 Have you ever heard of body dysmorphic disorder? It's a topic not often talked about and misunderstood by many. So to bring more awareness to this subject, today's video will be talking about body dysmorphic disorder, what it is and how it affects people. So what is it? Classified under obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in the DSM-5, body dysmorphia is a condition where your brain cannot stop fixating on a perceived flaw or defect in your appearance. These flaws are often not noticeable to others, but your perception of them may cause you to feel embarrassed or anxious, especially when in social situations. It can feel like looking at yourself through a fun house mirror, where what you see is vastly different from what others do. Symptoms Since body dysmorphia often makes you focus on only your flaws, you may develop anxiety over how you look, which can lead to habits such as repetitive grooming as a result. While these habits may exist as coping mechanisms and forms of reassurance, they can be disruptive to your everyday life and thus emotionally distressing. According to John Hopkins' medicine, some common symptoms of body dysmorphia are avoiding mirrors, constant exercise and grooming, frequent weighing, picking or pinching your body, attempting to hide parts of your body, and avoiding social activities. In addition, there are other psychological and emotional symptoms as well. Body dysmorphia can make you believe that there is something wrong with you, even though there isn't. It tricks you into believing that others can see your flaws, as a consequence you may fall into self-destructive behaviors, such as purging, restrictive dieting, binge eating and overexercising. In your desire to fix yourself, you may even pay for unnecessary surgeries that put you and your health at risk. Possible Causes Body dysmorphia can affect anyone, regardless of gender. There are no specific causes for body dysmorphia, but doctors believe that several factors may play a part, including one's medical history, brain chemistry, personality type, and life experiences. Treatment Body dysmorphia can alienate you from your body, but it does not need to be a persistent condition. It can be managed. Talk therapy and CBT are the most common forms of treatment, but you can also reach out to a mental health professional for more guidance and assistance. Did you find this video helpful? Let us know in the comments below. Also be sure to like, subscribe, and share this video with those who might benefit from it. And don't forget to hit the notification bell icon to get notified whenever Psych2Go posts a new video. The references and studies used in this video are added in the description below. Thanks for watching and see you in our next video.