by Scott M. Granet, LCSW Disgusting, ugly, deformed, monster, freak, alien, defective. How many of these words have you used to describe how you feel about yourself and your appearance? No psychiatric disorder is good to have, but I don’t know any other that so often results in people feeling so awful about themselves. It… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Uncategorized
BDD: Letter of Encouragement
To anyone seeking relief from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, First, I want to acknowledge your brave decision to seek help and resources on your journey to recovery from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). You have found an incredible organization, The International OCD Foundation, with vast information and material to help you better understand the disorder and the… Read more »
Some common misconceptions about BDD treatment — and why you can still get help
By Fanny Alexandra Dietel, PhD, and Ulrike Buhlmann, PhD I have worried about my appearance for several years. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has ruined my jobs, my relationships, my life. Still, it took me such a long time to seek help. This scenario — and the long journey of suffering attached to it — is… Read more »
From Struggle to Success: My BDD Journey from Childhood to Today
PLEASE NOTE: The following blog post contains discussion of topics that may be upsetting, including suicide. Please take care of yourself as you read this article. If you are in crisis, know that help is only a call or click away at 1-800-273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org. by Chris Trondsen Recently, I went through a box filled with… Read more »
Exercise and recovery from body dysmorphic disorder
by Eva E. Fisher, PhD I am writing this post while gazing out the window at a beautiful Colorado landscape. Today is the first time in almost a month that the temperature is moderate (in the low 80s), and the sky is clear of smoke. I am looking forward to taking my cat for a… Read more »
The other side of fear: reclaiming the life I lost to body dysmorphic disorder
by Kellie Smith I will never forget the first time I looked in the mirror and thought that I no longer resembled a human being. When I looked at my face I saw something atrocious, something that needed to be hidden. I was 16 years old and was unaware that I was experiencing my first… Read more »
Is seeing believing?
by Dr. James Claiborn People with BDD struggle with what they see when they look at themselves. They often report seeing aspects of their appearance that are distorted, deformed or perhaps just ugly. What any of us see when we look at anything is the product of perceptual processing. Understanding what is involved in perceptual… Read more »
Make peace, not love
by Dr. Ryan Kaplan Often when people with BDD first come to see me for treatment, they describe their struggles with their appearance and how they hate what they see when they look in the mirror. They talk about feelings of disgust, anxiety, and shame about their appearance, and a deep desire to one day… Read more »
Body dysmorphic disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
by Roberto Olivardia, PhD Although not yet recognized in the scientific literature, the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is worthy of attention. As a specialist in treating patients with BDD, as well as an ADHD expert, I have observed how ADHD can have a negative impact on body image…. Read more »
Stress, COVID-19, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder
by Stella Kim Hansen, LMHC and Michele T. Pato, MD It wouldn’t be possible to write a blog post about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) without acknowledging the stressful effects of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Through our own experiences in clinical work and doing research on the unique disorder of BDD, I am struck by how… Read more »