Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which a person becomes intensely preoccupied with one or more perceived flaws in their physical appearance.
These flaws are either invisible to others or appear minor, yet to the person with BDD, they feel overwhelming, prominent and deeply shameful.

BDD is not vanity. It is not simply feeling insecure about your appearance.
It is a serious anxiety-related condition in which the brain becomes locked in a cycle of obsessive focus on appearance, compulsive checking or avoidance behaviours, and extreme distress. It can consume hours of a person's day and significantly restrict their ability to work, socialise and live a full life.

BDD most commonly involves concerns about the face, skin, hair, nose, eyes, weight or specific body parts, but it can focus on any aspect of appearance. The condition is closely related to OCD and shares many of the same underlying mechanisms: obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours and temporary relief that quickly gives way to more anxiety.

BDD affects people of all ages and genders. It is significantly more common than many people realise, and because of the shame associated with the condition, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated for years. Left without appropriate treatment, BDD tends to worsen over time. With the right specialist support, meaningful recovery is absolutely achievable.