I had no idea that body dysphoria reached beyond trans people (like me). This video was very helpful♡

This was really good! I would add that BDD is NOT Gender Dysphoria. You can be okay with and even love all of your body and still have gender dysphoria.

People in the comments section should know that not all dysphoria is gender dysphoria. Body dysphoria as described in the video is different to gender dysphoria, and gender dysphoria is a separate DSM-V diagnosis as the symptoms are more specified and treated differently (transition is the only medically accepted GD treatment, but changing a BDD sufferer's body with, say, plastic surgery, is not an accepted treatment at all).

Thank you Kati! As a man who suffers from B.D.D. and B.E.D. it frustrates men when people discount men who suffer with these. I am one who avoids mirrors or seeing my appearence, so I avoid social situations most of the time and if I do go out I judge myself and assume others are doing so as well the whole time I am out.

When you mention parents being critical of appearance, it reminded me of a time my uncle was over. I was in another room and he was talking to my grandma about how overweight I was and how it would only get worse blah blah blah. That was at least 10 years ago but the memory of it is engraved in my brain.

I wonder about the belief that we are slimmer than we are? I will often try to believe I'm thinner as a form of denial with excepting the weight I have gained. But then I'll see a photo of myself and realise I'm bigger than I thought. And yet other times I will think I am bigger than I am.. its confusing🤔

You, my friend, Are a God send. Keep doing what you’re doing, there needs to be more videos like this on the internet

Thank You for this Video Kati, this really helps those who need it.

Kati Morton you and your channel are wonderful!

You’re so cute. I love your videos because they’re so jam packed in amazing information and you’re so good at what your do and educating!!! Love so much. Glad I found your channel ❤️

Thank you for making these videos. They have educated me in so much.

Thank you addressing such a misunderstood condition. Ironically, I was listening to your guest spot on the Shane & Friends podcast where you were talking about this when I got the notification for this video!

I am glad Kati that you did this video. Now that I will be working as a trainer, I know that in the fitness industry there are a lot of shitty behaviours in both men and women so I need to be awere in the personality of any client to avoid any mental issue.

Thank you for making this video!!!

Thank you for this video.

KATI how did you know I've been struggling with this too much latley! You are a genuis. Sending love your way. ❤

I used to think that I might have bdd, because I would think a lot about how my body looked, and be really dissatisfied with the way it was. But then I realized that it was coming purely from my eating disorder. Like when I would have a bad thought about how "big" a body part was, it was immediately followed by if I did what my ed said, that my anxiety over weight would go away. Which is a bunch of bull shit. Anyways, I've also have been diagnosed by my therapist, and it didn't come up.

Very informative! Especially the bit about the difference in ED and BDD. I had previously thought they were more closely linked. Thanks! Oh P.s. I told my therapist I subscribed to your journal text messages and she was so excited haha. She was like "you know us therapists love journaling!" The first one I got was last week about the last loved one you lost's purpose, which was hard, but cathartic. The last person I lost was my husband, who had untreated schizophrenia and took his life. I cried, but it was also nice to write, in a lot of ways. Thanks

I'm learning so much with you Kati 😄 Wish I could study psychology as you did, thanks a lot !

Thank you 🙏

HI Kati! I was wondering what you think of those with mental illness going into the psychology field as a career? I know becoming a peer mentor is a job one could have, and I plan on getting my doctorate despite the fact that I struggle greatly with mental illness. It would be great to have some encouragement or insight! Thanks so much for all you do. I was also wondering if you could talk more about schizoaffective disorder? It is something I struggle with and it is a very debilitating disease. There is such a stigma with psychotic disorders and I really want to break it. Having someone like you talk about it would be so encouraging and I love that you make me feel not so alone. Thanks so much for all you do!

I love ur videos they are very informative and helps a lot people😊😊😊😙

Can you please make a video on the top misconceptions related to OCD. ALOT of people are misinformed when it comes to OCD. Which is why I personally believe many people who have it dont realize. I LOVE your videos, you do an amazing job explaining things, so many people can understand. Thank you!

