Cope With Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is a psychological illness that has caused silent suffering to millions, but has received little attention and is often misunderstood by the general public.

The definition of BDD is vague, but it can be best described as the sister of obsessive-compulsive disorder, except it's a condition that revolves around perceived physical flaws.

You may be wondering why you can't get over obsessing over how you look, why you can't stop looking in the mirror, why you can't stop picking your skin, or whatever ritual and thought that you have that you can't stop obsessing about. If you feel like your appearance obsessions are controlling your life and causing a great deal of misery, you might have BDD.

You may be too ashamed to tell anybody about what you're going through. Here's a basic guide to help you get started on how to cope with BDD.

Steps

 * 1) Seek out a good therapist that's familiar with BDD, or at least treats disorders that are similar (OCD, eating disorders, etc). You will find many therapists that aren't familiar with BDD, but don't give up. Research online and call people that can direct you to the right therapist. If money and no health insurance is an issue that's preventing you from seeking a therapist, there are not-for-profit counseling centers that can work with your income. Therapy is known for being expensive, BUT there are counselors that see lower-income clients for free.
 * 2) Try medication. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is thought to be a result of a lack of serotonin.  SSRI's, like Zoloft, Prozac and Luvox, help treat this.   You may hear people saying that medication should be avoided completely (and these might be people who don't have much knowledge), but there are many people  who are doing great on medication, and feel that their lives have improved while on it.  Some medications may cause side effects, depending on the individual.  Some medications may not give you side effects. This is a trial and error process. It's worth it if you want to stop obsessing and engaging in compulsive rituals.
 * 3) Get the book "The Broken Mirror" by Katharine Phillips or go to BDDcentral.com.  There is tons of information on how to cope with BDD on a day-to-day basis. There are also many stories from BDD sufferers that can help you relate, if you feel alone. If you can't get the book or access the website, read on.
 * 4) Realize that giving into your obsessions and compulsions will only make things worse. Slowly stop asking for reassurance, cut down time spent in mirrors, cut down the time that you spend online comparing yourself to celebrities, etc. As scary as it sounds, confronting your BDD symptoms is what is going to make you feel better.  It will be hard and excruciating at first, but you will get better over time.  Once you confront your symptoms, you will realize that what's the worst that could happen?
 * 5) Whatever you do, avoid cosmetic surgery! You may be happy at first to have a nicer nose or larger breasts, but you will then find some other body part to obsess over! Realize that having a perfect appearance won't make you happy.  The problem is with how you think. Not with how you look.
 * 6) Ask yourself what makes you happy and what makes you feel good? Do you like to read? Dance? Cook? Listen to music? Even if you're housebound, there's got to be something that you can do or work on, even if it means sleeping. Your life doesn't have to revolve around how you look.  You are worth more than that.

Tips

 * Stay away from people who emphasize appearance. You don't want to be hanging around girls that always gossip about who's gotten fat, who's hot and who's not. These people will just give you a deluded view of the world, when there are many true friends out there that don't care about how you look. People who prattle on about appearance or criticize others are insecure themselves, so don't let them influence you into thinking that looks is the key to happiness.  There are many beautiful celebrities, who have led miserable lives.
 * Sure, everybody worries about their appearance. But, they don't worry about it to the point where they can't leave the house or where they feel like killing themselves.  If this sounds like you, this might be a sign that you need to be on the road to recovery.
 * Not all BDD sufferers are exactly the same. Just because you may not be exactly like one BDD sufferer that you saw on T.V. doesn't mean you don't have this illness.  BDD is more complex than others think. There are mild, moderate and severe stages.  People wrongfully assume that ALL BDD sufferers must think they are ugly, that they can't go out of the house, or that they only worry about one specific flaw. Some BDD sufferers worry about their face, some don't think they're ugly yet obsess over being as beautiful as possible, while other BDD sufferers are able to go out in society (yet secretly obsess over how they look).

Warnings

 * Some might recommend to not treat yourself. Things are easier said than done.  BDD isn't going to improve over night.  A therapist can help speed the process of recovery and give you valuable insight.  It's great that you want to learn how to help yourself, but the right therapist can truly do wonders. Putting all of these coping skills into practice is hard work.  People who treat themselves may feel better temporarily and see improvement, but they also tend to relapse later on going through a cycle of regression, improvement and regression.
 * Sadly, you will meet people that won't understand what you're going through. Some of these people might even be family members.  You might get dismissed as silly or vain, but they aren't in your shoes.  This is why it's important to seek professional help, so you can have an empathic therapist by your side that understands.
 * If you feel suicidal, call someone! A therapist, a doctor,your sibling, a crisis center, 911, your friend, your parents...Suicide isn't the answer to BDD. If you know someone that wants to kill themselves over their appearance, it's not to be taken lightly!

Things You'll Need

 * The acceptance and motivation to help yourself
 * The guts to expose yourself to your worst fears
 * A solid support network, even if it consists of online posters on a forum that you have never met.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Understand and Help Sociopaths
 * How to Choose a Mental Health Counselor or Psychotherapist
 * How to Deal With Borderline Personality Disorder
 * How to Deal With an Existential Crisis