Your self-image is all to do with how you feel about how you look. This is something that affects everyone, regardless of who they are or what they look like. Everyone has an image of themselves, whether it’s a good or a bad one. Most people have something they dislike about how they look, and many people have things that they like about how they look.
Image is becoming a bigger issue because of what we see every day on social media, on the TV, in films, and in advertisements as well as the comparisons we make against the people around us. All of these things have an impact on how we feel about our own body image.
What is body image?
Body image is how you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror or think about yourself in your mind. It also includes the way we think other people see us. People usually either have an overall positive body image, when they mostly feel good about themselves or a negative body image, when they feel less positive about the way they look or feel. Body image is closely linked to our self-esteem and how we feel about ourselves.
Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD, but it’s most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women. Having BDD does not mean you’re vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life.
Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
You might have BDD if you:
- worry a lot about a specific area of your body (particularly your face)
- spend a lot of time comparing your looks with other people’s
- look at yourself in mirrors a lot or avoid mirrors altogether
- go to a lot of effort to conceal flaws – for example, by spending a long time combing your
- hair, applying make-up or choosing clothes
- pick at your skin to make it “smooth”
- Being extremely preoccupied with a perceived flaw in appearance that to others can’t be seen or appears minor
- Strong belief that you have a defect in your appearance that makes you ugly or deformed
- Belief that others take special notice of your appearance in a negative way or mock you
- Seeking cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction
- Avoiding social situations
BDD can seriously affect your daily life, including your work, social life and relationships.
BDD can also lead to depression, self-harm and even thoughts of suicide.
Causes of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
It’s not known exactly what causes BDD, but it might be associated with:
- genetics – you may be more likely to develop BDD if you have a relative with BDD, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or depression
- a chemical imbalance in the brain
- a traumatic experience in the past – you may be more likely to develop BDD if you wereteased, bullied or abused when you were a child
Some people with BDD also have another mental health condition, such as OCD, generalised anxiety disorder or an eating disorder.
Treatments for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
The symptoms of BDD can get better with treatment. If your symptoms are relatively mild, you should be referred for a talking therapy (CBT), which you
have either on your own or in a group. If you have moderate symptoms, you should be offered either psychotherapy or a type of antidepressant medicine called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). If your symptoms are more severe, or other treatments do not work, you should be offered psychotherapy together with an SSRI.
Sylwia Kuchenna
