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Why BDD Awareness Matters to Me

A Letter from our Managing Director, Kitty Newman 📝

Dear BDD Community,

As we approach our very first BDD Awareness Day on 3rd September, I wanted to take a moment to share why this day means so much to me.

Not just as Managing Director of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, but as someone who lives with BDD.

More than two decades ago, when I was growing up and showing clear signs of BDD, nobody knew what was wrong with me.

I didn’t know. My family didn’t know. And, despite the profound impact it was having on my life, the people around me didn’t have the knowledge or language to recognise what was happening.

As my BDD became more severe, my world became smaller. My quality of life gradually shrank, and there were times when leaving the house felt incredibly difficult. I didn’t understand why I was experiencing this, or that what I was going through had a name.

It was only through a chance viewing of a BBC documentary about BDD that I finally discovered the condition that had been quietly taking over my life.

That moment changed everything.

For the first time, I had an explanation. I understood that I wasn’t alone, that there was a name for what I was experiencing, and crucially that there was hope.

This is why awareness matters so much to me.

Over the last decade in particular, we have seen huge progress in conversations around mental health. There is greater understanding, greater openness and, in many areas, a real willingness to talk about conditions that were once rarely discussed.

There has also been a positive movement towards greater understanding of BDD.
But we are still far behind where we need to be.

In my role at the BDDF, I regularly speak to members of the public, mental health professionals and organisations about BDD and the work we do. Around 95% of the time, I find myself either correcting a misconception about BDD or explaining what it actually is.

And our experience at the Foundation reflects this.

We regularly hear from people who have lived with BDD for many, many years without realising that it was the reason they were struggling. We hear from parents, partners and family members who have watched someone they love become increasingly isolated, distressed and consumed by their appearance, without understanding why.

And, heartbreakingly, we have also heard from family members who have lost loved ones to this devastating condition, sometimes only discovering that BDD was involved when it was already too late.

This must change.

BDD affects approximately 1 in 50 people. That means there are people all around us who may be struggling with BDD right now, perhaps silently, perhaps believing that they are the only person who feels this way, perhaps without ever having heard the words Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Awareness can change that.

🔵 Awareness can mean someone recognising themselves in a description of BDD and finally understanding what is happening to them.

🔵 It can mean a parent recognising the signs in their child.

🔵 It can mean a GP or mental health professional asking a different question.

🔵 It can mean someone discovering that effective treatment exists.

🔵 And, ultimately, awareness can save lives.

I am living proof of what can happen when BDD is recognised and the right support becomes available. So are so many of our staff, volunteers and wider community.

That is why this first BDD Awareness Day matters so much to me, and why I hope it will be the beginning of something much bigger.

On 3rd September, the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, together with the International OCD Foundation, will launch the inaugural BDD Awareness Day. We want to make sure that more people know what BDD is, understand that it is a serious and treatable mental health condition, and know where to turn for support.

I hope you will help us spread the word.

Please share our BDD Awareness Day posts, talk about BDD with the people around you, share our resources, and help us reach the people who may need to see this message.

With heartfelt thanks,

Kitty Newman
Managing Director & Lived Experience Advocate

10 Things I’ve Learnt from 10 Years in Recovery

As part of BDD Awareness Day, our Project Manager Gem shares her learnings from 10 years in recovery

1. Community keeps me on the straight and narrow. Isolation and shame are almost a guaranteed experience if you have BDD. Still to this day one of my biggest turning points in recovery (alongside treatment) was connecting with other people who also live with BDD. It blew my mind because BDD really had me believing I was totally alone with this. For the first time, after joining a support group, I didn’t feel alone. My peer support comes in slightly different forms now, but I know for absolute certain that this is a channel of support I will continue to need throughout my recovery. 

2. I’ve experienced the distorted perception enough times now to accept, and have a deep sense of knowing, that this must be at play when I’m having a lapse. It just can’t be possible that my appearance can physically change as much as my perception tells me so, especially not in the short time frames it seems to. I have to trust that my view of myself is emotionally charged and this impacts my perception. It’s very hard to accept. But I try and trust this is likely the case when I’m feeling so distressed by my appearance. As part of this, uncertainty is something I’m learning to live with. I still have lots of moments where I don’t know what I really look like, or whether I can trust what I see. Learning to sit with that uncertainty, rather than urgently trying to resolve it, has been a huge (and ongoing) part of recovery.

