Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Karan Johar confessed he can’t even face his reflection—revealing decades of torment from BDD, a condition he kept hidden under glam and success, until now.
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Dr Shaunak Ajinkya has seen seniors quietly unravel from BDD, often masked for decades, emerging stronger in ageing bodies suddenly filled with shame and confusion.
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In her late 50s, a retired teacher began obsessively avoiding photographs—her undiagnosed BDD, dormant since youth, triggered again by wrinkles and time’s quiet toll.
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A college student documented how Instagram filters deepened her BDD symptoms, her diary later used in a University of Toronto study on social media and body image distortion.
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A 42-year-old man credits sticky notes on mirrors for saving his mornings—each one a message reminding him he’s more than his reflection, as advised in CBT practice.
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After five nose jobs, a man in his 30s shared how BDD never faded—plastic surgery gave brief highs, but each scalpel cut deeper into his obsession, not his healing.
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A fitness coach in Chennai, despite his chiseled frame, spiraled into BDD after a back injury—his identity shattered, proving BDD doesn’t care about logic or muscle.
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A UK study found 76% of people with BDD who sought cosmetic procedures reported no relief—many felt worse, chasing perfection that surgery couldn’t grant.
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Mindfulness meditation helped a 60-year-old widow find peace—her BDD eased when she began focusing on gratitude for her body’s function rather than its form.
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