Many of us are concerned about how we look. For some this is vanity, even concern about how they look in ‘selfies’. For others it can be Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) which affects up to one in 50 people and leads to many seeking cosmetic surgery as a cure.
But this does not always help. Take the case of former glamour model Alicia Douvall (pictured here) who spent in excess of £1m on over 300 procedures. She said she had an addiction to surgery due to her undiagnosed battle with BDD.
Body dysmorphic disorder is classed as a chronic illness which characteristically sees its sufferers preoccupied by a minor defect, feature or body part.
It can also be preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance or a markedly excessive concern with some aspect of the body. For some teenagers it could even be their acne.
The negative feelings generated by BDD can be extremely exaggerated and the sufferer tends to create coping mechanisms depending upon the severity of the feelings.
Some critics say this is a ‘bad case of vanity’ brought about by today’s obsession with appearance and celebrities. This obsession often leads to problems with social functioning as the person will view themselves as ‘ugly’, ‘fat’ or some such complaint.
Many BDD sufferers then become anxious and even depressed, developing social phobias as a result of their condition.
The charity MIND says many people with BDD do not seek help as they are worried that people will judge them, or think they are vain. This means that many people are likely to experience BDD for a long time before seeking help.
In many instances, doctors will try to treat BDD with anti-depressants or anti-psychotics as they regard the condition as some kind of imbalance in the brain.
But hypnotherapy can also help – and be less invasive. The National Council for Hypnotherapy has 1800 therapists around the UK who can offer help lessen the anxiety caused by this disorder.
BDD is brought about by an ‘event’ and leads to a person’s subconscious making them do compulsive actions like looking in mirrors to check their appearance, or convincing them they are too fat or not good looking enough.
The NCH points out that we live in a society where great demands and responsibilities are placed on us, leading to stress and anxiety.
While some people manage, more and more people are showing signs of over-anxiety, which leads to stress, which can make a significant impact on their quality of life and wellbeing.
An NCH hypnotherapist can help identify the root of stress or anxiety and its cause – in this case BDD. Together with the client they will set goals.
Then, working with the client, the therapist will help reach these goals using a range of different techniques.
If you think you need help in this field, why not make contact with a qualified NCH therapist near you by using the NCH directory. It will be worth it.