3. It’s harder to talk about BDD when I’m ‘in it’. By this I mean a lapse or relapse… anytime BDD has become very loud again. But the people who love and care about me still do when I share that I’m not doing so great. They actually want to be aware and are often glad I can trust them enough to tell them. It gives them the chance to offer kindness and support when I need it most. BDD is so quick to convince me I’m a burden and should avoid and keep things to myself, but it’s really important to share. As soon as I’m authentic about this, the shame quietens.

4. We still have a long way to go for true understanding. I’m lucky to be in a ‘BDD bubble’ sometimes. Not a line I ever thought I’d say, but in the sense that I’m surrounded by people who understand it and/or care about treating it. These people truly understand the severity of BDD. But when I share about my role with people outside of my work, there is almost always a misconception shared in the first 5 minutes of that conversation. Of course, this is a good opportunity to educate but it hits me every time how far we still have to go. 

5. Working in the charity sector is such a tough gig right now. Securing funding is a constant challenge. The pots are smaller, criteria are stricter, and expectations around outcomes are higher than ever. It’s disheartening at times, but the lesson for me here is that the need for our work makes persistence non-negotiable. What keeps me going is remembering that every small nudge in the right direction can make a huge difference in someone’s life, and we are lucky to see this play out for service users on a regular basis as such a small team.

6. The regret from my surgeries is something that requires continual healing. 10 years on I guess I thought it wouldn’t harm me so much anymore, but it’s such a traumatic experience that it feels hard to ever fully get away from. I carry a sadness that the hope I once had for my distress to diminish from a physical solution will never truly be available to me again. There’s a kind of grief in that. Not just for what happened, but for what I believed might ‘save’ me. I try to remind myself that I made those decisions from a place of pain. At the time, I was doing the best I could with what I thought might help me. That doesn’t take the regret away, but it helps me hold it a little more gently. Self forgiveness and acceptance for my past decisions is the path I now try to follow. This is an ongoing practice. 

7. Every single person I’ve ever met with BDD is beautiful inside and out. Truly. And I know reassurance around appearance is unhelpful in the context of BDD, but I mean beautiful souls with such heartfelt intentions and compassion for others. It continues to baffle me that these people can be so cruel to themselves. It really feels like a curse sometimes. But this realisation is also helpful evidence for me, a mirror I guess, that I am likely doing the exact same to myself when I’m not doing so well. It’s almost impossible to have an objective view of yourself when BDD is in the driving seat.

8. It is possible to experience joy again. For a long time I thought recovery was just a case of masking through life and being able to accept how hideous I am. This is another of BDD’s lies. My life is now full of beautiful joys, things I love doing, hobbies, people, relationships, creativity, awe, movement, purpose… That I never thought were possible. I remember the first time in my recovery that I sat through a whole theatre show without having one BDD thought. I felt so proud, and so hopeful for the possibility that I might not forever be plagued by the relentless onslaught of critical BDD thoughts. This is possible with the right support and treatment.

9. Recovery is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Some days are harder than others, and progress isn’t linear. I’ve learned to be patient with myself, celebrate small steps, and accept setbacks without shame (this can take a moment but I always get there eventually). It’s a cruel condition and my recovery has happened in chunks. I am not sure if full recovery will be possible for me, but this isn’t necessarily the goal. I just keep learning and healing where I can. Direction is more important than speed. One of my favourite mantras is ‘I am in recovery.’ It’s such a simple but helpful reminder to me. 

