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Body dysmorphia treatment: Therapy, medication, and more

Treatment for body dysmorphia typically begins with therapy, medication, or both. Here's what each involves — and how to find a provider who takes your insurance.

August 13, 2026

By the Headway Editorial Team • Clinically reviewed by Caitlin Pugh, LCSW

9 min read

By the Headway Editorial Team • Clinically reviewed by Caitlin Pugh, LCSW

From time to time, everyone looks in the mirror and sees something they’d like to change. That’s just part of being human.

But if you’re thinking about physical flaws long after you walk away from the mirror, spending lots of time and energy trying to fix your appearance, or seeing things in the mirror that your loved ones don’t see, you may have body dysmorphia. People with body dysmorphia become obsessed with their perceived physical flaws, even if these issues are not noticeable — or are completely invisible — to other people.

Many people struggle with body dysmorphia for years because they feel ashamed, don’t realize help is available, or seek out cosmetic enhancements rather than mental health support. But here’s the truth: Body dysmorphia is a real and treatable mental health condition. Qualified therapists are ready to help you manage it, and you don’t have to face this alone.

Here’s what to know about body dysmorphia, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and how to find the right support.

Key insights

1

Body dysmorphia disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which someone becomes preoccupied with perceived physical flaws — often ones other people can't see — and turns to compulsive behaviors like mirror-checking or skin-picking that interfere with daily life.

2

BDD is treatable. Treatment typically starts with therapy, most often cognitive behavioral therapy (including mirror retraining) or exposure and response prevention, sometimes paired with an SSRI, with inpatient care reserved for severe cases.

3

BDD care is usually led by a licensed therapist trained in CBT or ERP, with a psychiatric care provider helping with medication management if an SSRI is part of the plan.

What is body dysmorphia?

How can you tell the difference between normal insecurities and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)? BDD involves more than passing thoughts about appearance. It takes a real toll on quality of life and day-to-day functioning. Someone with BDD becomes obsessed with perceived flaws in their looks and falls back on compulsive behaviors — such as constantly looking in the mirror or picking at their skin — to manage their distress. In this way, the condition is similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It must cause significant distress and interfere with activities of daily living, like relationships, work, spending money beyond their means on injections or surgeries, or other behaviors that prevent them from managing other day-to-day needs.

BDD also isn’t rooted in reality. Someone with BDD may become fixated on “flaws” that other people wouldn’t notice or can’t see at all. Some people with BDD realize that they are not seeing themselves correctly, while others are partially or wholly convinced that their perceived flaws are real and they are “ugly.”

Almost any aspect of physical appearance can become a preoccupation for someone with BDD, but common ones include complexion, facial features, and the size or shape of certain body parts. A fixation on muscle size or being “too small” is most often seen in men.

Body dysmorphia should not be confused with gender dysphoria, or the distress someone feels when their sex at birth doesn’t match their gender identity. BDD is about preoccupation with perceived physical flaws, rather than gender presentation. The affirming care that addresses gender dysphoria — which can be a revelatory and positive life experience — is also different from BDD treatment.

Signs and symptoms of body dysmorphia

Someone struggling with body dysmorphia disorder commonly shows symptoms including:

  • Fixation with perceived physical flaws, even if others don’t notice them
  • Frequent intrusive or obsessive thoughts related to perceived flaws
  • Compulsive behaviors related to appearance, such as repeatedly looking in the mirror, picking at skin, or grooming
  • Trying to hide perceived flaws with clothing or makeup
  • Constantly seeking reassurance about appearance or comparing appearance to others
  • Avoiding social situations because of perceived flaws
  • Seeking out cosmetic procedures to address perceived flaws, but still being unsatisfied

If these symptoms sound like you, it may be time to reach out to a qualified therapist. Headway is here to help people connect with therapists who know how to help — and take your insurance.

In severe cases, BDD can lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. If that’s the case, don’t wait to get care.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, support is available. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or call 911 for a mental health emergency.

What causes body dysmorphia?

Experts don’t know exactly what causes body dysmorphia. As with most mental health conditions, there are likely multiple contributing factors. Potential contributors include:

Neurological differences

People with body image issues are not vain. Some research suggests people with this diagnosis have abnormalities in visual processing — that is, they literally see themselves differently than others do. Other research also hints at chemical imbalances in the brains of people with body dysmorphia.

Family history

There seems to be a genetic component to BDD, with the condition sometimes running in families. The household in which someone grew up may also make a difference, as childhood teasing or abuse is considered a risk factor for developing the condition.

