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Body dysmorphia -

The term "body dysmorphia" is frequently used. With the rise of Instagram and TikTok, there is a significant increase in body image concerns, making it difficult to resist comparing oneself to others. Although many of us experience this struggle, body dysmorphia is a severe mental disorder that amplifies these feelings to an extreme degree.

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Explaining BDD -

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an anxiety disorder belonging to the same category as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Individuals with BDD dedicate numerous hours daily fixating on their appearance, constantly plagued by pessimistic thoughts.

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Fixation on specific imperfections -

Individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) typically fixate on particular imperfections, often conjured in their minds. They remain unconvinced by the reassurances of loved ones who assert the flaws do not exist or are inconsequential. In their quest for transformation, they may resort to drastic measures such as undergoing plastic surgery or even withdrawing from social interactions to elude scrutiny.

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Body dysmorphia versus lack of self-confidence -

Body dysmorphia stands out from other insecurities due to its profound impact on quality of life and functioning ability.

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Severe psychological disorder -

People with body dysmorphic disorder often experience significant emotional distress and may also struggle with anxiety and depression.

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Common anxieties -

BDD often centers its attention on the face, with many individuals being concerned about their freckles, moles, acne, scars, or facial hair. In severe instances, individuals may develop a habit of picking at their faces using their nails or tweezers in an attempt to minimize the visibility of these imperfections.

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Common anxieties -

Hair on the head or body, the shape of the breasts or genitalia, muscle size, and stomach fat are among the other common areas that people can obsess over. Even individuals who are extremely underweight due to eating disorders may firmly believe that they have an abundance of belly fat.

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Identifying BDD symptoms -

Individuals with this disorder may exhibit various behaviors, many of which are common and typical for most people. Nevertheless, it is the frequency and intensity of these behaviors that distinguish them from the norm.

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Typical behaviors -

Individuals with BDD may choose to steer clear of mirrors or decline being photographed. Many resort to wearing an abundance of makeup, aiming to conceal their perceived imperfection, or utilize clothing and accessories such as hats and scarves to mask it. Frequently altering their attire and engaging in excessive grooming are common behaviors.

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Typical behaviors -

They might take actions to try and change their appearance, like excessive exercise or muscle building. Some people make frequent trips to the doctor, particularly the dermatologist, to address their imperfection. Plastic surgery is often the goal, but usually doesn’t yield satisfactory results if they go through with it.

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Need for reassurance -

Individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) often seek validation from others regarding their physical appearance, frequently inquiring about their perceived flaws. They hold the belief that these imperfections are excessively prominent and apparent to all.

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Diagnosing BDD -

People with body dysmorphic disorder often conceal their fixations, which can lead to misdiagnosis. If individuals dealing with anxiety or depression exhibit symptoms and actions mentioned earlier, it is crucial for them to honestly communicate with their doctor or therapist. Concerns regarding body image are widespread and it can be difficult to recognize when it becomes overwhelming.

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Treatment -

Effective treatments are available for individuals with BDD to achieve a fulfilling and joyful life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy aids patients in identifying irrational thoughts and substituting them with constructive ones. In addition, antidepressant medication might be prescribed to alleviate symptoms.

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Who gets BDD? -

Unlike eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder affects men and women almost equally. In the US, it’s estimated that 2.5% of men and 2.2% of women suffer from this disorder. It’s most common in adolescents and teens, and often develops around ages 12-13.

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Battling BDD beyond the spotlight -

The prevalent problems with body image are frequently attributed to social media and celebrity culture. It might be tempting to believe that the flawlessly-shaped celebrities we often measure ourselves against couldn't possibly endure BDD. Nonetheless, this isn't true. Let's examine which courageous celebrities have shared their battles with the condition.

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Kim Kardashian -

During an episode of the reality TV show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians', Kim Kardashian's struggle with body dysmorphia was revealed. The show depicted a distressing moment when she experienced a panic attack while en route to the 2017 Met Gala. This occurrence followed the intense scrutiny and criticism she faced after paparazzi photos of her in a bikini circulated in the media.