10. Self compassion is an ongoing practice, but one worth developing. It might seem a radical thing to say, but I genuinely care about myself now in ways I never did previously. Earlier this year, I had a difficult dip with my BDD, and it’s what led me to writing this piece as I slowly came out of the darkness. During this period, I went to a Yin yoga class. This is something I do regularly and I’d usually find to be healing and restorative. I left feeling a total wreck, because the cruel voice in my head felt inescapable once again. But so often this happens in the practice of yoga, we are confronted with looking inward and acknowledging what feels painful and hard to look at. That class didn’t soothe me in the way I’d hoped. It exposed just how harsh and relentless my inner dialogue had become again. But I think that’s where self-compassion comes in. Not as a quick fix, and not as something that suddenly quietens everything, but as a practice of meeting yourself in those moments without adding more cruelty on top. I didn’t leave that class feeling better, but perhaps more aware. And maybe that awareness is where self-compassion starts: not in an expectation of myself to be better, or to stop feeling my feelings, but in choosing, however imperfectly, to be a little gentler with myself in the midst of it. This also means sometimes choosing the hard thing. Choosing to re-employ some of the techniques that I find really challenging but I know will benefit the future version of me. This now feels an essential part of recovery for me. I’ve said it so many times, and it’s another of my favourite mantras when things get heavy….’We cannot hate ourselves into recovery’. 

Gem – People & Projects Manager at BDD Foundation

Beating BDD Podcast #43 – Scott Granet

“People value me well beyond what my hair looks like. I think intellectually I knew that before, but I never really felt it.”

The author, speaker and therapist Scott Granet has lived with BDD for many decades, but he’s now learnt to manage the disorder so that it’s ‘no more than a minor nuisance’. In this conversation, Scott tells us about the childhood roots of his condition, the serious episodes that have marked his life, and how his daughter has changed his perspective on what matters.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Ep43_ScottGranet_shownotesDownload

Building Courage & Community: BDD Conference 2026

Buy your ticket

10th October 2026

This year, we are proud to host our 6th International Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Conference, centred around the theme of Building Courage & Community through shared lived experience.

Our conference is a unique opportunity to bring together the BDD community in a supportive, hopeful, and informative space. Individuals living with BDD, loved ones, clinicians, researchers, and mental health professionals come together to deepen understanding of the condition, explore developments in treatment and recovery, and hear inspiring stories from those with lived experience.

This year’s event places a particularly strong emphasis on the power of lived experience, peer support, and connection. Alongside our main stage talks, we will be offering interactive workshops and support sessions designed to provide practical tools for recovery, reduce isolation, and help attendees build confidence and hope in moving forwards.

By creating opportunities for people to connect with others who truly understand, we hope to foster a safe and empowering environment where attendees can take meaningful steps in their recovery journey and leave feeling less alone.

Throughout the day, attendees will hear from leading clinicians, researchers, advocates, and members of the BDD community. Together, these perspectives will offer a compassionate and balanced understanding of BDD, combining clinical expertise with real-world lived experience.

Workshops and sessions will focus on practical strategies, recovery-focused approaches, and overcoming common challenges associated with BDD. Beyond the educational content, the conference is also a space for comfort, solidarity, and connection. Many attendees tell us that simply being in a room with others who understand BDD can be an incredibly moving and hopeful experience.

Confirmed Speakers & Sessions Include:

  • Keynotes:
    • ‘If it’s not your appearance, then what is it?’ – Dr Rob Willson & Professor David Veale 
    • ‘Reclaiming Your Life Beyond BDD‘ – Chris Trondsen, LMFT 
  • Inspirational Speakers: 
    • Motivation for Recovery Panel — featuring inspiring members of the BDD community
  • Plenary:
    • ‘Latest updates in BDD research’ – Professor Georgina Krebs
    • ‘Written on the Body: Early Trauma, Memory & the Roots of BDD’ – David Knight
  • Workshops: 
    • ‘Reducing Self-Consciousness’ – Dr Rob Willson & Rachel Moore
    • Overcoming Obstacles in CBT for BDD – Dr Amita Jassi & Sarah Woodward
    • ‘Beyond Reassurance: Supporting Someone with BDD’ – Dr Lauren Peile & Scott Granet
    • ‘Cultivating Self-Compassion’ – Lisa Williams & Merly McPhilbin
    • ‘Taking Courageous Steps to Recovery: An Intro to ERP’ – Dr Benedetta Monzani & Dan Joseph
    • ‘Thinking Processes in BDD’ – Dr Angie Lewis & Rufus Dye-Montefiore
  • Q&A Session with clinicians: Prof David Veale, Prof Georgina Krebs, Dr Amita Jassi & Dr Rob Willson

