It is common for many teens and adults to deal with body dysmorphia of some kind. Many therapists have turned to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder because it has helped patients to see more of the big picture, rather than focusing on small parts of their bodies. BDD is a mental health condition that affects individuals of all ages and genders. They look at their small flaws with very negative eyes, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and avoidance behaviors.
CBT has been shown to be effective in group and individual settings for BDD symptoms. Since this practice focuses on repairing thoughts and limiting repetitive behaviors, it has helped BDD patients build better self-esteem and limit their perceived flaws. Here are a few specific ways that CBT is used in treating body dysmorphia.
Mindfulness And Grounding
While mindfulness is technically its practice, it can be used alongside CBT to help regulate our thoughts. Mindfulness focuses on managing emotions and staying in the present moment, which can be helpful for BDD patients. Therapy sessions with mindfulness time help patients to focus on regulating anxiety, frustration, and sadness. It can also help a patient think about what their body is doing for them at the current moment. While they may not like their physical appearance, looking at all the good our bodies do for us each day can bring reassurance about physical features.
Identifying Maladaptive Thoughts
Challenging irrational thoughts is a common therapy technique used for all kinds of mental health conditions. Individuals with body dysmorphia believe that they are unattractive or flawed, so helping to reframe these cognitive distortions is done with the help of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Therapists will ask the patients what their perceptions of themselves are and work to challenge these perceptions. They then will work to challenge these beliefs, consider alternative perspectives, and reframe their perceptions.
Exposure And Ritual Prevention
A specialized technique is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) which involves exposing individuals to anxiety-provoking situations while allowing them to engage in compulsive behavior. Desensitizing the patient to triggers while in a controlled setting could help them reduce the ritual. Making them perform the action and helping them to refuse the ritual (washing hands after touching a doorknob) will build up a tolerance for discomfort.
This method is used for a lot of OCD patients but can be helpful for the treatment of body dysmorphia to stop them from overeating, restricting foods, or performing self-harm.
Building Self-Esteem
CBT addresses critical self-talk which is often a problem for those with BDD. Fostering self-compassion and a supportive inner dialogue can help patients from hyper fixating on what they think is wrong with their bodies. CBT also implements “homework” which is implementing the practice outside of a therapy setting. Patients will need to develop coping skills and build enough self-esteem to help them when a trigger arises in the real world.
Focusing on what is currently happening in the patient’s life can also help build more self-confidence. An effective way of coping with stressors is to focus on what you are doing well, how your body is prepared for this situation, and your ability to get through hard things. Successfully making it through a challenge without self-harming or limiting irrational thoughts will build confidence for the next time.
Reduced Preoccupation And Distress
Lowering the level of obsessive thinking or fixation is crucial when treating body dysmorphia. Thinking less about the thought or trigger will lower the stress. Someone with BDD will practice reducing the thoughts around their weight, body shape, or perceived flaws and thus lower the stress around these perceived flaws.
For example, a therapist may have the patient think less about their weight by refusing to weigh themselves, limiting mirrors in their home, etc. This will then limit the thoughts about how “big” or “skinny” they are and allow them to focus on other aspects of their life.
When To Seek Help
If your body dysmorphia is interfering with your daily life, it may be time to consider therapy. When your emotional well-being is impacted, taking steps to make a change will help you feel better about every life situation that comes your way. Meeting with a qualified therapist can help you feel emotionally grounded, limit your triggers, and provide coping mechanisms for the future.
Finding a therapist who uses CBT to help you overcome negative thought patterns will help you live a better life without the fear of BDD. If you are ready to start healing from BDD or other mental health conditions, reach out to our therapists today!
