Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a common and often debilitating disorder. Unfortunately, there are also many misconceptions about BDD, and it goes under-recognized.

However, the great news is that there are effective treatments for BDD. Recovery is very much possible, and there’s lots of hope.

Speaking of hope, today is the third part of Maggie’s interview on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Maggie is the founder of a wonderful organization called Sprout Yoga, which teaches yoga to individuals healing from eating disorders and trauma. She is an incredible inspiration. And I’m so grateful to her for sharing her story.

Here’s part one and part two of our interview from last week. Also, check out Sari Shepphird’s interview on BDD here and here.

What are some misconceptions about BDD?

That the person is vain, or self-obsessed. That’s my favorite! Someone with BDD is the opposite of vain; they live in a constant state of worry about whether their hideous feature is so overpowering that people will stay away from them due to it. As if the feature/attribute is a people-repellent like bug spray.

Another misconception is that BDD is about people who are obsessed with their nose and have multiple plastic surgeries. That is an expression of the disorder, true, but not the only one. I really wish the media would expand its focus/coverage of BDD to incorporate more of the expressions of the disorder. BDD has a higher suicide rate than other expressions of anxiety and depression, and for that reason, we need more coverage of it with better explanations.

I think there is a low lying myth that BDD involves willpower – if you could just accept the thing that you hate about yourself, you’d be all set. But that myth lacks the information that BDD is about anxiety. It’s about depression. It’s an obsessive trait stemming from a consuming and at times overwhelming experience of being wrong or unlovable. Saying that you can learn to accept yourself without addressing the anxiety is like telling an alcoholic to just put down the bottle, or a smoker to throw away their cigarettes. Avoidance is an aspect of overcoming the disorder, but unless you can access what drives the self-loathing, you can’t move to a space beyond it.

How can families help a loved one who has the disorder?

Educate themselves as best they can about BDD from reputable sources. Reading about New York’s cat woman doesn’t count as a reputable source. Reading articles about anxiety disorders does.

Look for warning signs. There are other disorders that are often found in people with BDD that are more noticeable, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and compulsive hair pulling or skin picking (trichotillomania or Trich).  In fact, Trich is so common in people with BDD that it’s estimated that a large majority of those with BDD also suffer from Trich. BDD is also common in people with disordered eating/eating disorders. People with BDD may also compulsively exercise or have an obsession with their appearance, so watch for people with credit card debt stemming from consumer shopping.

At the heart of it, a family member needs patience and love to help someone with BDD. There are many therapies that are effective, and it has been shown that anti-depressants with serotonin-inhibiting qualities are effective. Guiding the loved one towards therapy and continuing to try different avenues of therapy is essential.

Many individuals with BDD feel hopeless. What would you like them to know?

That they aren’t crazy, and they aren’t horrible. That BDD affects approximately 3 to 5 percent of the population. That’s a lot of people, which means you can find people who understand your daily experience. And you can find therapists who can provide real, lasting solutions.

Also that the more honest you are about your thoughts, the more likely you are to get to the bottom of where they come from, so you can access that well of goodness inside you.

What resources (i.e., books, websites) do you recommend to help readers better understand BDD and help sufferers?

For those who also have Trich, a great resource is http://www.trich.org/.

For those who have disordered eating/eating disorders, there are great resources about healing from the inside out, available from websites such as www.oa.org or http://www.anorexicsandbulimicsanonymousaba.com/ . In fact, the Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous’ book often addresses body hate and dysmorphia.

Anything else you’d like readers to know about your story or BDD in general?

I don’t say that I am “cured” from BDD. I know others who are, and I’m psyched for them. For me, BDD is a roommate. It’s sticking around. At times it gets annoying and hard to live with, but when I set my boundaries and know its tricks, it doesn’t impact my life.

When I try to ignore it and avoid it, it only turns the music of its constant negative thoughts up to 11. Understanding that I am not cured from BDD or the compulsive eating I developed as trying to live around BDD, but rather live in a state of recovery, allows me to stay aware and compassionate, both to myself and to the BDD.

My BDD led me to years of struggling with compulsive eating (both over and under), a lot of pressure on myself to be more perfect, and, in general, a lot of low times. By age 21, I knew that something was amiss in the way I ate and exercised, but refused to address it. If BDD had been explained to me then and had I been given the option of the treatment I received at 32, I wouldn’t have missed out on 11 years of enjoying my body and my life.

So get help, stick with treatment and help others!

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Again, a big thank-you to Maggie for sharing her story and insight!

While this ends our series on BDD, you’ll absolutely see posts on it from time to time. If you’d like to see certain topics covered on BDD, send me a quick email or comment below.

Have a fantastic Memorial Day!

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (May 31, 2010)

Maggiebean (May 31, 2010)

    Last reviewed: 31 May 2010