Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a psychological issue that has been described by professionals as a “disorder of imagined ugliness.” BDD is a disorder characterized by a perceived defect or a minor flaw in one’s physical appearance that is obsessively worried about and compulsively checked, to the extent that it causes clinically significant distress or impairment in one’s social life, work life, or other areas of daily functioning. Although the official psychological diagnosis has been around for several years, it is often under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed by professionals due to lack of familiarity. Not all people who suffer from BDD seek repetitive surgeries to fix their perceived defect, but many do. If you have been pre-occupied with thoughts about some area of your physical appearance, have sought several treatments, assume that people notice it and make fun of it, and sometimes restrict yourself from being comfortable in public, these might be some signs that you may be suffering with BDD. Dr. Humphrey works with individuals to help them overcome this disorder and learn to love and accept themselves.
Dr Denise Humphrey
Clinical Psychologist