Psychological and environmental factors

We all live in a world obsessed with outward appearance, and these beauty standards may have a deeper impact on some people than others. People with other mental health conditions (such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders) or certain personality traits (such as perfectionism) may be especially prone to developing body dysmorphia.

How body dysmorphia is diagnosed

There are usually several elements that go into a body dysmorphia diagnosis process, such as:

A psychological evaluation

To make a diagnosis, a licensed therapist will try to get a better understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to your appearance. They’ll see how your symptoms match up with diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 (the manual used to diagnose mental health conditions) and ask about how they affect your daily life. They’ll also screen for psychological factors that might increase your risk of BDD.

Personal, social, and family history

You can also expect a therapist to ask about past experiences that may be relevant, such as traumatic events in childhood. They’ll likely also ask whether anyone in your family has BDD, since it may have a genetic component.

Ruling out other conditions

Studies show BDD has overlap with other mental health conditions such as OCD and eating disorders. To make sure you’re getting the correct diagnosis and treatment, a therapist will try to rule out other possibilities before officially diagnosing you with BDD.

What are the treatments for body dysmorphia?

Mental health treatment is never one-size-fits-all. You and your therapist will work together to create a treatment plan that addresses your specific symptoms and goals. That said, some common treatments for body dysmorphia include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, is considered a first-line treatment for body dysmorphia. This style of therapy involves identifying, questioning, and reframing problematic thought patterns — in this case, related to physical appearance. CBT is a common form of therapy used for many different diagnoses, but there are specific CBT approaches used in treating BDD. One is “mirror retraining,” an exercise that helps people with body dysmorphia change their internal narratives when viewing themselves.

Exposure and response prevention

This form of therapy, sometimes called ERP, is best known as a treatment for OCD, but it can be used for BDD as well. The goal is to help patients deal with anxiety-provoking situations — like shopping for clothes, wearing a bathing suit in public, or going to parties — without resorting to compulsive behaviors. Slowly and with guidance from their therapist, a patient practices putting themselves in stressful situations without falling back on rituals like constantly looking in the mirror or picking at skin. Instead, they practice utilizing healthier coping techniques.

Medication

While there is no body dysmorphic disorder medication approved to treat BDD, a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has shown promise in managing symptoms. Treating any co-occurring conditions with medication may bring additional relief.

Inpatient treatment

In severe cases, such as when someone is at risk of self-harm, clinicians may recommend inpatient treatment for BDD. Again, this type of treatment is reserved for particularly serious cases.

How to manage and work through body dysmorphia

If you think you may have body dysmorphia, it’s worth reaching out to a therapist. Evidence-backed treatments are available and they can bring significant relief. There’s no need to suffer in silence. Along with professional treatment, these strategies may make it a little easier to live with BDD:

Learning more about BDD

Psychoeducation, or learning more about your diagnosis, is part of many body dysmorphia therapy regimens. It can be empowering to understand why you feel the way you do — and how you can overcome your symptoms. Plus, learning about your triggers helps you get better at managing them.

Building a support network

It’s common for people with BDD symptoms to avoid social situations because they believe other people see them as ugly. That can be self-defeating, because social support has a hugely positive effect on mental health. Leaning on trusted loved ones can give you important support as you go through treatment.

Limiting alcohol and substance use

Many people “self-medicate” with alcohol or drugs. While substances may temporarily quiet intrusive thoughts or worries, they tend to make mental health issues worse in the long run. Over time the brain adapts, so it takes more of a substance to get the same relief, and withdrawal tends to amplify the very anxiety and low mood you were trying to escape. Substances can also blunt the effectiveness of prescribed medications and interfere with the work of therapy.

Exercising (in moderation)

Staying physically active is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. That said, excessive exercise can be one way people with BDD try to fix their perceived flaws. Talk with your therapist or physician about how to exercise sustainably.

Avoiding or limiting cosmetic procedures

Many people with body dysmorphia try to fix their “flaws” with cosmetic procedures — only to find that they’re still unsatisfied. That’s because BDD is a mental health condition, so treating it requires addressing your mind rather than your body. Clinicians who treat BDD often discourage patients from getting plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures.

Find a body dysmorphia therapist through Headway

Body dysmorphia is a real and serious mental health condition — but it can be treated. Working with a qualified mental health professional can help you get lasting relief from body dysmorphic disorder.

Not sure where to start? Headway has you covered. We work with more than 80,000 therapists who accept insurance and practice all across the country. Whether you’re looking for in-person therapy, telehealth sessions, or medication management, you can find the right provider on Headway. Connect with a body dysmorphia specialist on Headway today.

This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.

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Mental health conditions