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Uma Thurman -

Uma Thurman revealed that she experienced BDD following the birth of her first child in 1998. Since then, she has viewed herself as "fat" and struggled greatly with her self-perception.

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Miley Cyrus -

Miley Cyrus disclosed experiencing body dysmorphia during her time on 'Hannah Montana' since she was consistently made to look beautiful for filming purposes. However, when the show concluded, it caused a personal turmoil for her.

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Jameela Jamil -

Jameela Jamil, who is known for her beauty, faced body dysmorphia and disordered eating during her teenage years. An upsetting incident occurred when she was weighed in front of her entire class, causing lasting emotional pain. Even now, she continues to struggle with body dysmorphia, and only glances in the mirror when applying and removing her eyeliner. This serves as a technique to prevent her from becoming overly obsessed and consumed with her looks.

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Sarah Michelle Gellar -

Sarah Michelle Gellar has previously disclosed her personal struggle with body dysmorphia. Gellar acknowledges her humanity and role as a mother, noting that being a parent has somewhat lessened her obsession with her own physical appearance.

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Justin Baldoni -

Justin Baldoni, known for his role in 'Jane the Virgin', revealed his battle with muscle dysmorphia, a form of body dysmorphia. Despite being a thin child, his insecurities about his physique persisted into adulthood. Regardless of his efforts, Baldoni continues to feel inadequate, lacking strength, muscle, and size.

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Hayden Panettiere -

Hayden Panettiere encountered body dysmorphia as a result of encountering harsh comments regarding her appearance on the internet. The actress finds solace in acknowledging that "beauty is an opinion, not a fact."

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Lana Condor -

The young actress from the popular Netflix film 'To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before' openly shared her experience with disordered eating and body dysmorphia. In an interview with Elle Canada, she mentioned her current practice of sharing her meals online as a way to appreciate food.

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Amandla Stenberg -

Amandla Stenberg, a young actress, also faced body image issues when she was objectified and told to shed pounds at a young age. To confront her body-related anxiety, Stenberg chooses to stand in front of a mirror and engage in a heartfelt conversation with her reflection.

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Lili Reinhart -

Lili Reinhart has been candid about her struggles with body dysmorphia. The 'Riverdale' actress reveals that she used to frequently gaze into the mirror, noticing something distinct with every glance.

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Holly Madison -

Former Playboy bunny and TV personality Holly Madison, who lived in the Playboy Mansion and became Hugh Hefner's "#1 girl," described her relationship with Hefner as a result of a form of Stockholm syndrome. Her time there was a toxic environment for her body image struggles. In a personal TikTok video, Madison shared that she felt terrified to view photos of herself, always believing she needed to lose weight and looked terrible. She came across a particular photo of herself wearing her iconic bunny suit and recalled her thoughts from that moment. "I need to lose five pounds at least." In her current, healthier state of mind, Madison acknowledges that it was completely outrageous. "I look like a stick."

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Megan Fox -

Megan Fox, a featured model in this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, openly admits to facing body image concerns. Despite her success, she discloses, "I have body dysmorphia. I don't ever see myself really the way other people see me," the star told the outlet. "There is never a point in my life where I loved my body. Never, ever."

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Megan Fox -

Although she finds the idea of appearing on the cover of a magazine thrilling, her main hope is that people will pay attention to something beyond her physical appearance. "I wished everyone noticed my aura, because I have a rainbow aura, and it's special." She added, "The journey of loving myself is going to be never-ending, I think."

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Megan Fox -

Fox recently shared in a collaborative interview with her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly for British GQ Style: "We may look at somebody and think, 'That person's so beautiful. Their life must be so easy.' They most likely don't feel that way about themselves." 

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Megan Fox -

While Fox did not provide additional information about her body dysmorphia, People reports that she has previously discussed other mental health concerns, especially following the release of 'Jennifer's Body' in 2009. She expressed her discomfort with being objectified in the entertainment industry and by those she collaborated with.

