What is body dysmorphia

It is getting worse by the day and she is asked to see a therapist who confirmed that she might be suffering from Body Dysmorphia. Please shed light about this problem.Atika Q Body dysmorphic disorder (body dysmorphia) describes a condition where a person can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived flaws with him/her appearance. […]

It is getting worse by the day and she is asked to see a therapist who confirmed that she might be suffering from Body Dysmorphia. Please shed light about this problem.
Atika Q

Body dysmorphic disorder (body dysmorphia) describes a condition where a person can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived flaws with him/her appearance. The flaw can either be minor or one that is imagined. Seen from an outside perspective, the obsession with these flaws will seem unnecessary or baseless, but to the person, her appearance seems so shameful and distressing that in some cases she won’t want to be seen by anyone.
Body dysmorphia has sometimes been called imagined ugliness. Body dysmorphic disorder is also occasionally referred to as dysmorphophobia, or the fear of having a deformity. Body dysmorphic disorder is a serious disease, particularly if it is accompanied by other co-occurring psychiatric or addictive disorders.
Signs and symptoms:
1. Preoccupation with physical appearance
2. Belief that one has an abnormality or defect in appearance that makes her ugly
3. Frequently looking in the mirror
4. Avoiding mirrors altogether
5. Believing that others take special notice of ones appearance in a negative way
6. Frequent cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction
7. Excessive grooming, such as hair plucking
8. Feeling extremely self-conscious
9. Refusing to appear in pictures
10. Skin picking
11. Comparing appearance with that of others
12. Avoiding social situations
13. Wearing excessive makeup or clothing to camouflage perceived flaws
Signs of body dysmorphic disorder may include obsessive concern over various physical features such as:
1. Nose
2. Hair
3. Skin
4. Moles or freckles
5. Acne and blemishes
6. Baldness
7. Breast size
8. Muscle size
9. Genitalia
What are the effects of body dysmorphic disorder?
It is not uncommon for a person with body dysmorphia to intensely obsess over his/her appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. He/She may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to fix perceived flaws but will never be satisfied.
A person may change which body feature is the center of focus over time. He/She may be so convinced about a perceived flaws and begin to imagine something about his/her body that’s not true, no matter how much someone tries to convince such a person otherwise. Similar to other eating disorders, the intense subjective and implacable nature of this condition can cause it to be very trying for those close to the person. The intensity of shame and embarrassment about appearance that body dysmorphic disorder causes cannot be overstated.
What causes Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
It’s not known specifically what causes body dysmorphic disorder. Some evidence suggests that natural occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin, which is linked to mood, may play a role in causing body dysmorphia. Some studies show that body image fixation is more common in people whose biological family members also have the condition. This may indicate a genetic cause behind body dysmorphic disorder.
Our image-obsessed culture may contribute to body image fixation, especially if the person has had experiences perceives as negative about body or self-image. The constant barrage of unrealistic, idealized physical perfection can be an aggravating factor.
Certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering the condition, including:
1. Having biological relatives with body dysmorphic disorder
2. Childhood teasing
3. Physical or sexual abuse
4. Low self-esteem
5. Societal pressure or expectations of beauty
Body dysmorphic disorder involves deep-seated emotional causes that require support and understanding from an experienced counselor and therapist.  It requires support to help one build self-esteem and self-confident.