Hypnotherapy For Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Body Dysmorphia is a very serious psychological disorder that can have a very serious impact on peoples lives. There are varying levels to the disorder, but they all involve the perception of having some kind of physical defect that are usually completely irrational. An example of this might be a very underweight person seeing themselves in the mirror as fat. Or a very beautiful person seeing someone very ugly in the mirror. These defects are just a part of the persons self-image and are not seen by other people that see you.

Recovery from BDD can be achieved through a combination of hypnotherapy and specialised cognitive behavioural therapy. The treatment process is fast, easy to implement and reliable yet has none of the unpleasant side effects or risks commonly associated with medication or surgery. BDD is a very niche relative of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Whereas OCD is often wide-ranging in its context BDD tends to be very specific and always relates to the sufferers' perception of the way they look.

In its purest form, the BDD sufferer will focus on one specific aspect of their body which they consider to be flawed. However, it is also increasingly common for a sufferer to believe they have multiple flaws, in a sort of hierarchy of dissatisfaction. Although this is not 'textbook' BDD we work with many people falling into this category.

Firstly we teach people who have suffered from body dysmorphic disorder 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 behaviours. This involves training the conscious mind of how to think differently. Secondly, we use a range of hypnotherapeutic models to re-pattern the behaviours at a deeper unconscious level. Hypnotherapy is one of the best methods of dealing with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. To help change the cycle we need to lower the anxiety. Hypnotherapy can help the person gain more control over the condition. We can move clients forward and break out of the cycle which is keeping them trapped by their obsession.

People with a milder version of body dysmorphia may be subconsciously aware that these defects do not exist, but their perception sees them anyway. More serious levels of the illness are the complete belief that what they see in the mirror is the truth and that everybody else is lying to them when they don’t see the same defects.

To help change the cycle we need to lower the anxiety. Hypnotherapy can help the person gain more control over the condition. We can move clients forward and break out of the cycle which is keeping them trapped by their obsession.