BDD - Body dysmorphic disfunction - is a term used to describe a condition which involves feeling bad about some aspect of the body, the way it looks, smells or sounds, BDD gives rise to, for example, 'my ears are too big', my nose is too small', 'my skin is too spotty', 'I sweat too much', 'my voice sounds silly' etc.
BDD can lead to extreme thoughts, feelings and behaviour
These 'bad feelings' generated by BDD can be very exaggerated and tend to give rise to a large range of coping mechanisms and 'safety behaviors', depending upon the severity of the feelings.
For example, people with BDD will repeatedly check the way they look in mirrors or reflective surfaces such as shop windows, apply excessive makeup, constantly ask for reassurance from family and friends, camouflage areas of the body with clothing etc.
To help stop the BDD behaviour we adopt two basic strategies during treatment.
Firstly we teach people who have suffered from body dysmorphic dysfunction HOW to get out of those obsessive loops of thought which have given rise to the feelings which have in turn given rise to the behaviors. This involves literally training the conscious mind how to think differently.
Secondly, we use a range of hypnotherapeutic models to re pattern the behaviors at a deeper unconscious level.
Fast and efficient treatment now
By this approach, and avoiding wasting time going over the past in a misguided search for deep hidden meanings and causes, the treatment tends to be faster than most.
How long will the therapy take?
The average number of hour long sessions for the treatment of BDD is 3 - 4.
