Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Appearance Anxiety has been produced by The National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders Service. Its purpose is to ‘take readers on a journey from the point of recognising BDD through to treatment’, and it is a relatively short read.

The text is accessible, avoiding unnecessary jargon. However, it is repetitive; each chapter opens with a short set of bullet points on the content of the chapter and closes with a bullet pointed summary. It feels redundant and is clunky.

At times, more inclusive language could have been used, ‘he or she’ should have been replaced with ‘they’. It’s an informative piece targeted towards young people, and this should be reflected in the language used.

I found the chapter ‘Treatment for BDD’ particularly insightful; not only does it explain the treatments available, it details what to expect from each of them, and how to identify if you are being suitably treated. This chapter also acknowledged barriers to treatment, which guides usually gloss over.

The final section, on organisations and websites to visit, was cropped from my copy. Therefore, I cannot comment on the quality of these resources.

I hope that other organisations seek to create similar guides and make them easily accessible; the current £9.99 price point of this book seems excessive given the target audience. As this includes information for both parents and teachers it would be useful to have it available within school libraries.

Overall, it is a step in the right direction for opening conversations both as a young person, and with young people. There is constant emphasis on providing support and care to those who are vulnerable and ensuring that the support is effective. Much of the advice included can easily be applied to adults.

A short pamphlet size book explaining the basics of BDD (body dismorphic disorder) as a genuine mental health issue to be taken seriously.

It specifically aims to clarify what this issue means for a young person who is beginning to struggle with BDD, how to approach and support them.

As such, I think it's most useful for people around or working with teens (such as school or medical staff), rather than the young people themselves - as it's very basic and those suffering themselves are quite likely to already have searched out relevant in depth information for themselves.

While I don't think I would use or recommend this text for teens/young people themselves, it is well written, with information and advice supplied in a concise, clear and positive manner. So I would consider keeping a couple of copies on hand to give to family members/friends etc. to help them understand if an affected teenager agreed to that.

Appearance Anxiety is a much needed short book on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). A mental health disorder characterised by unreasonable appearance concerns that can take over a person's life.

I have an undiagnosed BDD. I have had it probably for 12 years and it has made everyday life occassionally unbearable. The reason why my condition is undiagnosed is because most doctors still do not understand it. I have sought help and been dismissed as 'stressed' or 'over-reacting'. I have had to listen to people tell me how I am affected by social media and how I should simply decide to be a stronger person. I won't listen to dismissals anymore. I have my own story, and no one else can narrate it.

Over the years, it has been difficult to find any resources on BDD at all and this little book gives me a lot of hope that things are changing. It is filled to bursting with great information on how to recognise BDD, how to see whether it is impacting your life in a dramatically negative way and how to find help. It also includes parts of how to manage it within families or friend groups, and what others can do to make the life of someone with BDD a bit easier.

BDD isn't a myth, and it isn't being vain. It isn't a normal part of life if you seriously stop to consider whether you could change the shape of your nose to better by running at full speed at a wall. Also, it is not about your appearance at all. BDD feels like something is wrong in you, and it is impossible to believe that others don't see what you see. BDD is a mental health disorder and it cannot be fixed by someone saying that 'stop obsessing, you look fine'. It will get worse.

I wish this little book could be available in every single surgery and counselling office. Not just because it provides essential information and support for an individual with BDD, but because health professionals are hopelessly clueless about the disorder. The dismissals of my condition have kept me out of the GPs office for some time now because I am tired of being belittled or wrongly diagnosed. Appearance Anxiety recognises this as a problem and urges even me to go back and fight for being understood.

I had two problems with Appearance Anxiety:

1) It is understandable that the book is directed at teenagers, considering that this is when BDD tends to take over your life for the first time. However, I feel like none of the information given was specifically limited in usefulness to young people and so it was completely unnecessary to repeat the focus group all the time. The authors use the words 'young people' and 'young person' so often that it gets annoying. Even a teenager doesn't want to be addressed a 'young person' all the time. Despite of their age, they are still simply human. An individual. This book could have a much bigger impact if it was less forcefully marketed at teenagers. BDD usually goes undiagnosed, and it is very likely that a person in their mid-40s would awaken to their condition, seeking help and understanding. It is unhelpful that this book doesn't consider a wider audience.


2) There is a chapter on how teachers can manage BDD and recognise it in their pupils. I think it is a bad idea to encourage teachers to start diagnosing their students without knowing their circumstances fully. Most troublingly, the book discusses how a teacher can accommodate a student with BDD by giving them more time in class, however, the impact of stigma is not discussed. Teachers can easily invite bullying and stigmatising to an already vulnerable person by making it clear to the class that the person is struggling from a mental health disorder. I thought it was reckless to not highlight the possible impact of stigma in approaching a student about mental health, but in also accommodating them in class. These measures are needed to make sure that the person is protected from others in the class.

A concise, accessible guide to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) specifically written for young people. With information on what BDD is, how it manifests, possible triggers, and what to do/where to go for help, it is an extremely helpful introduction.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

This is a informational novella or pamphlet for parents of teens or young adults.
This covers the basic information families who are wondering if there loved ones are struggling.
This helped with information that many might not realize are connect with Anxiety.
Thank you to NEtgalley and the Publisher For the Advance Copy

An ideal book to have for teens who are suffering and family members wanting to get a basic insight into the condition.

Appearance Anxiety is a short book that explains Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It's a very basic look at this disorder. It may be more help to someone who is just getting into the subject. I have a daughter who has been severely anorexic so I've probably read much too much on the subject for it to be of benefit to me. I think it's aimed mainly at young people.

This book was definitely aimed at young people and medical professionals. I have suffered from BDD for a long time but didn’t really find new information for me (36, female, single).