Thank you so much

3:17 wrong,.... this should get you an oscar :D

brilliant kati...thank you like always...

Thank you Kati for this video it has help me understand this disorder.

Excellent info...thank you for all your videos! I was going to have plastic surgery, but should discuss with my therapist. I thought BDD was only present when my ED was very active...hmmm🤔

Could you please make a video about defensive detachment? Thank You ! ❤️

I've been having body dysphoric issues for 15 years when it comes to my breasts, with them not reflecting the image that I've always had in my head of what they should look like. 2.5 years ago I did get a surgery, but sadly I was not one of the 2% where it helped. I only realised after that my issues were actually deeper. My breasts look fantastic and it's a big improvement, but I'm still not happy. This time I'm gonna get to the root of the problem instead of going for another surgery, something I've thought about doing but I just don't trust it this time. Great video!💕

I know, bald head, that's when I went through chemo and it took 15 months to recover. I don't know if this helps but when I look in a mirror I always remember what really counts is what is in the inside, ( your heart ) that matters most! I am guessing I don't have BDD... Thanks for your wonderful work Kati!

Hi Kati, I love the old clock!

In my personal experience, most people I know that deal with Body (not gender related) dysphoria often refer to it as Body Dysmorphia, to differ from Gender Dysphoria. I'm not sure whether this is terminologically correct but I find it to be less confusing.

Myself & those who i know who’ve had this diagnosis & been treated for it got it from being bullied at school & called ugly. Ppl who say bullying is just a part of being a kid got it wrong when a lot of us developed this from being bullied. In addition to this, I’ve been thinking about my diagnoses, I had a BDD & OCD co-morbidity. This was in DSM- IV TR. Since BDD is no longer a somatoform disorder & an OCD Related disorder would my diagnosis change?

I’ve been dealing with bdd since elementary school ..I obsess over my hair and skin the most ...I have scars on my skin and I have a fear of my hair thinning ..it’s a struggle for sure ..because I get exhausted with my grooming ritual and sometimes I cry but I know once I finish I’ll feel better ...but then it comes back ..so I’ve been working in dealing with being happy with who I am and how I look .

Great video! Can you do a video on toxic siblings and how to deal with that? Thanks so much for the videos ❤️❤️

❤️ thanks Kati

Thank you for this, Kati! Anyway you could do a video on what to expect should one go to the ER for mental health? What happens in a psych ward? We are advised to take these actions should it be fit but there are a lot of unknowns and it can be scary. Thank you!

I’m undiagnosed with BDD, but I fit every symptom. I just switched to a new trauma specializing therapist and I’m hoping to work through my childhood trauma which will intern help with BDD. It’s really frustrating especially when my family members don’t understand like you were saying and try to tell me I’m not what I see myself as. I just wish these feelings would go away soon, but I know I have to work through my trauma first and that’s gonna take a hell of a long time.

I've dealt with some form or another of dysphoria for LONGER than I can remember and if there is one HUGE pattern that I've noticed about my own feelings and delusions related to my dysphoria it's that it always goes hand in hand with times in my life when anxiety levels are high. Sometimes with depression, too, but the depression seems to be born of the anxiety-->dysphoria process.

Please do more video on this topic

First!

I have wondered if I have this. When it comes to my weight, it’s been something I’ve been picked on since I was young. I’ve always been underweight and skinny. Even when I got bullied as a child, I don’t remember it bothering me or being insecure about my body. However, about late middle school/early high school, the “thicc” body type blew up in media. I was going through puberty. I started to compare myself to other girls. Ever since then, I slowly became more and more obsessed with my body. Especially my butt. I have a very small booty. Both men and women started to make bad comments on my body. So much so, that I only wore things that covered my butt to school. Cardigans, coats, long sweaters and shirts. I even would tie a jacket around my weight every day for PE. I started to research, constantly looking for an answer on how to fix it. Ive been on diet plans, workout plans, considered plastic surgery. I don’t wear any tight fitting pants anymore. Only loose ones, skirts, baggy shorts. I can’t stand the look of myself. I don’t know what to do.

