What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?
Everyone has the occasional bad hair day, or a bad skin day, or a ‘gosh my *arms/thighs/buttocks (*delete as applicable) look huge in this outfit’ kind of day, but for the majority of us, these days tend to pass without too much hassle. However, for some, the feeling of inadequacy in their appearance is a daily struggle that impacts on almost every aspect of their life. Many of these people are living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder though only a fraction will have been formally diagnosed with this condition.
‘Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to have a distorted view of how they look and to spend a lot of time worrying about their appearance… for someone with BDD, these thoughts are very distressing, do not go away and have a significant impact on daily life. The person believes that they are ugly or defective and that other people perceive them in this way, despite reassurances from others about their appearance’
Definition of Body Dysmorphic Disorder from NHS Choices – http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-dysmorphia/pages/introduction.aspx
The NHS Choices Website estimates that as many as 1 in every 100 people could be suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and that it is thought to affect just as many men as it does women – a clear indication that no-one is immune to feelings of self-doubt when it comes to our personal appearance, regardless of gender.
As a fully qualified and licensed Cosmetic Practitioner, Body Dysmorphia is an issue that I need to be constantly aware of as I carry out my daily work to ensure that all of my customers receive the highest levels of care and support. Every day, I meet both new and existing customers who are not 100% happy with a certain aspect of their appearance, and who wish to take back some level of control over their ageing process in order to feel happier in their own skin. But when does not feeling comfortable in your own skin become a full-blown anxiety disorder? This is something that requires careful and considered assessment and is just one of the reasons that I insist on carrying out an in-depth pre-treatment consultation prior to any and every procedure. By talking to a patient, one-to-one, I am able to build a positive relationship with them and gain an understanding of their wishes and expectations when it comes to non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
If, during the consultation, I get the impression that a customer has unrealistic expectations about treatment or I find that a customer has had a large number of previous treatments but has not been satisfied with the results, or if I am at all concerned with the mental health of the patient, I will not proceed with a treatment plan. I will also carefully and tactfully recommend that the patient seeks suitable support and/or treatment from their G.P. or a specialist mental health team so that they can address the underlying issue of Body Dysmorphia before undergoing any cosmetic treatments.
If you, or someone you know, appears to be struggling with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, please know that there are a number of organisations out there that can offer excellent advice and support and that you are not alone. If you need to talk to someone, MIND offer support on a wide variety of anxiety disorders and Mental Health Issues – their number is 0300 123 3393.
If you are looking for more information about Body Dysmorphic Disorder specifically, try www.bddfoundation.org. You can also speak directly to your General Practitioner, who should be able to signpost you to appropriate support networks.
Good Luck, and Take Care
Clare McLoughlin
