Who do I see to find out if I have BDD?!
Question: I am almost positive I have BDD (mental disorder of a distorted image of your body). It's nothing new, I've felt this same way since 5th grade (I constantly obsess over my weight, can't stand how I look and obsess over my thighs and biceps mostly), I don't starve myself but I do eat healthy. I want to be positive on if I have it or not, but I don't know who to see, since I doubt it's my usual doctor. I know it won't help any, but I'm only 17, 5'6" and 117lbs, so it's not like I'm "technically" overweight, it's how I see myself though.
Answers: I am almost positive I have BDD (mental disorder of a distorted image of your body). It's nothing new, I've felt this same way since 5th grade (I constantly obsess over my weight, can't stand how I look and obsess over my thighs and biceps mostly), I don't starve myself but I do eat healthy. I want to be positive on if I have it or not, but I don't know who to see, since I doubt it's my usual doctor. I know it won't help any, but I'm only 17, 5'6" and 117lbs, so it's not like I'm "technically" overweight, it's how I see myself though.
Yeah, that's too much of a burden to carry. I'm glad you have insight (i.e., you know you worry too much) because it gives you a good chance of a better recovery. Your usual doctor can give you a referral for a psychiatrist or psychologist or social worker, or ask a friend who goes to therapy (especially if they like their shrink) to get a referral for you.
OR, Google "eating disorder therapists" in your general area. I'm not suggesting you have an eating disorder (sounds like your weight is OK) but it's all part of the same big family of professionals. You can ask on Yahoo! Answers about therapists in your area, but then you'll be giving everyone info about where you live, so proceed with caution.
Good luck to you. Don't live alone with this, life can be so much better.
You're not overweight at all. You should see a psychiatrist to be diagnosed. If this is what you have, there are medications that will help. Or just getting some therapy may do the trick too. Have you tried excercising to work on your problem areas? Most girls are unhappy about parts of their bodies. It's what you do about it that counts.
I think it's more of a self image problem and maybe leaning towards a little bit of disordered thinking.
Youe might have a borderline eating disorder
It's not BDD. I know the name is a little misleading.
It's not usually about weight (if ever) , with BDD,it's more like a person who excessively focuses on one aspect of their body ( such as their nose or lips) and is obsessed with the fact that they think they are flawed. It can become very serious. I have heard about people who amputate limbs because they feel like they are not part of their body. They may also get excessive plastic surgery to fix their flawed feature
Anyway the good thing is that you are aware of it and can stop it before it gets worse. Good Luck!
more info
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with a real or imagined defect in your physical appearance.
People with body dysmorphic disorder have a distorted or exaggerated view of how they look and are obsessed with actual physical characteristics or perceived flaws, such as a certain facial feature or imperfections of the skin. They often think of themselves as ugly or disfigured. People with body dysmorphic disorder often have problems controlling negative thoughts about their appearance, even when reassured by others that they look fine and that the minor or perceived flaws aren't noticeable or excessive.
Treatment for body dysmorphic disorder may involve a combined approach involving medication and talk therapy (psychotherapy). Antidepressant medications used along with cognitive behavior therapy can help people with body dysmorphic disorder manage the obsession and anxiety about their appearance, increase confidence in how they look, and obtain normalcy in their social and work lives.
Go and see your GP. You probably get given anti-depressants which is usually Prozac. You can have BDD with depression. If you have confidence issues and depression the BDD will feed off these and make you more depressed.
I have BDD and my mental health has gradually improved it takes time for the anti-depressants to kick in but you feel a vast improvement.