Are you a teenager that constantly picks at specific parts of your body appearance you don't like? Are you constantly flooded with negative comments? Then you may want too look into BDD. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is the constant obsession with body image and the continual worry about flaws and how others perceive your opinions. In this episode we have a guest, Dr.Cynthia Van Golen a professor of neuroscience at the University of Delaware. We will go over the factors that play a role in BDD, the symptoms, the effects in behavior as well as go over questions you may have.

Body dysmorphia and the feelings along with it can affect lives. 

Hiding, feeling ashamed, embarrassed, can happen one day and the another day you are basically being eaten alive by negative self comments.

Covering yourself, going to extreme lengths to hide yourself, constantly picking at yourself wishing you could look different. 

The list of the thoughts that go around in patients diagnosed with BDD is endless.

People have negative thoughts which leads to depression, suicidal thoughts and more. 

This can be caused by a variety of reasons whether it may be the environment all the way to childhood drama.

And many more factors.

So how can we help those who are diagnosed? 

Today we will answer this question with Dr.Cynthia Van Golen 

Dr.Cynthia Van Golen is a professor of neuroscience at Delaware State

It is vital to create a safe environment, make them feel comfortable and most importantly to be in a complete judge free zone.

Letting an individual open up is the first step in getting better.

Once that is established, help is the next step. 

There are different treatments whether it may be therapy or medication or sometimes both. 

How would I even know if someone is diagnosed? 

What do I look for?

To dive into these answers check out this episode on BDD with our guest speaker Dr.Cynthia Van Golen for more. 

Join me on my next episode on how social media pictures affect teenagers where we can dive into the main root of this arising BDD problem 

Lastly, email me at mentalhealthimage@gmail.com for questions you would like answered or any concerns!

Highlighted quotes:

“BDD is a gradual increase from an obsession of their appearance to the point it's affecting school, work, etc.” 

“BDD and OCD have a very similar incidence.” 

“This isn't ego, this isn't self absorption, there are changes that actually occur in the brain with people with BDD meaning this is a true illness.” 

“If this is something you are facing, get help and do not feel alone.”