Body Image and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

“Body image is the way that we see ourselves. We have an idea in our mind of what we look like. We have an idea when we look in the mirror of what that means, of how other people perceive it.”

Body image is something which we all experience, it is the way in which we see ourself. Psychotherapist Liat Kaye MSEd, MSc, MBPsS explains how negative body image is very common for a vast number of reasons. Trauma, experiences in childhood, use of social media, viewing filtered images and unrealistic body types, can all contribute to how we see ourselves and our body image. However, an overtly negative body image can be damaging to our mental health.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterised by a preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in appearance, which is unnoticeable to others. Sometimes the flaw is noticeable but is a normal variation, or is not as prominent as the sufferer believes.

If you are think you might be experiencing Body Dysmorphic Disorder or require additional support, there are organisations such as the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation who are there to help.