What Is Body Dysmorphia?

Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition in which the person affected focuses incessantly on his or her body’s faults. These faults do not necessarily exist, and other people may or may not be able to see them. Even so, the person affected experiences so much embarrassment, shame or anxiety because of these faults that they do their best to avoid social situations. 

Someone with body dysmorphia constantly checks his or her appearance in the mirror and is always grooming and asking others how they look. This can go on for several hours throughout the day. Both the perceived flaws and the repetitive behaviors cause these people great distress and prevent them from functioning normally in their daily lives. 

Body dysmorphia is one reason that some people willingly undergo several plastic surgeries because they believe that they are fixing their flaws. The surgery often relieves the anxiety, but when the anxiety returns, the person returns to the repetitive behaviors he or she engaged in before having the surgery.

What Are Body Dysmorphia Symptoms?

Body dysmorphia symptoms include the following:

• Avoiding social situations due to discomfort with one’s appearance.
• Seeking cosmetic procedures, often with little or no satisfaction afterward.
• Struggling with perfectionistic tendencies that extend beyond appearance.
• Frequently asking others for reassurance about how they look.
• Obsessively comparing their appearance to that of others.
• Relying on makeup, clothing, or hairstyling to conceal perceived flaws.
  Engaging in repetitive behaviors aimed at hiding or “fixing” what they see as defects — often feeling powerless to stop.
• Believing that others are noticing and mocking their flaws.
• Perceiving certain features as deformed or ugly, even when others see nothing unusual.

What Causes Body Dysmorphia?

The medical community does not know exactly what causes body dysmorphia. It may be a combination of things, such as excess levels of the brain chemical, serotonin, negative experiences related to your body image or a family history of the disorder. 

Is There a Body Dysmorphia Test?

Yes, a therapist can give you a body dysmorphia test if you are concerned that you have body dysmorphia. The questions listed on this test were designed to tell you whether or not your symptoms require help from a therapist. Remember that the body dysmorphia test that you find online is not a diagnostic tool, so it is not meant to tell you whether or not you have the disorder. You will need to see a medical doctor to obtain a diagnosis. 

If you are concerned about a friend or relative and do not believe that he or she will take the quiz, you can take it on his or her behalf. The results will not necessarily be as accurate as they would be if the person were to take the quiz on his or her own. 

Do I Have Body Dysmorphia?

You must make an appointment with your doctor if you are asking, “Do I have body dysmorphia?” The fact is that you may be so ashamed of your appearance that it will keep you from seeking medical attention, but this is exactly what you need. If you recognize yourself in any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor or a mental health provider. 

Body dysmorphia is not a medical condition that gets better on its own without medical help. Left untreated, the condition could continue to deteriorate over time and lead to severe depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.