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 =__**NOTE: **__** THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR NORMAL ANOREXIA, BULIMIA, ETC. ** =  Body Dysmorphic Disorder or **dysmorphophobia** is by far a chronic mental illness. Someone might define this as an obsession with a particular flaw on or under the skin. Basically, a defect with your appearance and the person who holds this flaw becomes obsessed with it. This disorder has sometimes been called //"imagined ugliness."// When the person has a defect, it's not like they will just stare at it for a few minutes. It's more like for hours and try to //"fix"// it. Sometimes, there might be an unnoticeable mark, but the person with **BDD** thinks it's just so horrid. Symptoms of BDD may include, but are not limited to the following:
 * a preoccupation with your physical appearance
 * frequent examining of yourself in the mirror, sometimes maybe avoiding mirrors altogether
 * skin picking
 * avoiding social situations
 * refusing to appear in pictures
 * strong feeling of self-consciousness
 * excessive makeup applications or clothing in order to camouflage
 * the thought that others notice your appearance in a negative way

Some features of the body that he/she might obsess about include nose, hair, skin, moles or freckles, acne and blemishes, baldness, breast size, muscle size, or genitalia. You should see a doctor if any of these symptoms occur because this disorder does not get any better on its own and could lead to worse problems such as suicide. The cause of BDD is not exactly known, but it could occur from biochemical or that natural occurring brain chemicals, neurotransmitters, may play a role in causing it. Genes and your environment are other factors. Some other factors could come into play. Examples may be childhood teashing, physical or sexual abuse, low self-esteem, or expectations of beauty.

Your doctor will ask questions to further notice if you have BDD. Questions that could be asked would be "When did you first notice symptoms?", "How is your daily life affected by your symptoms?", "How much time do you spend each day thinking about your appearance?", or "What things make you feel worse?". Tests may also be run. These normally consist of a physical exam, laboratory testing, and a psychological evaluation.

There are indeed treatment options and drugs for this disorder. Though it may be difficult, an effective treatment is normally successful. The two main treatments for BDD are psychotherapy and of course, medications. Psychotherapy helps you learn about your condition and get more in depth with your feelings, thoughts, mood, and behavior. Eventually, you could learn to stop negative thoughts and see yourself in a more realistic and positive way. Psychotherapy breaks down into cognitive behavior and behavior therapy. Often, a therapist will tell you which one is right for your needs. Medications to treat this include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. These help control obsessions and repetitive behaviors.  There are also some home remedies that may help in this case. For one, be sure to stick to your treatment plan meaning, don't bail out on therapy sessions. Take medicine as directed, get active with things such as exercise, avoid drugs and alcohol, and get routine medical care. Support is a need. This is a difficult disorder to cope with. Talking about problems with a doctor or parent would probably do some good. Learn to express feelings in a journal, take care of yourself in healthy ways, or even read self-help books. Given some time and support, BDD could be solved.


 * __//**Sources:**//__ http://mayoclinic.com/health/body-dysmorphic-disorder/DS00559/METHOD=print