BDD and Addiction | Symptoms and Treatment Options

When you are living with BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder), your own reflection can become your worst enemy. This complex condition creates a distorted image with imperfections that only you can see. Daily life with BDD can be exhausting, and the need to quiet that relentless voice can often lead to the use of drugs and alcohol to cope with BDD symptoms. However, while this may soothe the surface pain, it does nothing to heal the roots of BDD and often leads to addiction. At Recovery Lighthouse, we can help you lift the fog of BDD and addiction for a happier, healthier life when you look in the mirror.

What is BDD?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental health condition that distorts how you see yourself. It causes you to fixate on flaws in your physical appearance that others don’t see, usually because they don’t actually exist.
We all have things that we don’t love about the way we look, but BDD goes beyond wishing you were a little taller or could lose a bit of weight. It is a relentless worry that doesn’t go away, even when reassured by those around you. This constant distress can take over your life, making it hard to focus on your job, relationships, or even going out in public.
Though anybody can be affected by BDD, it usually begins when you are a teenager or young adult, as this is when you tend to worry more about how you look. It can affect people of all genders but men with BDD might fixate on muscle size or weight while women often worry more about their body shape or face.
In the UK, BDD is thought to affect 2% of adults (over a million people), showing just how many lives are being harmed by this often hidden struggle.

What causes BDD?

Body dysmorphic disorder isn’t caused by just one thing but is like a puzzle where different pieces come together to shape how you see yourself.
Genetics can be one of those pieces, so if mental health challenges run in your family, BDD might have an easier way in. Brain chemistry can also contribute to BDD, so if you are low on serotonin, the chemical that helps regulate mood, obsessive thoughts about your appearance can take hold.
Life experiences can also leave lasting scars which trigger BDD. Being bullied, teased or going through trauma can make you hyper-aware of how you look, even when there is no reason to be. Social media and endless images of “flawless” people can do the same, amplifying self-doubt and leaving you feeling like you can never measure up.

How do BDD and addiction link?

Living with BDD means carrying around an unbearable weight of anxiety, stress and low self-esteem. For many, that overwhelming burden leads to searching for anything – alcohol, drugs or even compulsive behaviours like over-exercising – that might take the edge off, even if only for a moment.
But these quick fixes can quickly spiral into addiction, and research shows nearly half of those with BDD also grapple with substance use disorders, highlighting the close relationship between these struggles.
This dual diagnosis can become a trap with substances and addictive behaviours, quietening the critical voice in your head for a little while but then amplifying the negative thoughts that fuel BDD. Instead of relief, addiction then leaves you feeling even more out of control, compounding the challenges you are already facing.

Do I have BDD and addiction?

In order to spot addiction and BDD symptoms, you need to reflect on your relationship with your appearance and the behaviours it triggers. Answer these questions honestly, as they may point to telltale BDD symptoms and the need for professional help:

Do you find yourself glued to the mirror, spending hours scrutinising and “fixing” flaws only you seem to notice?
Do you avoid social gatherings or even stepping outside because of your perceived flaws?
Have you become a master of disguise, using clothes, makeup or clever angles to hide what you believe are imperfections?
Do you ask friends or family for reassurance about your appearance but never truly feel comforted by their replies?
Does comparing yourself to others – either people you know or strangers, celebrities and “influencers” – leave you feeling inadequate or worthless?
Has the weight of these thoughts and behaviours caused depression, anxiety or even thoughts of suicide or self-harm?

If these questions strike a chord, it may be time to seek professional support.

What is the relationship between eating disorders and BDD?

About one-third of BDD sufferers also develop an eating disorder, with the two conditions feeding off each other in deeply destructive ways. While BDD focuses on perceived flaws in appearance, eating disorders take these insecurities and channel them into harmful behaviours around food, exercise and body image.
BDD can co-exist with every type of eating disorder, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. The shared obsession with appearance and the desperate attempts to gain control over it can create a constant mental loop of self-criticism and shame and a need to fix imagined imperfections through dangerous behaviours like restrictive eating, bingeing or purging.
Despite these efforts, however, if the underlying emotional and psychological causes go unresolved, that inner voice will soon start criticising you again. This is why effective treatment needs to delve deep and reframe how you see yourself.