hi Katie, could you elaborate on dysphoria in the trans community?

i love your cover picture

I am very self couscous about my chest and acne i will sit in front of a mirror for houers eather picking at my skin or thinking im stuck with a boys chest and that im too skinny yet i have a hard time with eating

Kati, please talk about the importance of finding a qualified therapist and how to get comfortable with the idea of therapy again after a "bad" therapist experience. In high school i was sexually abused and my parents sent me to counseling with someone i had seen in the past for family therapy. We talked about the abuse briefly in the first session and then the rest of the time she just lectured me about my choice to not attend college. We basically never touched on the abuse again except one more brief time towards the end of my therapy with her. Also i told her that i was self harming and instead of giving me tools she told me to simply stop doing it because i could get an infection. I am completely turned off to therapy now even though i know i should go. My untreated trauma has led to me making risky decisions which ended in another sexual assault. Help please, how do i warm myself up to therapy again?

Hi Mrs. Kati I was wondering what are your thoughts on (TMS) Transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment? Could you please do an in depth video about it?

Do you think that it is common for therapists to misdiagnose those with eating disorders with BDD? It is extremely common for those in the ED community to talk about their “body dysmorphia”. I’ve have heard of many who were diagnosed with it along with their eating disorder. Ive researched eating disorders pretty extensively over the past 5+ years to understand myself more, and until stumbling upon your other BDD video, I had no idea that body dysmorphia is not what I knew it to be. I thought that as long as you perceive something about your body to be different than what it is, then u had BDD.

I've struggled with this with my perceived overweight-ness or skinny-fat-ness. It led to my eating disorders but it preceded them and even when my eating is fine and my body is considered very healthy I've overestimated this.

i always thought that body dysPHORia was just to do with trans people (me) and that body dysMORphia was something anyone could get, this video really helped clear things up thank you

whats the difference between dysphoria and dysmorphia?

Great video, could you also make one about gender dysphoria?

I have a question Kati, my dx is Dystamia GAD, Self Harm, and Grief and Loss they are going to try to put me in DBT is that going to help me with any of the dx and why are they putting me in it??? So far I have not been in therapy since the 16th of May and Joanna made an appointment that I did not know about she tried to say I was non complaint. I been complaint due to wanting to adopt kids due to endomitrous and I get talked down to... any suggestions will help I been self harming and get told deal with it I cant talk to no one they tell me watch on you tube and work books plz help I already self Harmed sorry I am being honest

PMDD is arguably hormonal and/or psychological. Could you do a video on this please ? It alternates between normal and very abnormal every month for decades !!!

I have it and it's tough living every day with wishing I was a Minotaur.

I 100% agree with you that plastic surgeons shouldn't operate on people with bdd. I have bdd and, although it isn't just about one thing, it probably began with my nose and I had spent all my life fixated on it wishing it were smaller, different, not what it is and 2 years ago I went to a consultation with a plastic surgeon, after many years of obsessing over changing my nose and researching doctors etc, but by the time the day came I felt a change inside me and I didn't really want to change myself anymore but I went anyway because I knew if I didn't I would always wonder what they would've said. Anyway, the doctor told me it would be dangerous to operate on my nose for my desired outcome and that actually my nose is what most of his patients would've wanted in the first place. My obsession with changing my nose had already softened but what he said really helped me close the door on it because even if I wanted to do something I couldnt. Now looking back at the idea of getting plastic surgery I remember that it was never one thing, yes, my nose was probably the main fixation but I also wanted bigger boobs, and a different chin/jawline. I had even considered lip filler and my lips were never something that even bothered me. My point is that if my disorder was stronger than me at that time, despite being told it was dangerous, I probably would've found somebody else who would do it and either that would be successful or extremely dangerous and leave me with something worse and very likely because I had already had one thing done I would then feel like why not just do this do that and I would end up being something that wasn't me. I'm just giving my experience but if you relate to anything I'm saying I would strongly advise you to seek therapy so you can start weakening those demons and begin to see that you've actually been beautiful all along.

could you cover the difference between body dysphoria and body dysmorphia

I first read about BDD in "Seventeen" magazine. There was a first-person article about a girl who was suffering from it. She described how she looked in the mirror one day and became convinced that her nose was fat and misshapen. I'd like to add another misconception to this list, by the way, and that's that Body Dysphoria is just being insecure.

