Beauty's war with mind

T starts with a glance: quick, critical, and dismissive. A glance that soon becomes a gaze, then an obsession. The mirror turns into an enemy, each reflection exposing what the mind has already magnified beyond reality.

- DARSHITA JAIN

T starts with a glance: quick, critical, and dismissive. A glance that soon becomes a gaze, then an obsession. The mirror turns into an enemy, each reflection exposing what the mind has already magnified beyond reality. A slightly crooked nose becomes a deformity. Mild acne scars turn into deep, disfiguring pits. And no matter how many people say, 'You look fine,' the mind refuses to believe it. That's the cruel reality of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a silent, relentless thief of confidence that reshapes how a person sees themselves, even when the world sees nothing wrong.

"Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a severe mental health condition where a person is intensely obsessed with any self-perceived flaws or defects in their physical appearance, flaws that are either not observable or appear minor to others. This preoccupation over their body causes significant emotional distress and can interfere with day-to-day functioning, relationships, and their social life," says Dr Aana Shah, consultant psychiatrist at Aster Prime Hospital, Ameerpet.