Fugen Neziroglu - Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Reclaiming Your Life

Fugen Neziroglu, PhD, ABPP, ABBP, is a board-certified cognitive and behavior psychologist and leading researcher in the treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, trichotillomania, hoarding, body dysmorphic disorder and hypochondriasis at the Bio Behavioral Institute in Great Neck, NY, where she serves as director. She is also the coauthor of Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding, as well as When Your Child is Cutting. Her books have been translated to various languages.

Sony Khemlani-Patel, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Bio Behavioral Institute in Great Neck, NY, where she specializes in the treatment and research of self-injury and obsessive-compulsive spectrum, anxiety, and mood disorders. She received her doctorate from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, and she has been practicing for more than 15 years in the field.

Melanie T. Santos, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Bio Behavioral Institute in Great Neck, NY, where she treats body image disorders.

If you are struggling with BDD, you need to understand what it is and your options for dealing with it in a concise and practical way. This book will help you explore all of the major approaches that have shown to be helpful. Whether you are going into therapy or want to address this problem on your own, you will find value on every page.

Steven C. Hayes, professor of psychology at University of Nevada, and author of Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life

In this age where, sadly, so many people are unhappy with their appearance, this book becomes a close friend who completely understands all aspects of true BDD and really can help you on the road to a better life.

Stephen Westwood, author of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Memoir, and Suicide Junkie

Anyone who struggles with body dysmorphic disorder should make sure to read this book. Fugen Neziroglu has written an easy-to-read book that distills the core features of overcoming BDD.

David Veale, MD, author of Overcoming Body Image Problems

Body dysmorphic disorder can be a relentlessly tormenting disorder, too often misunderstood by even those in the mental health profession. People who have it often experience a tremendous sense of shame while living with considerable despair and hopelessness. Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder clearly demonstrates, however, that there is in fact reason for hope. The authors have put together a carefully crafted self-help manual, complete with strategies to guide those with BDD through their recovery. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, ACT, and task concentration skills are all thoroughly explored in an effective, easy-to-read manner that is useful for patients and therapists alike.

Scott M. Granet, LCSW, director at the OCD-BDD Clinic of Northern California

Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder is more than a book; it is a must-have companion for anyone ready for life after BDD. Whether you are suffering in silence or already working with a licensed therapist, this book will assist you in your recovery. The compassionate authors offer a holistic approach, tackling BDD from every angle and providing easy-to-follow, effective exercises to improve your quality of life and defeat BDD. What I love most about this book is it offers solutions.

Brit Brimhall, director of BDD Central

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2012 by Fugen Neziroglu, Sony Khemlani-Patel, & Melanie T. Santos

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup

Text design by Tracy Marie Carlson

Acquired by Catharine Meyers

Edited by Jean Blomquist

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Neziroglu, Fugen.

Overcoming body dysmorphic disorder : a cognitive behavioral approach to reclaiming your life / Fugen Neziroglu, Sony Khemlani-Petal, Melanie T. Santos.

p. cm.

Summary: Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder offers BDD individuals a practical guide to the mindfulness, acceptance, and exposure and response prevention strategies that can help them overcome the disorder. Presented by lead author Fugen Neziroglu, an anxiety expert regularly featured on A&Es television show Hoarders, this comprehensive guide offers self-assessment tools and a complete cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for reducing the effect of BDD on sufferers lives. Its step-by-step guidance and easy-to-follow exercises are sure to help readers with BDD move beyond their anxieties and start living with greater freedom and confidence than ever before-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-60882-149-5 (pbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-60882-150-1 (pdf e-book) -- ISBN 978-1-60882-151-8 (epub)

1. Body dysmorphic disorder--Treatment. 2. Cognitive therapy. I. Khemlani-Petal, Sony. II. Santos, Melanie T. III. Title.

RC569.5.B64N49 2012

616.891425--dc23

2012014999