Body dysmorphic disorder is when people are very worried about their appearance, to the extent that they may constantly compare their looks with other people’s and spend a lot of time looking in a mirror. They might also try very hard to cover up any defects they believe they have.
We all feel unhappy about the way we look from time to time, but with body dysmorphic disorder, a person experiences great distress and can be totally preoccupied with what they think is wrong with themselves.
To cope, people might feel the need to repeat certain acts such as brushing their hair, checking their appearance, picking at their skin or applying make-up – this is similar to how some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder cope.
For more information visit the OCD UK website.