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Learn more about our exciting new summer programs for school and college transitions.
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Dear Parent,
This month’s topic is body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
People with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) exhibit an excessive concern regarding perceived defects or flaws in their physical appearance. They believe they look ugly, unattractive, or even abnormal. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) can happen at any age. However, when it happens to our teens and young adults, it is especially hard to grasp as we continue to see them in all their exuberance and beauty.
When a teen or young adult obsesses over a perceived flaw, whether a general dislike of their appearance or a specific feature, simple reassurance will not work and is often counterproductive. BDD is an anxiety disorder, closely related to OCD, and may involve compulsive thoughts and behaviors. BDD must be treated professionally to alleviate harmful symptoms.
Let’s investigate further to see if your child shows signs of this powerful disorder.
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Types of Anxiety Defined
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
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Children with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) often demonstrate an excessive concern regarding one or more perceived defects or flaws in their physical appearance. This may be a general sense of feeling ugly or unattractive, or focus on a specific feature, like their skin or musculature. However, the perceived flaws are usually not even observable to others.
BDD’s preoccupations can have a significant impact on a teen's social, family and academic life, leading to feelings of intense shame. Sufferers may take great pains to hide the perceived flaw with excessive clothing, make-up, or accessories. They may face disruptive compulsions, such as excessive grooming, hair pulling or skin picking.
Watch our in-house expert, Stacey Dobrinsky, PhD, explain how to recognize the emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder and how to treat it.
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Clinicians may use a variety of techniques to tailor treatment to your child's specific needs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to identify and challenge irrational thoughts and negative thinking strategies, like obsessing over your skin. Through CBT, individuals learn to replace unhelpful thinking patterns with healthier thoughts. In conjunction, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach that focuses on the individual's thought patterns. ACT works with the individual to tolerate situations that produce anxiety. The core concepts of ACT are mindfulness, acceptance, and value-based living.
BDD can be unique to each individual as far as their individual concerns. Your clinician will know which therapy technique is most suited to your child’s anxiety.
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Insight from
a Professional
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Here are ways to model and support healthy self-care practices for your child:
- Children with BDD do best when they are supported without judgment or expectations by their parents. As difficult as it may be, try to refrain from telling your child to ‘stop’ their behaviors or scolding them when they engage in compulsions. Seek support from professionals who can educate and guide you through evidenced-based, supportive treatment for you and your child.
- Include your other children in treatment conversations whenever possible. Siblings need the chance to talk about and process not only the severity of the disorder and the intense shame the sufferer feels, but also how the disorder is impacting their own lives and their role in the family.
For the Teen or Young Adult:
There is an old expression that says, ‘Don’t believe everything you read,’ as social media can put out inaccurate information. It’s the same with your brain, ‘Don’t believe everything you think!’ Not all your thoughts are true. Try hard to separate yourself from your repetitive thoughts, and see if in fact, objectively, they may not be true. Watch our clinician, Sarah Pauker, tell you how in this video.
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A Note from our Director
As you know, your children’s anxiety waxes and wanes as sure as the tide ebbs and flows. While parents try to appreciate the low tide, they often remain on high alert for the return of heightened anxiety. It’s hard at times to even have insight into how families have learned to accommodate their children and it may feel like ‘normal’ will never return.
Remember, though, that every anxiety disorder is, in fact, a ‘disorder.’ It does not reflect the reality of your children and it can be treated. Accommodations can be reduced and family dynamics can resume their normal rhythm. Hard work, patience, persistence and love are the tools that can bring back a smooth and fulfilling life for your child and family.
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Dina
Nunziato, PhD
Chief Clinical Officer
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Summer Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Back-to-School Transition Programs Announced! | |
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Anxiety Institute offers summer programs designed for teens facing heightened anxiety, avoidance, and physical symptoms during exams or school transitions. If your child struggles with these issues, our summer programs can provide the support they need.
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Summer IOP
Our program provides customized, comprehensive care for teens and young adults ages 13–25 who are dealing with OCD and anxiety. It features a structured yet flexible approach, utilizing expert CBT and daily exposure therapy, ensuring more individualized attention than any other Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
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August Back-to-School Transition Programs
Ten-Day Programs: August 12th - 23rd - 4 hours a day
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As the school year approaches, our Back-to-School Intensive and our College Readiness Program are designed to support students (ages 12–21) facing anxiety, avoidance, and somatic symptoms. These programs help students develop skills to manage academic pressures and social challenges, ensuring a smooth transition back to middle school, high school, or college. | |
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All programs are open for enrollment.
Contact us today at (844) 881-1846 or visit www.anxietyinstitute.com to learn more and secure your spot.
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Is your child showing signs of anxiety about going to or returning to college? Young adults show symptoms of anxiety differently. Common symptoms may include excessive worrying, changes in sleep patterns, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches. | |
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Sarah Pauker is Anxiety Institute's Clinical Supervisor. She is both a LCAT (Licensed Creative Art Therapist) and LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor.) Trained at The Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy, Sarah specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention (ERP). She integrates creative approaches in her work with clients, using person-centered, mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, and transpersonal care.
Learn more about Sarah
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“What I love most about working at Anxiety Institute is working alongside an incredible team of clinicians. Witnessing our clients overcome their struggles with anxiety is rewarding and reminds me daily of the transformative power of the work we do here.” – Sarah Pauker | |
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For clinical questions or referrals,
please contact our Clinical Outreach Specialists:
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Anxiety Institute is a clinical research center specializing in acute anxiety disorders that uses advanced, proven techniques while nurturing the patient in their local home environment. Utilizing the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments, our intensive services focus on treating teens and young adults, while coaching the parents who guide them. Locations in Madison, NJ; Greenwich, CT; and McLean, VA.
anxietyinstitute.com
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