Buy your ticket now:

Detailed Abstracts:

‘If it’s not your appearance, then what is it?’ – Professor David Veale & Dr Rob Willson

For most people with BDD, it seems clear to them that the problem is their appearance. Yet understanding BDD as an emotional problem, rather than an appearance problem, can be an important first step towards recovery.

This session will explore some of the psychological processes that contribute to the development and maintenance of BDD, and how they can shape the way we experience our appearance. We will consider the roles of thinking, attention, emotion, memory and behaviour, and explore concepts such as Theory A / Theory B and viewing the self as an aesthetic object.

By developing a clearer understanding of what is happening beneath the surface of BDD, the session aims to help people make sense of their experiences, recognise the patterns that can keep BDD going, and begin to see where change is possible.

‘Reclaiming Your Life Beyond BDD’

No matter where you are in your recovery journey, an important step is being motivated for change, reclaiming your identity beyond your appearance, and rebuilding a life based on values, goals, and hope.

In this interactive presentation, Chris will highlight ways to move forward and next steps to take beyond this conference. He’ll discuss harnessing the motivation gained from the day’s events, staying consistent with therapy, building identity, fostering community and healing from years of the disorder.

As people begin to improve with treatment, re-engaging in life can be challenging. This presentation will address and explore ways to fill your life with passionate activities, including a career, dating, school, and independence, as well as continuing to engage with the BDD community even after this event concludes. The session will build on the themes explored earlier in the day, encouraging you to think about what your next step in recovery might look like.

We are ending the day on a hopeful and empowering note that provides hope, motivation, and encouragement, while emphasising that recovery isn’t about comparing your journey with anyone else’s, but about taking your own courageous next steps.

‘Written on the Body: Early Trauma, Memory, and the Roots of BDD’

or many people living with BDD, it can feel like the mirror is the problem. But for many, the real story started much earlier — in moments of pain, fear, or feeling unsafe that happened long before appearance ever became the focus. Sometimes it’s not that the body is remembered as flawed. It’s that the body remembers being hurt.

This talk gently explores the connection between early trauma, PTSD, complex trauma, and the development of BDD, and why some appearance beliefs feel so stuck, so absolute, no matter how much evidence says otherwise. We’ll look at how traumatic memories don’t just sit quietly in the past; they can quietly reshape how someone sees themselves, years or even decades later.

Using real (anonymised) clinical stories, we’ll explore what it looks like when the root of BDD is trauma rather than appearance itself and how memory-focused approaches, particularly EMDR, can help people process what happened, rather than just manage how it feels. For many, this is where lasting change becomes possible.

The aim of this talk is hope: understanding where these beliefs really come from is often the first step to loosening their grip. Then using evidence based techniques to process the traumas to stop them influencing how you see yourself now.

‘Thinking Processes in BDD’ – Dr Angie Lewis & Rufus Dye-Montefiore

Our minds are constantly working, often trying to protect us from perceived threats. In BDD, however, some of these thinking processes can unintentionally keep us stuck in cycles of anxiety, self-consciousness and appearance preoccupation.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore some of the common mental processes involved in BDD, including comparing ourselves to others, self-criticism, heightened vigilance for perceived flaws, planning and preparing as well as coping with distressing mental images. Together, we’ll consider why these processes occur, how they contribute to maintaining BDD, and how to recognise them when they’re happening.

Drawing on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), practical exercises and lived experience, we’ll explore ways of responding differently to these thinking patterns, helping you develop a more balanced perspective and reduce their impact on your daily life.

