what is body dysmorphic disorder?

Question

does it mean you avoid mirrors or obsessively look in mirrors? cuz i've heard both...but what exactly is the disorder..theres not that much info out there on it.

Answer 1

Body dysmorphic disorder means that a person is not able to see their own body as it really is. It is most often used to describe the way that anorexics see themselves as fat even when they are dangerously thin.
Many obese people do not recognize the extent of their weight problem, grading themselves as fat, rather than obese, and matching themselves with lower weight images when asked to select a matching figure.

Answer 2

Body Dysmorphic Disorder can have both symptoms in varying degrees. Some tend to look at reflected surfaces more while others may constantly avoid the reflection due to ones obsession with a physical defect (existing or imagined).

For more details you can check out the following sites:
http://www.ncpamd.com/body_dysmorphic_disorder.htm
http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Eating_Disorders/peacelovehope/bdd.html
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/bdd.html

Answer 3

Body dismorphic disorder is when you view your body contrary to what it truly is. If you are thin then you will always think you are fat. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have an eating disorder.

Answer 4

I think it means that when you look in the mirror you see a monster, that is totally different than someone Else's view of you. You would avoid mirrors if you really thought you looked like that, because it would only depress you.

I'm not sure though.