Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder & Addiction
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by persistent, intrusive preoccupation with perceived flaws or defects in physical appearance that are either not observable to others or appear slight. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, and other areas of functioning. Individuals with BDD engage in repetitive behaviors such as mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking, and comparing their appearance to others. BDD affects approximately 1.7% to 2.9% of the general population, with higher rates among individuals seeking cosmetic procedures and those in eating disorder treatment.
The relationship between BDD and substance use disorders is driven by the intense shame, social anxiety, and emotional distress that BDD produces. Individuals with BDD may use alcohol to reduce social anxiety about their perceived appearance flaws, stimulants or appetite suppressants to control weight as part of body-focused obsessions, anabolic steroids to address perceived muscular inadequacy (muscle dysmorphia), opioids to numb the constant emotional pain of self-hatred, or benzodiazepines to manage the anxiety that accompanies obsessive appearance checking. The compulsive nature of BDD shares neurological similarities with OCD and addiction, as all three involve dysfunction in cortico-striatal circuits governing compulsive behavior.
At Trust SoCal, our dual diagnosis program addresses the obsessive-compulsive features of BDD alongside addiction treatment, helping clients develop a healthier relationship with their body and their self-worth while achieving lasting sobriety.