Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
BDD involves a preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance that others may not notice or see as minor. Almost everyone is somewhat self-conscious about certain aspects of their appearance, but BDD is more than being self-conscious — the distress can be intense and consuming, leading to repetitive behaviors like mirror checking, constantly comparing yourself to others, reassurance seeking, or avoidance of social situations. BDD is closely related to OCD and responds to similar treatments.
What It Can Look Like
- Spending a lot of time fixating on specific aspects of your appearance
- Frequently checking mirrors, or avoiding them entirely
- Seeking reassurance about how you look, without it providing lasting relief
- Comparing your appearance to others
- Avoiding social situations, photos, or being seen in certain lighting
- Difficulty focusing on other things because appearance concerns take over
How I Can Help
Treatment for BDD typically involves CBT and/or ACT with an emphasis on exposure and response prevention — facing avoided situations in a structured way while reducing compulsive behaviors like checking, comparing, and reassurance seeking. Because individuals with BDD are often hyper-focused on specific aspects of their (and others’) appearance, treatment also involves practice “seeing the bigger picture” — expanding your attention to include other stimuli in your field of vision.