Body Dysmorphia: When Appearance Concerns Take Over
You check the mirror.
Something doesn't look right.
You look again.
Maybe you compare yourself to someone else.
Maybe you ask someone:
“Does this look weird?”
They reassure you.
You feel better.
But not for long.
For someone with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), concerns about appearance can become difficult to stop.
What BDD Can Look Like
Repeatedly checking mirrors
Avoiding mirrors altogether
Comparing yourself to other people
Asking others how you look
Taking and retaking photos
Trying to hide a perceived flaw
Excessive grooming
Avoiding social situations
Spending significant time thinking about your appearance
The Checking Cycle
You notice something about your appearance.
You become anxious.
You check, compare, fix, hide, or seek reassurance.
You feel temporary relief.
Then:
You notice it again.
Why Checking Can Make It Worse
Checking feels like it should give you an answer.
But with BDD, the answer rarely feels good enough for long.
Instead, checking can teach your brain that appearance concerns require your attention.
That keeps the cycle going.
What Actually Helps
Treatment isn't about convincing yourself that you look perfect.
It's about reducing the amount of control appearance concerns have over your life.
This can include:
Reducing mirror checking
Decreasing comparison
Limiting reassurance-seeking
Reducing avoidance
Becoming more comfortable with uncertainty about appearance
How Therapy Helps
Evidence-based treatment for BDD can incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Therapy helps you gradually change the behaviors that keep appearance concerns feeling urgent and important.
Body Dysmorphia Therapy in Atlanta
At Dear Therapy, we provide evidence-based treatment for Body Dysmorphic Disorder and related appearance concerns.
We help clients spend less time checking, comparing, avoiding, and worrying about appearance—and more time participating in their lives.
