Home Remedies and Herbs for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental condition where the person obsesses and dwells on their perceived physical imperfections. However, the flaws are not noticeable or obvious to others.^{1 2} The more the person focuses on their flaws, the more embarrassed and ashamed they become. This creates severe anxiety that can prevent the person from putting themselves in social situations for fear of judgement or ridicule.²

When their flaws end up occupying their thoughts for multiple hours throughout the day, people with body dysmorphic disorder cannot function fully in daily life.^{1 2} They may end up avoiding school, work or other commitments in life out of their anxiety.² Many people with body dysmorphic disorder pursue cosmetic surgery or other procedures to fix their flaws. But even afterwards, they will still continue to focus on their perceived imperfections.¹

What Causes Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

As with many mental conditions, researchers don’t know the exact body dysmorphic disorder causes. It is believed that body dysmorphic causes are attributed to a combination of factors. These possible contributing factors to developing body dysmorphic disorder include:^{1 3}

• Brain structure abnormalities such as a chemical imbalance
• Past experiences in being teased and bullied
• Childhood that involved abuse
• Genetic predisposition to body dysmorphic disorder or other mental conditions

• Exposure to social and media pressures about body image
• Having a personality prone to perfectionism
• Suffering from pre-existing anxiety or depression

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms

• Being preoccupied with your perceived flaws
• Believing that you are ugly or deformed because of your perceived defect
• Feeling that others notice and judge your flaws
• Constantly checking yourself in the mirror, grooming yourself, or picking at your flaws
• Spending time figuring out ways to hide your flaws
• Needing constant reassurance from others about your appearance
• Obsession that causes you to skip social activities, work or school

• Skin and veins
• Muscles
• Breasts or genitalia
• Hair thickness
• Facial features such as nose, skin or wrinkles

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/home/ovc-20200935
2. https://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/
3. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/body-dysmorphia/Pages/Introduction.aspx