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Movies about body dysmorphic disorder - Mental Health Related Films


#Mental health movies, #Psychopathology Updated on Sep 15, 2023
Smiling man in a gray sweater poses in front of a tree, promoting openness in discussions about body dysmorphic disorder.

Enzo Sinisi

Psychoanalyst

Cape Town, South Africa

Movies that explore, engage, or offer insight into body dysmorphic disorder and the social and psychological issues involved.

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Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any psychiatric diagnostic system or symptom checklist can ever portray.

Most people recognise aspects of themselves in at least a few psychiatric diagnostic categories. The difference between normal and disorder is not straightforward and often has more to do with degree rather than kind, i.e. does it cause big problems?

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

Click to see the Ultimate List of Mental Health Movies index

What is Body dysmorphic disorder?

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which a person becomes obsessed with a slight body imperfection. Body dysmorphic disorder is similar to eating disorders in that both are concerned with body image. The difference between the two disorders is that in eating disorders , the focus is on the weight and the shape of the entire body, but in body dysmorphic disorder, the focus is on a specific body part. Of course, eating disorders also centre around food and eating.

A person with body dysmorphic disorder may fixate on the skin blemishes, on the shape of the face, nose, lips, arms, breasts, etc. The flaws may seem minor to others, but the person with the disorder may suffer from tremendous worry and seek out countless cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" the flaw. No matter how many times people tell them they look normal and fine, the person with the disorder cannot accept that the issue doesn’t exist.

In psychiatry, the body dysmorphic disorder is defined in the DSM-5 (diagnostic manual) as follows…

Abridged DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria of body dysmorphic disorder 300.7 (F45.22) | Included for educational purposes

A. Preoccupation with one or more perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not observable or appear slight to others.

B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the individual has performed repetitive behaviours (e.g., mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, reassurance seeking) or mental acts (e.g., comparing his or her appearance with that of others) in response to the appearance concerns.

C. The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The appearance preoccupation is not better explained by concerns with body fat or weight in an individual whose symptoms meet diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder .

Movies about Body dysmorphic disorder

If we missed an essential film about body dysmorphic disorder, please let us know. We would love to include it.

Note: Movies may trigger painful memories and emotions. Please use your judgement and ensure support is available if need be.

A close-up of a young woman with a tear on her cheek, featuring the title Sharing the Secret based on a true story.

Movie Title: Sharing the Secret - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2000

Rated: 6.2

Cast: Mare Winningham, Alison Lohman, Lawrence Monoson

Storyline: A young woman's hidden struggle with body dysmorphic disorder and an eating disorder threatens to consume her life until she finds the courage to open up, seek help, and embark on a journey of self-acceptance and healing.

Blurred image of dancers in motion, with the word filter overlaying, reflecting themes of body dysmorphic disorder in film.

Movie Title: Filter

Release: 2010

Rated:

Cast: Mishka Balilty, Anthony Bentrovato, Senta Cassell

Storyline: Experience a day in the life of a girl with body dysmorphic disorder in 'Filter' as perception battles reality, utilizing unique camera angles to immerse you in her world of tunnels and provide a poignant glimpse into her struggles.

Alt text: Poster for the film 'American Mary' featuring a woman in an apron holding a bloody surgical saw and syringe.

Movie Title: American Mary - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2012

Rated: 6.3

Cast: Katherine Isabelle, Antonio Cupo, Tristan Risk

Storyline: Mary, a surgical student is introduced to the body modification community through people who are suffering from severe body dysmorphic disorder.

Young woman with long blonde hair looking thoughtfully in a dimly lit bathroom, reflecting themes of body image and self-perception.

Movie Title: Likeness

Release: 2013

Rated: 6.7

Cast: Elle Fanning, Ximena Prieto, Monroe Alvarez

Storyline: A short movie about a teenager with a crippling body dysmorphic disorder.

References and Links

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

What is Body dysmorphic disorder?: https://bdd.iocdf.org/about-bdd/

More on Body dysmorphic disorder: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-dysmorphia/

Body dysmorphic disorder according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi






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Important:

TherapyRoute does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes and cannot replace consulting a healthcare professional. If you face an emergency, please contact a local emergency service. For immediate emotional support, consider contacting a local helpline.





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