BDD is often wrongly thought of as a ` vanity ' obsession , but it is actually the opposite , because people with BDD believe they are very ugly , even though people without BDD do not think they are . BDD is often misunderstood as a vanity-driven obsession , whereas it is quite the opposite ; people with BDD do not believe themselves to be better looking than others , but instead feel that their perceived `` defect '' is irrevocably ugly or not good enough . People with BDD may compulsively look at themselves in the mirror or , conversely , cover up and avoid mirrors .