Body Dysmorphic Disorder: 8 Ways To Treat This Disease

Think Holistically

The practice of holistic nutrition helps promote the overall health of the mind and body by focusing on the quality of food that is being eaten rather than the quantity. Holistic practitioners believe that food should be healing and enjoyable at the same time. Thinking holistically may help reduce the anxious feelings of being perfect by instead focusing on the well-being of having a healthy mind and body. Rather than focusing on counting calories, become familiar with eating feel-good foods that naturally promote health, happiness, self-acceptance, and cognitive function.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A 2004 study conducted by the Official Journal of The World Psychiatric Association found that the best psychosocial treatment for body dysmorphic disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy consisting of responsive prevention, behavioral experiments, cognitive restructuring, and exposure. A study conducted by the Massachusetts General Hospital concluded that patients with body dysmorphic disorder who received four weeks of ninety-minute cognitive behavioral therapy sessions daily significantly reduced their symptoms. Another study found that patients who received thirty ninety-minute sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy along with six months of relapse prevention had improvements lasting for two years.