I'm glad it was brought to attention that just because one has BDD doesn't mean one has an ED and vice versa. I have an ED; but I do not have BDD, and it seems to be what people think of as coming hand-in-hand.

Super amazing video I also realised I’ve been saying it wrong also the whole time Oops!

This was an amazing video I really relate to this and when talking to my therapist I could Not describe what perfect was and it helped me to relise that I am not bad for being me I dont like most Of my body. But What my therapist said that was almost funny was what would happen if You tried to make A labrador A chihuahua it would not be able to live

Hi there. I only recently heard of body dysphoria and a light bulb went on. I know what's it's like. I hate every cell in my body, every bone, every hair. I've been suicidal more than once and hospitalised. I started to lose my hair in my 20's and have not been able to show it to anyone. No one sees my ugly head, if it was up to me I wouldn't even leave home. It's the lusting that bothers me. Everyone says their partner is supposed to be number one but wouldn't think twice about throwing money at a stripper who is also a stranger by the way. Why do that when you have your partner at home? Aren't they supposed to be your world?

I have this condition where I am really strict in the shower I have to start from head all the way to my toes but just to get my toes overall I take an hour. I try and try to make it fast but it’s impossible for me I’m really picky where I scrub and if it feels clean and I do not remember being like this when I was younger. Same thing with my hair I can never get it how I want, all my barbers tell me that I have a weird shaped head which is why I can’t style it the way I want or why it takes me longer.... I choose not believe that I think it’s all in my head but how can I stop it? Any tips besides going to counseling therapy? I can not afford it I have no insurance at the moment.

Kati, I love the clock. Is it a Jefferson?

Could you talk about skin picking disorders and stuff like that

thank you fro this post I did get surgery done on my boobs and at that time i said if i do this I will be fine did that 7 months ago then 3 months later i couldnt stand looking at my inner thighs so i had inner thigh surgery so within 4 months i spent 15,000 dollars and its true you think if only i fix this i will feel better so wrong and i would only pick on my self when i was very anxious i would do alot of mirror checking every day is a struggle im working on things like learning to love the inner self anyways i just wanted to say so spot on with plastic surgery it does not make you feel better

What’s the difference between body dysphoria and body dysmorphia? It kind of sounds like the same thing except that body dysmorphia sounds like it involves a perceived flaw that’s either exaggerated in the person’s mind or doesn’t exist at all, where as dysphoria doesn’t necessarily involve a misperception of one’s appearance.

Kati can you talk about codependence and how to over come it? I had a hard time with my ex husband and I depended so much on him that now that we are separated I'm going nuts, and I know it's not love because I feel nothing but cold towards him, but I feel I can't stay without him. Please help!

Hello Kati thankyou for this video for 22 years I had scoliosis that didn't get picked up till just before my 22nd birthday it's where my spine is curved not straight it's painful and I have had to lose weight start doing exercises and I feel great I am getting ready for surgery. And most of my life I have had breasts that are big and I had never got a proper bra fitting and I hate my breasts they are too big I have tried to hide it for years

I heard you respond to questions in comments and I could really use your help. I’ve been in therapy and taking anti-depressants for years and I recently suffered a bad depressive episode that feels like it’s been hanging on for awhile. My doctor suggested seeking some kind of inpatient or outpatient therapy but I can’t afford it even with my insurance. I don’t feel confident in myself and often find myself putting myself down throughout my day. I feel like my brain needs a total reset so I can get back to finding work and taking care of myself. Is there a way to do this without having to pay thousands for an expensive program my insurance won’t cover? Thanks.

