This news article explores a study that delves into the lived experiences of people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The study highlights key themes such as disgust with one's appearance, the impact on self-worth and identity, and the obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which people are preoccupied with a perceived flaw in their appearance—often something minor or invisible to others. Individuals with BDD can experience intense distress, seeing themselves as hideous in some way. By one estimate, BDD afflicts 0.5-3.2% of the population, which translates into millions of individuals.
So, what is it really like to have BDD? This was the focus of a study by psychologists Kathryn Thomson and Andrew Thomson from Cardiff University and Bristol Children’s Hospital, respectively. They performed a large-scale search of studies to better understand the experiences of those with BDD, then reviewed the findings to uncover the most common themes. The results were eye-opening, revealing three superordinate themes, each with their own subthemes. A summary of the findings is provided below: Participants across the studies described feeling disgusted by their appearance, often using terms like'ugly' and'deformed,' or feeling that their perceived flaws didn’t look right or weren’t how they 'should' be. One participant remarked: “I look like a monster. I just don’t feel sort of human.' Some respondents shared that BDD isn’t about vanity or the desire to be beautiful; it’s more about the . Some participants’ feelings of self-worth and identity revolved around their appearance or perceived flaws. Several studies highlighted the gap individuals with BDD feel between their current and ideal selves. Some participants expressed that achieving their “ideal' appearance would lead to a “perfect” or “successful” life (in contrast to the finding above). One interviewee reflected: “I’m always admiring beautiful people. If I looked like them, my life would be perfect, and I could live normally.”. Studies also revealed how individuals with BDD can become obsessively preoccupied with their perceived flaws. For some, this obsession was all-consuming. One participant remarked
BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER MENTAL HEALTH APPEARANCE SELF-IMAGE OBSESSION
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