Body dysmorphic disorder is a chronic psychological disorder affecting 1 to 2% of the population, and affecting both men and women in equal proportions.
People affected by BDD have a preoccupation or obsession with a perceived or minor flaw in their physical appearance, and most, if not all, of their self worth is reliant on their appearance. To this end, people with BDD will perform repetitive and ritualistic behaviors to hide, check and improve the perceived flaw, often seeking dermatological and cosmetic surgical treatments to "fix" what they see as a problem.
Quite often more than one physical attribute will be focused on at any given time, and once they have either "corrected" or removed it, another attribute will become the focus. Sufferers of body dysmorphic disorder will frequently seek reassurance regarding their "flaw," and often become obsessed with alternatively checking their appearance in mirrors, or avoiding mirrors and reflective surfaces altogether. Rarely will a person with BDD seek help independently, not realizing that their preoccupation is unhealthy, rather than habitual.
BDD is treatable, and success has been shown using both psychotherapy and psychiatric medication once the disorder has been diagnosed. Unfortunately, BDD is often misdiagnosed due to the sufferer's obsession with hiding their flaw, or drawing attention to another aspect of themselves. Successful psychotherapy can include cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavior modification and family systems therapy.Some success has been shown using behavior modification alone, in which the therapist works with the patient to actively participate in social activities without camouflaging or hiding their perceived or minor flaw, and encouraging them to verbally compare their flaw with others in an open setting. Group therapy and support groups have also been shown to be successful in helping people overcome BDD, just as well as associated disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.
Successfully coping with unrealistic body image takes support from family and friends, care, and most importantly, a desire to change the way a person allocates their own self-worth.
Understanding what is biologically healthy is important, just as much as knowing what is unhealthy and potentially dangerous. Knowing what is average is also important. That means not using magazine images as a par-level, but rather the people who populate the local area.
A star or starlet will almost always have their image graphically manipulated for publication, and their portrayal of perfection is engineered and subjective. A person should focus on what makes them happy and satisfied, rather than what annoys, irritates or saddens them.Constantly thinking of bad weather will make a person depressed, just as constantly analyzing their appearance will foster an unhealthy obsession. Focus on positive aspects in your daily life -- children, friends, achievements -- and be satisfied. Work towards being healthy and happy, not perfect and obsessed.