‘Beyond Reassurance: Supporting Someone with BDD’ – Dr Lauren Peile & Scott Granet, LSCW

Supporting someone with BDD can be incredibly challenging. When someone you care about is distressed, it’s only natural to want to reassure them, help them avoid anxiety, or try to make things better. Yet, despite our best intentions, some of these responses can unintentionally keep BDD going.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore practical ways that parents, carers and loved ones can support recovery whilst looking after their own wellbeing. Together, we’ll consider how reassurance and other common responses can reinforce BDD, and how small changes in the way we respond can make a meaningful difference over time.

We’ll discuss the importance of becoming a “cheerleader” for recovery. We’ll also explore how to respond when a loved one is reluctant or unwilling to engage with treatment, de-catastrophise difficult situations, prepare for setbacks as a normal part of recovery, recognise and respond to concerns around self-harm and suicidality, and ensure you’re taking care of your own needs along the way.

Whether you’re supporting a child, partner, family member or friend, you’ll leave with a greater understanding of BDD, practical strategies to support recovery, and increased confidence in navigating the challenges that can arise whilst remembering that you don’t have to face them alone.

‘Reducing Self-Consciousness’ – Dr Rob Willson & Rachel Moore

Many people living with BDD spend much of their time focused on their appearance, monitoring any perceived changes, analysing their thoughts and feelings, and imagining how they look to other people. Unfortunately, this self-focused attention can make appearance concerns feel even more convincing, increase self-consciousness, and keep BDD going.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore why self-focused attention plays such a central role in BDD and, more importantly, how to begin shifting towards a more external focus. Together, we’ll look at the difference between being “on the outside looking in” and “on the inside looking out”, and why this change in perspective can reduce self-consciousness and help you reconnect with the world around you.

‘Overcoming Obstacles in CBT for BDD’

This interactive workshop will discuss some of the common obstacles often faced by clinicians and clients when undertaking Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for BDD. Based on the collective clinical experience of therapists working in a specialist BDD service, common obstacles will be described but importantly suggestions of ways to overcome these will be discussed.

Obstacles such as those including the exposure element of treatment, such as what to consider when anxiety does not reduce when doing exposure tasks, how far to push exposure tasks, and common barriers to effective mirror exposure work, will be considered. Other areas will include how to progress treatment when the perceived appearance flaw is ‘real’ or when there are risk concerns to be addressed, how surveys can be misused in treatment, when techniques aimed to support with attention retraining have the potential to become a distraction or checking behaviour and where the use of Theory A versus Theory B is unhelpful.

There will bean opportunity for attendees to discuss any obstacles they have faced that are not listed above and for the group to think about ways to overcome these.

‘Cultivating Self-Compassion’

Often people with BDD find that they are far kinder and more understanding towards others than they are towards themselves. Self-criticism, shame and guilt can become deeply ingrained, making it difficult to respond to setbacks with the warmth and encouragement needed for recovery.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore what self-compassion really means. It isn’t about letting ourselves off the hook or avoiding difficult emotions. Rather, it involves responding to our own suffering with kindness, understanding and courage, whilst taking the steps needed to make meaningful changes in our thinking and behaviour.

Together, we’ll look at the growing evidence for self-compassion in improving mental health and wellbeing and consider how developing a more compassionate relationship with ourselves can support recovery from BDD. We’ll also explore the powerful role that imagery plays in shaping our emotions and practise a guided compassionate imagery exercise, helping you develop a practical tool that you can continue to use long after the workshop has ended.

Big Half Fundraising Team

Meet our incredible runners, training and fundraising to support the BDD Foundation in September’s Big Half

Meet our Big Half runners!

This is the BDD Foundation’s first year taking part in the Big Half, and we are so excited to welcome Katie & Hollie to our 2026 fundraising team 🎉

Thank you to you both for your amazing efforts in raising both awareness and funds for us. It means so much!

Hollie Ryan

I’m running to support the charity to help it continue to provide rare and much needed support to its community, one of whom is a close personal friend who has inspired me with her tenacity and bravery in not only dealing with the disorder personally but helping others understand and deal with it themselves.

