Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder fixate on a body part repeatedly to the point where it interferes with their social, emotional, educational, and occupational welfare. BDD is an anxiety disorder; more specifically is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder since it is characterized by uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts. BDD is more common than other disorders such as anorexia nervosa and schizophrenia. It is not considered an eating disorder as individuals do not exhibit behaviors such as binging, purging or restricting however it does share some underlying triggers with eating disorders and a result many people often associate BDD with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating. Treatment for BDD consist of multidisciplinary psychotherapy however getting in touch with the community and tapping into online resources and books can also bring awareness to individuals who are looking for body dysmorphia help. The following are a list of books, blogs and online resources that have been created for the body dysmorphia community.
The OCD Stories: Episode 59 with Rob Willson Overcoming OCD and BDD
Rob is a therapist and author of many books including “Overcoming OCD” which he co-authored with David Veale and “Managing OCD with CBT for dummies.” He is the chair of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Foundation, the world’s first charity exclusively devoted to BDD. This podcast episode discusses why it’s good to know your values, why you can overcome and not just manage your condition, the comfort of knowing you aren’t the only one, applying recovery techniques systematically and consistently, and getting creative in therapy.
The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphia by Katherine Phillips
In The Broken Mirror, the first and most definitive book on BDD, Dr. Katharine Phillips draws on years of clinical practice, scientific research, and professional evaluations of over 700 clients to bring readers her expertise and experience with this often-debilitating illness. The Broken Mirror is a lifesaving handbook for individuals, their families, and their doctors.
An Essential Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Body Dysmorphia by Judy Stromberg
This book covers all the factual basics for BDD including causes and symptoms, diagnosis, behavioral treatments, medications, home therapies and interventions, tips for coping with the disorder and how to choose the appropriate therapist.
Shattered Image: My Triumph Over Body Dysmorphic Disorder by Brian Cuban
Through a series of very personal, witty and poignant anecdotes, the younger brother of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban opens up about his personal battle with body dysmorphic disorder. Cuban illustrates the ongoing nightmare of (BDD) that has permeated his thoughts since childhood, taking the reader through the painful journey of childhood bullying over his weight, rejection and the behaviors that slowly developed as a young adult which brought him into the abyss of depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, steroid abuse and eating disorders, nearly causing him to take his own life at the age of 44.