Thanks for the video. BDD is serious. I managed to kick both anorexia and bulimia, but I still have BDD symptoms. When you're already a small person people treat you like garbage if you express concerns about your body shape. I've been accused of fishing for compliments and trying to make everyone else feel bad about their bodies.. Because I couldn't possibly be concerned about mine. They don't understand that you can't see what they see.

would it be the same if someone who was in a wheelchair think they are in the wrong body? i feel this way every day. it's solely on me being in a wheelchair

I think my area is my stomach. No matter how much I weigh, I'm never satisfied with the non-flatness of my stomach. And my weight has fluctuated a lot over the past years. I'm always trying to hide my stomach, flatten it, suck it in, and can spend hours staring at it in the mirror and feeling unhappy about it. Right now it's a struggle because I'm pregnant so my stomach is bigger than it's ever been before, and I worry that I just look fat. I also have dermotillomania. I have to keep reassuring myself that weight gain and stomach growth in pregnancy is normal, and no one's looking at me and judging me for the size of my belly.

Is it possible to get this as a result of depression and extreme weight loss? ...it took me about a year to see myself as I am , i used to hide my backside with jackets and would be so extra self-conscious. i was never into make up or took a lot of time to get ready but it took me sooo long to be comfortable to go outside, One liner not in place and I'd feel anxious to even go outside...i saw myself as bigger or smaller, it was so confusing but in the end just very skinny..I'd just obsess about being boney..

So.. idk if you will see this but i might have this and told my Dr. and she said to go to a therapist or counselor that will be covered by my insurance and I'm going to be making an appointment with a counselor pretty soon my question is is counselor the right way to go versus a therapist what should I be doing to help with this and other problems or things I might have?

well ana kasperian has been very happy since she got her nose job so BDD can be fixed with plastic surgery sometimes and she really hated her beautiful nose i dont think anybody would go into plastic surgery unless they had BDD i think it depends on how many body issues they have and what type of surgery they want ana was going to do something stupid with her nose luckily the plastic surgeon didnt allow it and just took the bump she hated away and made her nose slope more down if it was done the way ana wanted she would be in the higher then 2%

I've had this since I was 4 and realized I was fat and weird looking. Never talked about it in therapy because I didn't know it was a valid struggle, just being weird and shallow..

Hey Kati! I have bipolar disorder so SSRIs arent really an option for me (im on a treatment of mood stabilizers and benzos instead). You mentioned that some atypical antipsychotics can help relieve symptoms of BDD which I also have. Can you give me some examples so I can discuss them with my psychiatrist? thank you!

Hey Katie I was wondering If you have ever met someone who was depressed since they were a little kid, presumably for no reason. I was adopted and we think I have been depressed since I was adopted at the age of 2.(I am 14 now) I went to a partial hospitalization program ,and everyone told me it was probably genetics and that was rare. we know nothing about my parents, except that my mom had depression. I have not had any contact with any of my biological parents since I was adopted and it's significantly getting worse with time. Some professionals say it's harder to treat when you don't know where it's coming from. Being depressed was\is my norm so I really don't know any other way and I'm scared that when I learn how to better handle it, I won't feel like myself because this has kind of been part of my identity\personality my whole life

What should we do if we run out of our antidepressant and can’t get a refill for another few days?

I'd LOVE to see a video just like this, but about GENDER Dysphoria and transgendet identities. There are SO MANY misconceptions about it and controversy around whether or not it can be diagnosed and stuff. I'd love to hear what you think and know about it, Kati, cause I love your videos and the way you explain things! =) (I'm part of the trans community, btw. Gender nonbinary.)

Hey Katie, I hope you are doing good. I know this is off topic, but I have a question. I have this thing where I am jealous of people who are mentally or situationally worst off than me, and it is not because they get more attention. i dont know what it is. For example, i would get jelous of peopel that have more severe self harm scars, or of my frind that would have panic attacks. I would get upset and envious of people who got sent to a mental hospital. I recongnize, that mentally I am not okay, but I still envy people worst off then me. And as said before it is not because I wasnt more attention. I just sometimes wish I was worst off then I feel I am a continuoulsly compare with other. I dont knwo, could you help explain this to me?

