Body Dysmorphic Disorder | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

Boost Search Results On Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) consists of preoccupation with perceived flaws in one’s physical appearance. People with BDD think they look unattractive, ugly, or even hideous because of the perceived flaws, but in reality the flaws that they perceive are actually nonexistent or only slight. The appearance preoccupations cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning (usually both). BDD has similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); however, there are some important distinctions. Like OCD, people with BDD have obsessions that cause them anxiety and distress, and they try to alleviate their distress by engaging in compulsions (repetitive behaviors). Like OCD, the compulsions do not provide any pleasure. But people with BDD usually have less insight than those with OCD. They are also more likely to experience depression, thoughts that life isn’t worth living, and suicide attempts.A common misconception about BDD is that it’s about vanity....