Can you have Body Dysmorphic Disorder if you really are ugly?

I have all the symptoms of Body Dysmorphic disorder and I have developed Avoidant Personality Disorder/Social Phobia because I feel like I'm too disgusting to interact with others, and from the descriptions of BDD it says people who have are normal or possibly highly attractive people who perceive themselves as hideous, but can you have BDD if you really are ugly or is that just the truth that has a side dish of low self-esteem?
Yes; you can, but unless small children point at you in public, you're not too bad! BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER (BDD): Only use a small hand mirror to check appearance, so just a small part of the body may be seen at a time, yet anything wrong will still be immediately apparent; cover (taping over/painting) full length mirrors. Check out and and Other things worth trying: See self esteem/confidence, on page 38, and practise daily, and when needed, one of the relaxation techniques on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, at Also read pages 2L, and 47. Give the EFT, in section 53, a good tryout: "Even though I have a distorted body image, I accept myself deeply and completely". All of these things are designed to bolster the central sense of identity, enable emotional centering, and changing the focus from that of a person's appearance, to helping others. It may well be worthwhile going to the Groups, at Myspace, Google, and Yahoo, to find others with the disorder, and see what has worked for them. Use the WebFerret search engine, your own, the Wikipedia, and Google websites, and Yahoo websearch on BDD. ~~~ See social anxiety/shyness, and self confidence, in sections 9, and 38, at Here is an exercise that can help you. It is called "Act as If." When you are in a social situation, act as if you are outgoing. Talk more, smile at everyone, ask questions, speak in a normal or excited tone, not a meek tone. Watch some of your outgoing peers, and imitate the style of their social behavior.

Research shows that when you "act as if" continually, your image of yourself begins to conform to your new behavior. In this case, you will gain self-esteem and self-confidence, and begin to see yourself as socially normal, not shy. You will become more socially successful, and this will motivate you to continue your new social behavior until it becomes a habit.

Try this for a month, in every situation you can. I am confident that you will become much more comfortable and outgoing. One form of therapy is to go somewhere that nobody knows you, and deliberately make an utter fool of yourself: put on a paper hat, and scream out: "I'm queen/king of America!", or something else ridiculous, then get back in the taxi, (warn the driver of your intentions, first) or car, and leave. People will point, and say: "Look at that idiot". But, you're probably not up to the stage where you can do that, yet (I can, and I used to be shy). Regard it as your final test: once you have accomplished it, the barrier will be broken; just don't go too far, the other way! Learn to laugh at yourself, and give a big, cheesy grin when others see you do something foolish, as we all do, occasionally. It is endearing, if you don't do it too often. Use positive affirmations: for example: "I am very likable and other people feel comfortable around me".
Write down all of your self limiting beliefs; then write down the positive counter of them, (exact opposite) and repeat them and imprint them into your mind.
Most importantly: Force yourself to approach somebody and initiate some sort of communication. Start out small by asking the time and directions and gradually go bigger. Rewind your mistakes. Let's say you want to change an annoying laugh that you have, when you hear something funny, your old laugh will come out. You have to immediately think of what you wanted to happen, (i.e. your new, practiced laugh) and then do it immediately. It will be a little bit late, but slowly you will start to pair the two together, and eventually your brain will become conditioned to switch the first for the second. It usually takes 30 - 40 repetitions, to instill a new habit, with most people, so I estimate a similar amount, in the reprogramming process.

Can you have Body Dysmorphic Disorder if you really are ugly? Keyword