- By Bornika Das
- Wed, 07 May 2025 04:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Body Dysmorphia: Karan Johar, one of Bollywood’s most celebrated filmmakers, has recently opened up about his personal battle with his body image issues, revealing that he suffers from body dysmorphia, a mental health condition that significantly affects how an individual perceives their own appearance. Known for his glamorous presence in the movie industry, Karan Johar spoke on a podcast hosted by Raj Shamani and shared, “After 52 years, I finally feel confident. Otherwise, I do suffer from body dysmorphia. It’s when you feel ashamed of your own body. When you feel awkward without clothes on. I go through that even now. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror.”
The revelation made by the 52-year-old director sheds light on the importance of knowing about the mental health condition, its causes, symptoms and treatments.
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What Is Body Dysmorphia?
Body Dysmorphia or Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which people can’t stop thinking or perceiving defects and flaws in their appearance. The constant thoughts and feelings about their appearance can cause significant distress and impact their ability to function in daily life. People suffering from BDD focus on their appearance and body image, avoid checking the mirror and ask for reassurance. BDD affects about 2.4 percent of adults in the USA. Outside the United States, it affects between 1.7 percent to 2.9 percent of people.
Causes Of Body Dysmorphia
Genetics: Most likely, body dysmorphia is developed if a first-degree relative (meaning a child, biological parent or biological sibling) has it.
Cultural Influences And Popular Media: Different cultures have different standards of beauty and appearance. Popular media, culture or a combination of the two can influence how BDD affects a person’s thoughts or behaviours.
Childhood Abuse Or Trauma: A history of adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, neglect and bullying, can cause BDD to develop. Besides, a history of being bullied or teased can increase the risk of developing it.
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Symptoms Of Body Dysmorphia
Preoccupied with a perceived flaw in appearance that cannot be seen by others or appears in the mirror.
Believes that they have a defect in their appearance, which makes them ugly or deformed
Believes that others take special notice of their appearance in a negative way or mock them.
Engage in behaviours that are aimed at fixing or hiding the perceived flaws that are difficult to resist or control.
Attempting to hide perceived flaws with styling, makeup or clothes.
Constantly compare their appearance with others.
Seeking reassurance about their appearance from others frequently.
Having perfectionist tendencies.
Seeking cosmetic procedures with little satisfaction.
Avoiding social situations.
Treatments Of Body Dysmorphia
BDD is not curable but is treatable. It can be treated with approaches like:
Psychotherapy: This is a technical term for mental health therapy and there are multiple forms of psychotherapy that might help. Psychotherapy focuses on talking about what a person feels or experiences and helps them develop beneficial thought processes and coping strategies. Two of the most common types of psychotherapy in treating BDD are cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and family therapy.
Medications: Antidepressants are a common part of the treatment for BDD. These medications help fight against the symptoms and make it easier to manage the thoughts and behaviours of the individuals. These medications can also make other forms of treatment, like psychotherapy, more effective.
(Disclaimer: This content, including suggestions and advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information before making any drastic changes in your lifestyle.)
