Anorexia. Bulimia. Two very serious health issues that affect many men and women across the country. However, there is something else similar that is also very serious and very scary, and it is called body dysmorphic disorder.
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder? (BDD)
BDD is not anorexia, but is slightly similar. It is the concept of how someone views their own body. Anorexia occurs when a person sees him or herself as fat and starves him or herself and excessively exercises to be skinnier. BDD does not involve starvation, but many aspects of it are similar to anorexia. It is when a person sees a flaw on themselves and fixates on it. This is a mental illness because the flaw is either exaggerated in the person’s mind or is imagined entirely. The person who has BDD does everything they can to hide this flaw. They constantly check the flaw every day, and it distracts them from doing the things they want to do.
The following information is an interview I conducted with a current UWL student that has BDD who wished to remain anonymous. He/she was not obligated to answer any of the questions I asked, but was comfortable in doing so.
What flaw did you fixate on?
For me, my flaw was my stomach. This had never really been an issue until the summer before I went to college, and I’m not really sure where it came from. All of the sudden, my stomach became the only thing I would focus on.
Did you consistently check this flaw daily?
I would lift up my shirt and check my stomach a minimum of 20 times per day. I hated wearing swimsuits in fear that my stomach stuck out. This carried on to when I entered college. When I shower, I do not touch or look down on my stomach in fear of hating what I will see. I close my eyes when I dry myself off in order to avoid looking at my stomach. Finally, I sometimes even have to leave in the middle of class to go to a public bathroom to see what my stomach looks like.
Does this cause pain in your life?
It did cause pain and frustration. Many days I felt gross and uncomfortable with my body just because of my stomach!
Do you think this flaw was imagined or exaggerated in your mind?
Definitely. I am a very small person and underweight for my height. I’m not sure where the fixation started from. But when you fixate on a flaw, it’s pretty impossible to unsee.
What do you want to tell the UWL community about BDD?
It is a very serious issue that affects people on our campus. The best way to help is just to learn about it and know that it exists. Also, this isn't always just about being concerned about weight or body fat; some people fixate on parts of their body such as their nose or their hair.
