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 »
Posts Categorized: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
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 »
Walking with Love and Possibilities
by Denis Asselin In confinement no one can hear you scream. I know from experience. It’s frustrating to be required to isolate and reduce a bigger world to a restricted one, especially if you suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and/or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). For many, being stuck in static, familiar surroundings may even… Read more »
BDD-Related Quarantine Tips During COVID-19
by Angela Fang, PhD In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe with massive uncertainty about people’s jobs, relationships, and social lives, and has left behind an unprecedented wake of illness anxiety in the general population. Much of the focus during COVID-19 has been on obsessive compulsive symptoms (in particular, contamination-related obsessions and… Read more »
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A pediatric dermatologist’s perspective
Dr Margaret Lee, Boston University School of Medicine Imagine talking to a teenager who wants the strongest therapy available for acne, but you don’t see any red bumps. Imagine being told by a young woman that when she wears a bikini she constantly holds her arm a certain way to make sure no one can… Read more »
Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Me
by Scott M. Granet, LCSW This may sound like an odd way to put it, but up until the age of 19 I had a normal relationship with my hair. I didn’t try to avoid being in the wind and wouldn’t feel panicky if someone looked like they might touch it. I also didn’t care… Read more »
My Battle with BDD – Intrusive Thoughts
by Robyn Stern Many people are unaware of what Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is. To non-sufferers, it’s often seen as vanity. To sufferers, it’s a disabling disorder that significantly affects your quality of life. I am a therapist/social worker with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I will briefly discuss my journey, how I have overcome a disorder… Read more »
Thirty-One Days: A Tale of Body Dysmorphic Disorder
This story is part of our blog series called “Stories from the OCD Community.” Stories from the community are submitted and edited by Toni Palombi. If you are interested in sharing your story you can view submission details at www.iocdf.org/ocd-stories. As of this Saturday, 31 days will have passed since I’ve seen my own reflection. When… Read more »