Treatment options for BDD and addiction

At Recovery Lighthouse, we understand that addiction and BDD are deeply connected. While BDD is not treated directly at Recovery Lighthouse, our holistic approach to rehab treatment will help you manage its symptoms while tackling addiction. UKAT London Clinic, our partner recovery centre, is able to go further by offering comprehensive treatment for both BDD and addiction, which can be combined with a holistic approach.

Here are some of the most important therapies offered at both centres:

Individual therapy

These one-to-one sessions are a place to let it all out. Under the guidance of our expert therapists, you will have a frank conversation with yourself about where you are and how you got here. Together, you will sift through the tough emotions, unpack how addiction and BDD became intertwined and chart a course toward healthier, kinder self-talk.

Group therapy

Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs happen when you hear your own story reflected in someone else’s words. Group therapy creates a circle of connection where shared struggles turn into collective strength and where you learn, laugh and lean on each other.

Behavioural therapy

BDD and addiction thrive in a maze of negative thinking, but behavioural therapies like CBT and DBT can guide you out. You will learn how to spot the mental traps of BDD and addiction, challenge the lies of your inner voice and build emotional muscles strong enough to withstand the pressures life throws your way.

Ongoing support after rehab

Crucially, your journey doesn’t end when you walk out of our doors. With a year of free group therapy, a relapse prevention plan tailored to your needs and access to our Alumni Network, we will be by your side from here on out. This ensures you have the tools and support you need to beat addiction and BDD for life.

Get help for BDD and addiction today

You are more than your struggles and the person beneath the pain deserves a chance to shine. At Recovery Lighthouse, we are here to help you rediscover yourself beyond the haze of BDD and addiction. Don’t wait – reach out to us today and take the first step towards truly seeing and loving yourself again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BDD considered an eating disorder?

No, BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) is not technically an eating disorder, but they have a lot of overlapping features. BDD is about obsessing over perceived flaws in any part of your appearance, while eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia specifically focus on weight and body shape. However, someone with BDD might develop an eating disorder as part of their struggle, which is why getting the right diagnosis and treatment is so important.

Is BDD a mental illness?

Yes, BDD is a recognised mental health condition in the DSM-V. It causes you to see flaws in your appearance that others might not notice or don’t exist. These obsessive thoughts can lead to significant distress and affect your daily life. The good news is that BDD symptoms can be managed with the right support and a healthier self-image achieved.

Can I get treated for BDD and addiction simultaneously?

Yes, addressing BDD and addiction together is crucial because they often fuel each other. At Recovery Lighthouse, we treat addiction while taking into account the unique symptoms and challenges of co-existing BDD. UKAT London Clinic treats both conditions directly for deep healing and lasting recovery.

(Click here to see works cited)

BDD Foundation. “BDD Statistics – BDDF.” BDD Foundation, https://bddfoundation.org/information/statistics/. Accessed 9 December 2024.
UK Rehab. “Dual Diagnosis | Co-Occurring Disorders.” UK Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/mental-health/dual-diagonosis/. Accessed 9 December 2024.
NHS. “Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).” NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/body-dysmorphia/. Accessed 9 December 2024.
Grant, Jon E et al. “Substance use disorders in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder.” The Journal of clinical psychiatry vol. 66,3 (2005): 309-16; quiz 404-5. doi:10.4088/jcp.v66n0306. Accessed 9 December 2024.
Grant, Jon E et al. “Body dysmorphic disorder and its relationship to sexuality, impulsivity, and addiction.” Psychiatry research vol. 273 (2019): 260-265. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.01.036. Accessed 9 December 2024.