How to help someone with body dysmorphia disorder?

Is body dysmorphia a mental illness?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental disorder that affects 1-2% of the population (1, 2). Someone with BDD becomes obsessed with their body image, which causes them extreme anxiety and stress. They might not go out or socialize with their family or friends because they are worried about how they look all the time. The obsessiveness can cause them to seek plastic surgery, which only worsens their anxiety in the long run (3).

What says the Anxiety and Depression Association of America?

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) say that body dysmorphia is common among people with anxiety disorders. This may be the case, as the majority of those with BDD also have an anxiety disorder (4).

The most recent data on this subject came from a study at the University of Minnesota in 2011. They found that 48% of people with body dysmorphia also have a social anxiety disorder, while 20% of them also have a mood disorder. They also found that 36% have a history of self-injury and 29% have a history of suicide attempts. The average age of onset for all these conditions is around 15-17 (4).

Understand the link between body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Understand the link between body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder:

A study at the University of Minnesota also found that 30% of people with body dysmorphia had obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), so understanding the connection between OCD and BDD might help us understand more about how to treat them. OCD is an anxiety disorder where someone feels like they have to do certain things, or that something bad will happen if they don't do them. This can include things like washing your hands, checking locks being turned off or even hoarding (5).

OCD and BDD have a lot in common, as they both have to do with feeling anxious about something. In the case of OCD, it's the obsessive thoughts that make you feel anxious; while with BDD, it's what you're obsessing over (5).

Mirror checking and BDD

People with BDD might check themselves in the mirror a lot, trying to figure out what's wrong with their bodies. Sometimes they even try hiding or camouflaging certain body parts that cause them distress (4).

While many of us tend to think that people who check themselves in the mirror a lot are vain or narcissistic, it's not like that. It's a compulsion that makes them feel less anxious about their appearance.

For example, a person with BDD might check their skin for flaws or marks that they think other people will notice. This checking then causes them to feel less anxious because it distracts from a lack of self-esteem (6).

What causes body dysmorphia?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental condition that has its roots in genetics. There is an increased risk of BDD when someone else in your family also has it, and if they have severe anxiety or OCD (4).

It's possible that having a mental illness in your family could also be the reason you have body dysmorphia. The University of Minnesota found that 51% of those with BDD have at least one parent with an anxiety disorder, and 20% have a parent with OCD (4).

Family members with similar mental illnesses can have a deep impact on one another. This is because you grow up in the same environment as them and face similar challenges, so it's likely you'll develop a good understanding of their illness (5).

Another important factor to consider is your personality type. Some people are more sensitive than others, and feel things more deeply. They might also be more perfectionist and find it difficult to cope with criticism (6).

These things can make them more likely to develop BDD, so you can see how having someone close to you who has a similar personality could influence the way you view the world around you.

How can you help someone with body dysmorphic disorder?

How can you help someone with body dysmorphic disorder? The best thing you can do is to understand and support them. They need your love and support, and they need you to treat them normally even though they might be worried about their looks all the time (3). It's important too that if someone with body dysmorphic disorder tells you that they think something is wrong with their body, you don't dismiss them or tell them not to worry about it. Instead, you should continue listening to their concerns and reassure them that things are OK (5). Also, the best thing you can do is help them realize that their body dysmorphia isn't normal. They need to understand that even though they might be really distressed about something small, it doesn't mean that everything is wrong with them. They need to understand that this feeling of distress is a mental illness and that it's not their fault (5).

Mental health: how to respond to someone with body dysmorphia?

If you think someone you know might have body dysmorphic disorder, the best thing to do is to talk to them about it. You can gently bring up the subject by saying that you've noticed they seem concerned about their appearance, and ask if they want to talk about it (5). You mustn't try to force them to talk about it if they're not ready, as this could make them feel even more anxious. Just let them know that you're there for them if they need to talk.

Do you think it's helpful to tell someone with body dysmorphia not to worry about their appearance?

The most important thing is for the person with body dysmorphic disorder to realize that what they are feeling is a mental illness. If you try to reassure them all the time, then they might never get this realization of their own. They need to come to this realization on their own, or it will be much more difficult for them (5).

What is the best way to help someone with body dysmorphia?

You must stay patient and understanding. Try not to become frustrated if they are always asking if there's something wrong with them because then they will feel like they are a burden. It might help to explain simply that some people have this disorder, and it's not their fault (3).

Body dysmorphia: is there hope for recovery?

There is hope for recovery. One of the first things you can do is try to find out if the person with body dysmorphia is self-harming because this can lead to scarring and/or infections. They must understand that what they are doing isn't helping their feelings of distress (5).

Also, the person with body dysmorphia will need therapy. They will need cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to learn to think differently and understand that their feelings of distress are a mental illness. They will also have to work on behavior therapy, which is where they try to change their actions by doing something different to feel better (5).

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressants (4). This type of medication helps control symptoms like depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

There is no cure for body dysmorphia, but treatment can help with symptoms. The patient will work with a therapist to find coping skills that they can use on their own. They will have to learn how to become aware of their thoughts, and they will have to try not to place so much importance on what is in the mirror (5).

My friend has negative thoughts about his body, how can I help?

Understand that they might not want to talk about it. Some people with body dysmorphic disorder don't like talking about their problems or admitting there is a problem (4).

If you try to reassure them all the time, then they will feel like a burden and believe that nothing can be done about it. They need to understand that there is hope for recovery, but it will be hard work (5).

Don't try to reassure them by lying about how they look. This might seem like the easy way out, but it won't help them come to terms with their problem or recover (4).

Learn about what body dysmorphia is and tell them that even though they might be feeling this way, it doesn't mean that everything is wrong with them. They need to understand that this feeling of distress is a mental illness and it's not their fault (5).

Don't say "it's just your body dysmorphia" because this won't help. Instead, you should explain that this feeling of distress is a mental illness and that it's not their fault (5).

Conclusion body dysmorphic disorder is a mental illness that causes people to feel very distressed about their physical appearance, even though there might be nothing wrong with it. The best thing you can do for someone with body dysmorphia is to understand them, listen to them if they are worried about something, and reassure them that everything is OK. You can also help them realize that what they are feeling is a mental illness by explaining how normal people think. If you find out that the person with body dysmorphia is self-harming, then point this out to them and tell them it isn't helping their feelings of distress (3). They will need therapy to recover, and the best type of therapy for this is cognitive-behavioral therapy. It will help them change their thoughts and actions. If a family member or friend has body dysmorphia, then you should be patient with them and understand that they have a mental illness. You can also try helping them realize that what they are feeling is a mental illness and that it's not their fault. If they start self-harming, then you should point this out to them and explain that it isn't helping (3).

Summary: family and friends can make a huge difference in the life of someone with body dysmorphia by staying patient and understanding, trying not to get frustrated, making sure they don't harm themselves, and helping them realize that what they are feeling is a mental illness. You can help them recover by encouraging them to go to therapy for cognitive behavioral therapy because this will teach them how to think differently and change their behavior (5).