Katie Lang

I’m incredibly proud to be running the Big Half for team BDD Foundation! Every day in my work as a Clinical Psychologist, I meet young people whose lives have been deeply affected by BDD and I have seen the difference that the support provided the BDD Foundation can make to them. I’m so pleased that I can offer a small part in improving awareness of BDD and raising some money for this incredible charity!

If you’d like to support Hollie or Katie, we’ve shared their fundraising links below.

➡️ Support Hollie

➡️ Support Katie

The Observer Reports on BDD

“The practitioners who see people with BDD first tend to be dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons, because patients rarely believe they are mentally ill – they just think they’re ugly.”

A recent feature in The Observer Magazine shines a much needed light on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), exploring its devastating impact, the challenges of diagnosis, and the growing evidence that effective treatment can transform lives.

The article follows the experiences of young people living with BDD, illustrating how overwhelming preoccupation with perceived flaws can lead to intense anxiety, isolation, withdrawal from education and everyday life, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts and attempts. It also highlights how difficult BDD can be to recognise, particularly because many people experiencing it do not see themselves as having a mental health condition, they believe that the problem is their appearance.

The feature visits the specialist BDD service at the Maudsley Hospital, led by Dr Amita Jassi, and looks at developments in understanding and treating the disorder. The article describes the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure-based approaches and medication, showing the encouraging treatment outcomes being achieved in specialist services.

The Observer speaks with Amita Jassi, consultant clinical psychologist and Vice Chair of the BDD Foundation, who brings her clinical experience to the discussion. Amita describes the realities of working with people experiencing severe BDD, including the challenges of engaging with young people who may become so distressed that they retreat entirely from the outside world. She explains that clinicians can sometimes find themselves treating patients from behind a bedroom door, and, in some cases, without seeing the person face-to-face at all.

The article reinforces a central message for the BDD community: BDD is common, serious and highly treatable, yet it remains significantly under-recognised and under-diagnosed. Greater awareness among healthcare professionals, families, schools and the wider public is essential so that people can receive appropriate support sooner.

For the BDD Foundation, the feature is an important opportunity to amplify understanding of a condition that remains too often hidden. By sharing the experiences of people with BDD and highlighting the specialist expertise and treatments available, the article helps demonstrate why better recognition, earlier intervention and access to evidence-based care matter so much.

BDD Awareness Day

For the very first time, we are excited to be hosting a BDD Awareness Day on 3rd September 2026.

BDD Awareness Day is a dedicated opportunity to increase understanding of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), challenge stigma, and ensure that more people affected by this often misunderstood condition can access more understanding, support, and effective treatment.

Organised by the BDD Foundation in partnership with the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), the inaugural BDD Awareness Day brings together individuals with lived experience, families, professionals, researchers, and communities around the world to shine a light on BDD.

Why do we need an Awareness Day?

Despite affecting 1 in 50 people, BDD remains widely misunderstood and under recognised. Increasing awareness helps to:

  • Improve understanding of what BDD is and how it affects people
  • Reduce stigma and misconceptions around the condition
  • Encourage people experiencing symptoms to seek support
  • Help families, friends, and professionals recognise the signs of BDD
  • Promote access to effective, evidence-based treatment

Together, we can change the conversation

BDD is so much more than worrying about your appearance. It is a serious condition that deserves compassion, understanding, and needs appropriate support and psychological treatment.

By learning more about BDD and sharing accurate information, we can work towards our mission, and help create a world where people affected by BDD feel seen, understood, and able to access the help they need.

How you can get involved

We can all play a powerful role in raising awareness. You can support BDD Awareness Day by:

  • Engaging with the information we are sharing across our channels
  • Sharing information with your community to help expand our reach – you can use our social media assets found here.
  • Welcoming conversations around mental health and reducing stigma
  • Supporting awareness activities and events
  • Signposting people affected by BDD towards support and resources
  • Amplifying our work so it reaches those who need it most

Upcoming BDD Awareness Events

🗣️ BDD Awareness Day Livestream

Join Chris Trondsen, LMFT, along with Tilly Kaye and experts Katherine Phillips, MD, and Sony Khemlani, PhD, for a special discussion about Body Dysmorphic Disorder, including how BDD presents and the evidence-based treatment options available.

