Deep Dives with the Pros : Unpacking Current Issues with Experts
By Dr. Kanmani V K - Consultant Psychiatrist, Valasaravakkam, Chennai
Dr. Kanmani V K is an experienced psychiatrist with an MD from the prestigious Madras Medical College in Tamil Nadu. With Nine years in the field, she has honed her expertise across numerous institutions and hospitals, developing a profound understanding of psychiatric treatment. Dr. Kanmani approaches her practice with empathy and a non-judgmental perspective, dedicating herself to helping individuals grappling with mental health issues and alleviating their stress. Committed to continuous learning, she has actively participated in various workshops to broaden her knowledge and skills in psychiatry, underscoring her passion for empowering her patients on their journey to mental wellness.
Are you feeling anxious or dissatisfied with your appearance? If you're struggling with negative thoughts about how you look, it could be a sign of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It's important to recognize these feelings and consider seeking support.
What is Body Dysmorphic disorder?
BDD or Body Dysmorphic Disorder is characterized by preoccupation with some imaginary defect in appearance in a normal person or sometimes too concerned about a minor defect.
What are the Signs and symptoms?
A majority of BDD cases start before 18 years old and are seen in children and adolescents. Males and females are equally affected. Although males are more likely to be present with thinning hair, and small body build, females are present with weight concerns, breast size, and excessive body hair. Most often, people who suffer from BDD show worries about one or more defects in physical appearance which may not be appreciated by others. It mostly focuses on the face, nose, breast, and hair, such as nose shape or thin hair. Some people tend to perceive their body image as fat or slim. Because of this, concerned people tend to perceive themselves as "ugly" even when they look good and attractive. They will not be convinced with so much reassurance. To this belief, they try to conceal their flaws, by doing repetitive behaviors like checking in the mirror, grooming including applying makeup, seeking reassurance from others, exercising, weight training, and undergoing cosmetic surgeries. Some people tend to develop ideas of reference, meaning they believe other people are talking about their flaws.
Why is BDD often overlooked?
BDD is estimated to affect about 1.7-2.4% of the global population. The exact prevalence is not known. Studies are limited in India. Beauty standards and attention given to physical appearance are more common in Indian society. Often people ignore these concerns as superficial and never care to look in depth. Also, people will not understand mental health concerns unless they open up about it. Because of the shame associated with it, consulting a mental health professional becomes scary. Most of the patients attend dermatologist clinics and plastic surgeons for cosmetic surgery.
How do societal beauty standards influence BDD?
Among adolescents and young adults, many have insecurities about their appearance. They were taught from childhood that being fair is beautiful, and being slim is attractive. Women are forced to do a lot of procedures to look presentable for others. Body shaming is very common in our society, they easily comment about others' body weight which in turn creates low self-esteem in individuals.
Due to social media influence, many start to compare themselves with others' edited and filtered images. Due to overrated standards of beauty and attention from the media, people suffer from
Some professional fields like modeling and acting further promote unrealistic beauty standards. To be accepted in this society, they tend to be preoccupied with minor flaws.
What are the treatments or therapies for BDD?
We need a complete assessment of comorbid psychiatric illness. Common comorbid conditions associated with BDD are obsessive-compulsive disorder, Personality disorder, Depressive disorder, and suicidal ideations. Treatment includes medication and therapy. Psychoeducation includes creating awareness about the problem with patients and relatives is important.
Understanding the patient's suffering, building a collaborative approach to care, and instilling hope are important steps in therapy. Therapies like Exposure and Response Prevention, and Cognitive Restructuring will be helpful.
How can colleges and schools address body image concerns?
As BDD is very common among adolescents, institutions need to take active initiatives.
Conducting workshops and campaigns to promote positive body image and challenging ideal beauty standards.
Educating parents helps to improve their self-esteem
Create safe spaces to openly communicate about body concerns. This can help to identify issues and help to reduce bullying.
Teach them about responsible social media use.
Educate about nutrition and physical activity that focuses on healthy living rather than appearance.
Create awareness about body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders to identify early signs and seek professional help.
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