Written by Editorial Team
We all spend a lot of time in front of the mirror evaluating our looks. It is quite natural some of us spend more time in front of the mirror wishing to be presentable on different occasions. Most of us are not satisfied with a lot of our body features and wish to have a better-shaped nose, better smile, and better hair and so on. This holds true for kids too specially preteens and teens for whom body image is one of the major part of their self-esteem.
Today the kids are undergoing a lot of changes physically, mentally and emotionally at an early age. What held true for teenagers’ couple of years ago holds true today for kids in the age group of 10-12 years. Tweens as we call them are now becoming more conscious of their body image.
We can often see them feel disappointed with some feature of their appearance. This can all be attributed to part of growing up as long as it does not haunt them continuously and hinder their daily activities. However, for some kids, concerns about appearance become exceptionally intense and disturbing. This should not be ignored, as this can be the sign of a mental disorder called Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
BDD is a self-perception issue, which is characterized by inordinate worry over either an exceptionally minor or totally envisioned “imperfection” in one’s physical appearance that others are not able to see or notice. As a result, individuals with this issue consider themselves to be unattractive or “monstrous” and often maintain a strategic distance from social exposure or consider undergoing a plastic surgery for improving their appearance.
Usually, the onset of BDD happens during late childhood or early adolescence. Children with BDD can excessively worry about any part of their body. However, more often they find fault with their hair, skin (color, freckles, texture, moles, and acne), nose, chest, or stomach. They often compare themselves with their friends, celebrities or media personality. This unnecessary stress, can affect the child’s ability to lead an active life at home, at school, and in any public places and occasions. Read: Tips For Parenting A Highly Sensitive Child
Children with Body Dysmorphic Disorder exhibit the following signs.
Certain factors can increase the risk of the child for developing body dysmorphic disorder:
The causes of BDD are unclear. However, experts believe the body dysmorphic disorder may result from a combination of causes, such as:
Once you know your child has BDD, the first step is recognizing the real issue causing the distress. Help from a professional therapist is always recommended as it will be easier to find underlying issue and coexisting disorder (usually BDD coexist with other mental disorders) thereby, you are able to plan an effective treatment. Generally, visiting therapist in the clinic for treatment is enough. Psychiatric hospitalization may be required only in very extreme cases.
Treatment for BDD likely will include a combination of the following therapies:
As a parent, you want to teach your child that there is much more than appearance. You child’s self-image should include his personality and character abilities. You must also imbibe in your child that he is unique and has his own strengths and interests. As a parent you want your child to appreciate and care for his body and take pride in how he/she looks.
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