Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.
People of any age can have BDD, but it's most common in teenagers and young adults and it affects both men and women.
Having BDD does not mean you're vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life, making it very difficult to seek help for BDD. However, it is important to remember that you have nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. Getting help is important because your symptoms are unlikely to go away without treatment and may even get worse.
In modern society, BDD is often seen as a "bad case of vanity", and so as The Word on the Street we want to raise more awareness for a mental health issue that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed - whilst highlight the positive impact God can have on our struggles with BDD.
Below are links to some places you can go to for information and advice:
Anxiety UK: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
International OCD Foundation: https://bdd.iocdf.org/
Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/
OCD Action: https://ocdaction.org.uk/
OCD UK: https://www.ocduk.org/
NHS Reference: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-dysmorphia/