank you for the great information in your post it was incredibly informative. 

I had a couple of questions if that is not too much of an imposition.

1. Do you think that the Depression, Anxiety and other associated disorders are caused by the BDD or is the BDD another symptom of the environmental traumas that caused the Depression, Anxiety etc.

2. I have been married to someone with BDD and I had not linked the skin picking to the BDD until I read your post. Looking back this occurred a lot and a tiny spot of reddening skin would be scratched away as it "was becoming a spot."  Does the person with BDD see that the effect of the scratching can be more obvious than the spot, at that point are they fixated on getting rid of it,  or is it totally different.

Excuse my interest and only limited knowledge but I am eager to take this opportunity to learn more.

Thanks in advance,

Thebian

 

 

[Kalmoon]

17 hours ago, Thebian said:

Thank you for the great information in your post it was incredibly informative. 

I had a couple of questions if that is not too much of an imposition.

1. Do you think that the Depression, Anxiety and other associated disorders are caused by the BDD or is the BDD another symptom of the environmental traumas that caused the Depression, Anxiety etc.

2. I have been married to someone with BDD and I had not linked the skin picking to the BDD until I read your post. Looking back this occurred a lot and a tiny spot of reddening skin would be scratched away as it "was becoming a spot."  Does the person with BDD see that the effect of the scratching can be more obvious than the spot, at that point are they fixated on getting rid of it,  or is it totally different.

Excuse my interest and only limited knowledge but I am eager to take this opportunity to learn more.

Thanks in advance,

Thebian

 

 

Hello,

I hope I can provide the answers

1) I started with anxiety as a young child, there are factors that made me like that (post traumatic stress disorder later diagnosed later), I was indeed so anxious that at times I couldn't speak and developed a stammer. In my mid ***s I began with depressive episodes these became worse in puberty and at 15 or so, the first flickering of BDD symptoms began.

2) Skin picking, from age 15, I think it was the acne I had that started it really. I felt  awkward,  A sexual,  like an alien, spending ages in the bathroom going at it making it much worse, if Mum caught me she belted me for doing it, when in my 20's the episodes happend ,more as I changed my hair frequently, dyed it every colour imaginable, grew it long, cut it off, pulled some of it out. The skin is to me grotesque, if I see a blemish I pick and pick at it, some times I just think there is and there isn't, I've had several bad infections from doing it. I wear thin cotton mitts in bed because I've been know to scratch holes in my neck and nose in my sleep. The therapy and treatment I  have had mean that its under control now, I take sertraline for the anxiety which is now non existent and the episodes I have are very mild compared to the years of not knowing what was wrong, I was almost 40 before I found out about my PTSD and how to control the anxiety and depression.

If you've not done so already google BDD and skin picking, I've been told not to share links in the forums, best wishes , Kal

[Th****]

Thanks again Kalmoon,

I will definitely go and read more on this.