Livestream will be across our social media platforms.

Beating BDD Podcast #42 – Rachel Moore

“Even when you feel at your absolute lowest, there’s always somebody to talk to.”

Our guest, Rachel Moore, lived with undiagnosed BDD for around 30 years before finally receiving a diagnosis in her late thirties. She talks candidly about childhood bullying, family comments, and how the disorder affected her relationships and confidence. Today, Rachel lives a full and enjoyable life, which includes performing in a band and volunteering with the BDD Foundation.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Ep42_RachelMoore_ShownotesDownload

BDD Advisory Group

Have your say in BDD Research. Join an advisory group! ⁠
⁠
UCL are looking for individuals with lived experience of BDD to help shape crucial research aimed at improving the detection, diagnosis, & treatment of BDD. By participating, you can help shape future research & support resources. ⁠
⁠
More Information

UCL are committed to working with people living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) to help them shape the research they conduct and the resources that they develop to support people with BDD. They are fortunate to draw upon the experiences and perspectives of a dedicated community of BDD advisors. Working with this community helps them to make sure that their research and practice is respectful, supportive and relevant. And at this time, they would like to expand the community.

They are keen to hear from anyone:

  • With lived experience of BDD (past or present)
  • Living in the UK and able to speak English
  • Aged 18 years or older

You can expect to:

  • Receive information about opportunities to support research
  • Attend occasional meetings online
  • Give your opinion on different aspects of the research
  • Be paid for your time – for attending the meetings and for looking over any documents in-between meetings.

Deadline to apply is 14th August⁠
⁠
Please note, this group is not run or managed by the BDD Foundation, and all enquiries/ registrations must be sent to e.hogg@ucl.ac.uk⁠

Apply Here

Laurence’s Recovery Story

“The paranoid thoughts took root and grew like weeds. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeply wrong with me.”

Laurence has kindly shared his story of BDD and how he navigated the murky waters of mental health struggles, wrestled with a troubled past that landed him in prison, and built a company from the ground up when every traditional route to funding was closed to him. Below we have shared a snippet of Laurence’s story, and a link to read his full sharing on Medium.

As soon as I arrived at the college, walked into the building and took a seat in the first class, I felt something… shift. People were looking at me. Not in a friendly, “hey, new guy” kind of way, but in a strange, hyper-aware kind of way. It was like I suddenly stood out; and not in a good way. It was a feeling I couldn’t explain and certainly couldn’t control.

Over the days and weeks that followed, this sensation snowballed. The paranoid thoughts took root and grew like weeds. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeply wrong with me. My appearance became my obsession; my nose, my hairline, the shape of my jaw; everything came under scrutiny. I’d stand in front of the mirror for hours, searching for flaws, then finding them, then magnifying them in my mind until I could barely function.

It consumed me entirely. This wasn’t vanity; far from it. This was fear. It dictated what I wore, whether I went outside, and who I spoke to. I started avoiding mirrors, and then sought them compulsively. I stopped going out unless i’d washed my hair six times or arranged it just right; though, spoiler alert, it never felt right. I withdrew from my family, my friends, even from myself. I was living in a prison of my own making, and the worst part? Nobody understood it.

People thought I was just being ridiculous. “Stop being so vain.” “Pull yourself together.” “You’re fine, there’s nothing wrong with you.” But it didn’t matter how many times I heard that; I didn’t believe them. To me, the defect was real. Tangible. Unmissable. What I didn’t know then was that I was living with undiagnosed Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a condition that would go on to rule my life for the better part of eight years.

And unfortunately, as if that weren’t enough, things would get worse before they got better.

Those eight years of struggling with BDD were long, painful, and deeply isolating. And during that time, my life took a very different turn than it might have otherwise. The turning point; the wrong turn, if you will; came when I was 21. My family was going through a house move, and for a brief spell, we were a bit scattered, not quite rooted anywhere. It was during this awkward, transitional period that I began hanging around with a group of lads from a neighbouring street.

Continue reading…

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. Charity no. 1153753.