Dysmorphophobia What is this disease and whether it is contagious

What is dysmorphophobia?

Dysmorphophobia - a mental disorder in which the sick are extremely concerned about the imperfections of her appearance, inclined to look for a non-existent defects and build their lives around them. A person can constantly compare yourself with others, to try to correct the defect, including by means of radical surgery - plastic surgery or attempted self-mutilation.

In short, it's panic look bad and not fit some ideals that keeps in constant nervous tension. It dysmorphophobia evokes thoughts of suicide more often than other disorders.

Fictional or exaggerated appearance flaw prevents BDD lead a full life, and the idea of ​​"defect" take away a few hours a day.

The often unhappy suffering from BDD?

According to studies, most often suffering from BDD dissatisfied with the state of the skin, hair and nose. Weight is in fourth place. Least likely patients are dissatisfied with the facial muscles and ankles.

Many of the BDD is not limited to a single defect and find a few "defects".

I do not like my nose. I dysmorphophobia?

Depends on how much you do not like any part of your body. If you sometimes think your nose might be less (more straighter, snub-nosed), likely dysmorphophobia has left you out.

If "not as" part of the body disturbs you so much that you avoid mirrors, refusing to leave the house or at the thought of a photo hysterical, then, perhaps, is to turn to doctor.

What causes the disease?

The precise question to this answer there. However, psychiatrists secrete factors that can affect the appearance of the disorder. The reasons may lie in the ill-treatment of the patient as a childChildhood abuse and neglect in body dysmorphic disorder.His introversionBody dysmorphic disorder.or inheritanceGenetics of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders.. Trigger sometimes act mocking looks.

Not the least role in the development of BDD assign media resources. Media, advertising, bloggers translate their vision of what should be considered disadvantages, and which appearance is the ideal.

However, in countries where access to media is limited, cases of BDD are also recorded. So dominance otfotoshoplennyh images will trigger only if the disease susceptibility.

Dysmorphophobia usually manifests during adolescenceBody dysmorphic disorder: recognizing and treating imagined ugliness.and occurs with equal frequency in men and women.

How to identify BDD?

Dysmorphophobia disorder is included in the International Classification of Diseases, therefore, it must diagnose a specialist - psychiatrist or psychologist. Potential patient or his relatives should alert the following symptoms:

• categorical refusal to look in the mirror or photographed;
• desire to constantly look in the mirror, consider an imaginary flaw;
• the abuse of drugs or alcohol;
• suicidal ideation;
• rejection of social contacts;
• fanatical craze diets, Exercise, plastic surgery or other means to correct the "defects".

How it is treated?

To treat BDD well established antidepressantsBody dysmorphic disorder: recognizing and treating imagined ugliness.. Prescribe medication and monitor its performance psychiatrist.

Another way - the cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, when a physician is considering the patient consistency of his thoughts and eliminate dysfunctional patterns of thinking.

Can you get BDD?

Obviously, it is impossible to catch BDD, as it is not carried by bacteria or viruses. But related factors close contact with the patient can cause symptoms disorder.

Even if the constant talk about imaginary ideals and the need to address deficiencies in the BDD will not cause it clinical understanding, they can lead to obsession with appearance and have a negative impact on mood and self-esteem.

See also:

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