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Billie Eilish -

Billie Eilish rose to fame at just 14 years old and has lived much of her life in constant public scrutiny. Throughout the years, every alteration to her appearance and personal fashion choices has faced extensive scrutiny and condemnation. Now, in her twenties, she has bravely shared her challenging journey in accepting her body.

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Billie Eilish -

Eilish encountered a hip injury at the age of 13, rendering her unable to dance. She persistently experienced injuries in her lower body until she was eventually diagnosed with hypermobility. Enduring physical limitations and prolonged pain for a significant period of time led to her developing feelings of anger towards her own body.

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Billie Eilish -

"Going through my teenage years of hating myself and all that stupid s---, a lot of it came from my anger toward my body, and how mad I was at how much pain it's caused me and how much I've lost because of things that happened to it," Eilish told Vogue in a January 2023 interview. 

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Billie Eilish -

"I felt like my body was gaslighting me for years," she explained. "I had to go through a process of being like, my body is actually me. And it's not out to get me." Eilish is continuing to make efforts to appreciate and embrace her body. Previously, she mentioned having a  "terrible relationship" with her body and needing to disconnect when looking at pictures of herself during performances.

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Chloë Grace Moretz -

Chloë Grace Moretz recently shared her struggles with body dysmorphia in an interview with Hunger magazine. She explained that her condition was sparked by the constant exposure to “onslaught of horrific memes” . Moretz specifically mentioned a manipulated photo of herself holding a pizza box, where she was transformed into a distorted version resembling a character from the animated show 'Family Guy'.

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Chloë Grace Moretz -

“Everyone was making fun of my body and I brought it up with someone and they were like, ‘it’s funny.'” Moretz added, “And I just remember sitting there and thinking, my body is being used as a joke and it’s something that I can’t change about who I am, and it is being posted all over Instagram ... And to this day, when I see that meme, it’s something very hard for me to overcome.”

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Chloë Grace Moretz -

According to the actress, who gained fame at the age of 12 after appearing in 'Kickass, "body dysmorphia is worsened by social media". She mentioned that she “basically became a recluse” due to the viral social media backlash, and would be "severely anxious" when she was photographed.  “I think that body dysmorphia–which we all deal with in this world–is extrapolated by the issues of social media".

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Robert Pattinson -

Robert Pattinson has openly discussed his experiences with male body image and body dysmorphia. He admits that his anxieties peak before red carpet events, causing him significant distress.

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Michael Jackson -

According to experts, it is believed that Michael Jackson experienced an extreme case of BDD. Throughout his life, the King of Pop underwent over 30 plastic surgeries, which significantly transformed his looks. He seldom appeared in public without makeup.

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Sam Smith -

Sam Smith recently opened up to The Sunday Times about their personal struggle with their weight being scrutinized by the public. However, they thankfully managed to overcome their body dysmorphia. "Within my industry there is definitely that question of, 'What should a pop star look like?'" they told the outlet, adding that they never fit the "norm."

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Sam Smith -

"When I was 25 I came off tour exhausted. I looked to role models in the body world. Every time I went to the pool I felt self-conscious, but I forced myself to take my top off," they continued. "It paid off because I now have the opposite of body dysmorphia. I look fabulous. I'm finally getting a tan. I'm burnt in places I've never been burnt." The singer, who publicly identified as non-binary in May 2019, now prioritizes their music over their appearance, although both aspects are celebrated as Smith confidently poses without a top on the cover of their fourth studio album 'Gloria'.

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Ways to assist -

If you have a friend or family member with body dysmorphic disorder, there are ways you can provide support. Encourage them to seek professional assistance, but be patient and understanding as they may not be ready yet. Offer them a safe and accepting environment to express their emotions, even if you don't fully comprehend their experiences.

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Ways to assist -

It is generally unproductive to offer sympathy by discussing personal insecurities. Instead, try to redirect the conversation away from negative discourse regarding physical appearance. If your friend or loved one takes small steps towards self-improvement, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate their progress.

Sources: (ADAA) (Mind) (Teen Vogue) (E!) (Glamour) (MGHOCD) (The Recovery Village)

See also: The incredible rise of stars who were once homeless

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