Just to clear things up: facial dysmorphia is the same thing as body dysmorphia.
Suuuuper informative and super eye-opening!Įven though BDD and disordered eating/ eating disorders can be linked, body dysmorphia can also apply to things that have little or nothing to do with weight, like someone’s facial features, hair, nails, or any other physical feature.
If you’re looking for more info on eating disorders, disordered eating, and the many complex factors and causes, Hannah Fuhlendorf goes into more detail about all of this in her course “Disordered Eating: What Is It and How Does It Show Up?” in the DiveThru app. Someone who is dealing with an eating disorder may perceive themselves as looking much thinner or fatter than they actually are due to BDD, therefore continuing to struggle with the disordered eating behaviour in an effort to become more in alignment with their definition of what’s attractive.īut, as we’ll learn later in the article, body dysmorphia doesn’t go away when a certain look is achieved-it takes mental health help and a change in thought patterns and behaviours to truly deal with body dysmorphia. Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disordersīody dysmorphia is usually associated with eating disorders and disordered eating (yep, two different definitions), and they often co-occur, though having one does not necessarily mean you have the other. As well, if you struggle with depression, anxiety, or OCD, you’re more likely to have BDD, though it’s not clear whether or not these mental health conditions cause BDD or simply coincide. There’s also a familial link-a person whose family struggles with BDD or disordered eating is more likely to also struggle with BDD, though there’s some debate on whether that link is learned or genetic. Perfectionism plays a part, too, as the desire to look “perfect” can lead to seriously damaging attitudes and beliefs about yourself. Face filters give people unrealistic expectations of beauty. Fear of loneliness or isolation can contribute, especially if you think you need to look a certain way to be accepted by a partner, your friends, or society as a whole. Low self-esteem is also a factor, as someone might excessively focus on “fixing” their appearance as a way to become confident. The causes of body dysmorphia are unknown, but there are some factors that can contribute.Ībuse and bullying can lead to the disorder, particularly if it’s related to one’s physical features. But when your fixation on your flaws and appearance starts to dominate your thoughts to the point of interfering with your life, you maaay want to reach out for help. We know that icky feeling when you try your best to hide a massive zit that you’re convinced everyone else is staring at, even though they’re defs more concerned about their own stuff. What Is Body Dysmorphia?īody dysmorphia, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), is defined in the DSM-V (the diagnostic tool for mental health professionals) as “preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others.” It can relate to anywhere on your body, including your face.Įveryone feels insecure about their appearance from time to time. We want you to be able to be comfortable in your body and comfortable with looking at yourself! So strap in for a big dose of psychoeducation as we DiveThru body dysmorphia, its causes, the symptoms, and how it’s treated. Greeeat.īody dysmorphia can make even just seeing a picture of yourself a massive challenge. It’s like your own personal Regina George inside your head, telling you awful things about yourself all the damn time. Those flaws feel extra noticeable-a huge problem that you need to change. Your friends and family see your regular ol’ self, but you see a whole bunch of flaws that either aren’t there or are super minor. Body dysmorphia is one of those mental health disorders that can reeeeally trip you up.