BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER - IMAGINED UGLINESS What Is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Is A Serious Mental Illness In Which You Cant S top Thinking About "A Perceived Flaw" With Your Appearance. It is a Part Of The Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Of Mental Health Illness. Body Dysmorphic Disorder In Common Man Language Is Called Imagined Ugliness. A Person Is Intensely Obsessed His Appearance, Body Image And Spend Hours Of The Day Thinking About The Same. What Are The Common Parts Which One Obsesses About? ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ARE COMMON 1. Nose 2. Hair 3. Skin 4. Complexion 5. Wrinkles 6. Acne And Blemishes 7. Baldness 8. Muscle Size 9. Pimples WHO HAVE THE GREATEST CHANCES OF DEVELOPING THIS PROBLEM? A. People With Low Self Esteem

B. Individuals Who Have Habit Of Heavy Gyming C. Individuals Who Have Habit Of Heavy Dieting D. Individuals Who Constantly Seek Others Re-Assurances And Approvals For Self-Belief. E. Individuals With Family History (At Least One Parent Or Grand Parent) With Severe Clinical Anxiety/Depression Or Other Documented Mental Health Disorder F. Individuals With High Histrionic Personality Traits.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? 7 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING WHEN PRESENT, INDICATE TOWARDS THE PRESENCE OF BDD 1. Hours Of Preoccupation With Physical Appearance. Person Spends A Great Amount Of Time Reading, Watching Videos And Thinking About Personal Physical Appearance. 2. Time Spent Preoccupying With Physical Appearnace Hampers One's Social And Occupational Life. 3. Strong Belief That An Abnormality Or Defect Is Present In One Or More Parts Of The Body. 4. Never Having A Feeling Of Contentment Or Happiness With One's Own Body. 5. Frequent Examination Of Yourself In The Mirror Or, Conversely, Avoidance Of Mirrors Altogether

6. Strong Belief That Others Take Special Notice Of Your Physical Appearance... Feel That Others Only Appreciate You Or Fear You Because Of Your Physical Appearance. 7. The Need To Seek Repeated Reassurance About Your Personal Physical Appearance From Others. Without Others Praising Your Physical Appearance, A Sense Of Incompleteness And Irritation Governs The Mind. 8. Excessive Grooming Or Spending Excess Money On Grooming Products Every Month. 9. Extreme Self-Consciousness 10. Refusal To Appear In Pictures The Days You Feel Ugly About Yourself.. And Overtly Enthusiased To Take Photos When You Feel Beautiful. 11. Skin Picking 12. Constant Comparison Of Your Appearance With That Of Others. Specially Of The Parts You Feel Bad About Yourself. 13. Avoidance Of Social Situations - Specially In Cases Where People Are "Better Looking" Or People "Don't Care About Looks". 14. The Need To Wear Excessive Makeup Or Clothing To Camouflage The Perceived Flaws

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? Neuro-Chemical Imbalance In The Brain Leading To Extreme Mental Restlessness, Which Creates "Delusional" Rigid Thoughts.

This Imbalance Can Be Present Before Hand, Or Can Be Develop As Matter To Repeated Exposure To Stress Related To Looks.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT? A Combination Of 1.Medications. 2.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Counseling

WHY IS TREATMENT ESSENTIAL? The Patient A. Avoids Society B. Is Only Involved Within Activities That Would Augment His/Her Look. C. Extreme Expenditure Of Resources On Medications, Suppliments And Even Surgeries To Looks "Perfect" D. A Step-Wise Cyclic Behavior Pattern Might Develop, Whereby Slowly There Might Be Escalation Of Anger And Irritation To Uncontrolable Levels, Leading To Impulsive Acts Like Extreme Violence, Hurting Others And/Or Suicide.