Musicians with Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder (or BDD for short) is a psychological condition in which a person strongly dislikes, or are disgusted by some aspect of their appearance (they may view the part of their body as ugly or disfigured despite nothing being physically wrong). That person may become fixated on this particular aspect, which can lead to discomfort, feelings of intense self-consciousness, anxiety, or depression. It is also not unusual for an individual with body dysmorphic disorder to repeatedly check to see if that aspect of their body has changed or to see what it looks like throughout the day. Checking isn’t the only behavior a person with this particular disorder may experience, they may also try to hide the part of their body they are uncomfortable with, with makeup, or cloths. BDD can be a very disruptive condition to face.
Several famous individuals have suffered from BDD. Marilyn Monroe is one such example. This famous American singer and actress would often carry around a mirror and tended to be uncomfortable with her face, going so far as to get many cosmetic surgeries. Luckily for the late singer, she was able to receive help from her dermatologist who taught her that the uniqueness of her face was a good thing.
Another prevalent example is Michael Jackson. Michael’s BDD manifested in the form of intense self-hatred for his entire body. He underwent numerous cosmetic surgeries and treatments to alter his appearance completely. Ultimately, Michael stopped undergoing surgeries with the help of his fans and the people who idolized him.
Body dysmorphic disorder is a real condition, one that thousands of people struggle with and suffer from. However, just as our two famous musicians demonstrated, you can be successful and even overcome BDD. If you are suffering from BDD, it’s okay to seek and ask for help. There are a lot of understanding and caring people in the world.