A little unrelated ..What would you advise someone to do when CBT isn’t useful - I have depression and most of the time I’m ok, but when i’m not it’s an uphill climb to get my brain to cooperate,

Shiz... I might have this... I constantly mess with pimples because I'm so worried someone's going to comment on it... No one ever has, but I still worry about it terribly. I... haven't actually told anyone that XD

Would you please cover gender dysphoria in any sorts.

This disease does feel ever so consuming and has since the first time I realized I had "something wrong." Walking up the stairs at 13, I didn't know my sister's boyfriend would be sitting there. He didn't have titties like me (I'm a man). After that moment, I became obsessed and have often fantasized about even cutting them off and of course suicide. No type of therapy has helped that I've tried. Haven't tried CBT. The trauma therapy I had was bad, though. I will say that SSRIs/SNRIs tend to help. Both Paxil and Cymbalta took the edge off. I just don't tolerate them. Thanks for the great content as always

Hi Kati, I was wondering if you'd consider doing a video on exfortiation (sp?)? I've never heard of the technical term before but it's something I've done since childhood and I never realised it fell into an obsessive behaviour camp.

I think I struggle with this but I'm not sure. How do I get tested for it?

Dear Kati, I have been doing research on covert narcissism lately and it is really hard to find scientific literature about this kind of narcissism although there seems to be broad community that can identify with this kind of abuse. Could you give me a hint where to search or if it is a new/not researched topic? Or are people just taking advantage out of hurt people that seek answers to sell books or meditations? Thank you so much!

Ok, let's say as a kid, I had trichotilliamania when I was a kid. Grew up, lost weight, would I be more likely to get BDD ?

I have a few questions and I was wondering if anyone knew the answers. 1. An ED question, after not eating for a longer period of time why does the stomach hurt or I might feel nauseous when I finally eat? 2. Do you need to have flashbacks to be diagnosed with PTSD? Out of curiosity. 3. Can you have bipolar and BPD? 4. Is it possible for a person to have social phobia and AVPD?

what are some free mental health services. because i've downloaded your self harm workbook but i really need help. like now

How to differentiate it with simple vanity issues though? I hate getting my photos taken and used to have sessions (like all day) researching stuff related to plastic surgery, i have stopped now but i still hate how my face look

Can you do one for gender dysphora

Hey guys. So I've never known if I had body dysphoria or just am anxious about other people's opinions of me. Or are these the same thing? I can't tell if I truly don't like something about myself or I'm self conscious about other people pointing it out.

i also hate the misconception that gender dysphoria is the same as body dysmorphic disorder. they present similarly a lot but they are not the same thing. i could go into more detail but im very tired and trans lol

I have strange one..I’m over 350lbs prob close to 400lbs. But when I see myself in the mirror I see my self thinner as I actually am and when I see myself in a picture I’m a shocked on how big I actually am. Also I have Trickatelamnian since I was around 10. I’m a mess.

While I understand dysphoria is a general term of feeling uneasy or dissatisfied, I feel like in this context, it should specifically be referred to as body dysmorphia when not using the full term of BDD. At least that's how I'd always learned it in medical school. Like someone else said, dysmorphia is more specific in that it pinpoints the underlying problem of obsessing about an exaggerated or imagined flaw, where as dysphoria simply implies uneasiness about anything without necessarily being obsessive or perceiving any flaws. I say this primarily because transgender people can experience body dysphoria as a part of their gender dysphoria; however, it is not necessarily obsessive, nor is it related to an exaggerated or imagined flaw. Rather, it is the opposite--seeing an accurate reflection of their true form and feeling uneasy about their physical reality; a condition that is actually significantly relieved by surgery. This was a great video overall though. Very interesting!

I think I have BDD with my legs. I hate being short (I'm 4'8) in general, but it seems to be focused solely on my legs. There are times when I want to chop them off and replace them. I just hate them so fucking much. If I could afford it, I would definitely get them lengthened.