On Saturday 26th June 2021, The BDD Foundation and OCD Action joined forces to bring our wide-reaching community together for a day of education, inspiration and connection.
We knew that as a community, we have been one of the hardest hit by the restrictions, fear and isolation of the past year, and that in June, as we were starting to emerge from lockdown, new challenges were starting to emerge. That’s why we wanted to give our community a platform to celebrate the strength and resilience of people who have lived experience of BDD, OCD and BFRBs.
On our main stage, BDD room and OCD room we hosted a range of world-renowned experts who explored the latest breakthroughs in research, clinical practice, and emerging treatments. Meanwhile, our breakout rooms included a jam-packed schedule of workshops, performances and opportunities to connect.
On Saturday 26th June 2021, The BDD Foundation and OCD Action joined forces to bring our wide-reaching community together for a day of education, inspiration and connection.
Thank you to Charlie King, from the show The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) for raising awareness for this under-recognised condition and speaking about it with such insight and authenticity.
Charlie said: ‘It’s been quite a tough time, this last four years especially, it all came to a head… I’m addressing a lot of things and working through it.
‘If I look at the bigger picture, it started at school, I was bullied terribly and it definitely affected me… I always felt the odd one out or not very confident.’
Charlie then discussed having a cosmetic procedure on his nose which went wrong, admitting: ‘With that I started to retract back because and I was like, I don’t want to be seen… My confidence starting chipping away again and I started falling back.’
He added: ‘When we got out of that first lockdown I went to see a plastic surgeon who agreed that an improvement could be made. So when you hear that and you’re already in a vulnerable place and self-conscious, I was like “sign me up, get me in”…
‘I had surgery number one, and quite quickly after I could see it wasn’t right. The surgery didn’t go to plan.’
Thankfully, Charlie is now receiving help. He explained: ‘I’m getting help, I’ve got a great support network and I have therapy… It will be an ongoing thing… Therapy helps me to look at the bigger picture…’
“Fraser took on the Loch Ness Marathon last Sunday to raise funds for and awareness of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, completing the route in four hours, 49 minutes and 18 seconds.”
Fraser said: “I was diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder in 2016 after a life-long battle with my body image and have since thankfully reached a point in life where I live with it rather than suffer from it. Unfortunately, for so many people out there with BDD, they haven’t yet reached that stage and the support and awareness available to them isn’t quite hitting the mark.”
On Saturday 26th June 2021, The BDD Foundation and OCD Action joined forces to bring our wide-reaching community together for a day of education, inspiration and connection.
This is a revolutionary way for people to have access to experts; through the power of conversation.
Whether it’s for yourself, wanting to support someone you know, or you’re just curious to understand better, JAAQ is here. Just ask a question.
JAAQ was founded by Danny Gray with a vision to ‘change the world of mental health, one question at a time’.
As a child, Danny was bullied because of his appearance, which really impacted him. He started obsessing about the way he looked, so much so that he developed Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
He understands that when someone is experiencing a mental health problem, having access to suitable sources of information quickly and simply is crucial. Once you understand it, you can start to deal with it.
When he came across the technology that powers JAAQ, Danny immediately saw its potential. And during a restless night’s sleep, the idea for JAAQ was born. He then focused on making JAAQ a reality; with the aim to provide information to people that need it as soon as they need it.
On Saturday 26th June 2021, The BDD Foundation and OCD Action joined forces to bring our wide-reaching community together for a day of education, inspiration and connection.
“Thinking about my relationship with my physical appearance in terms of BDD has actually been quite liberating. Since I have begun to research the condition, I have felt able to consider my negative body image as an issue in its own right, rather than simply as an aspect of my depression and anxiety. This in turn has enabled me, at least partially, to sever the link between my negative views about how I look and low self-esteem. “
“From my own point of view, I can trace a sense of dissatisfaction with my physical appearance back to a brief period when I was bullied about my hairline when I started at secondary school. Over time, my physical appearance became a focus for my negative feelings about myself. My appearance and my body became things that had to manage or conceal.”
“I’m no longer distracted from the things I want to do. I’m happier and healthier than ever.”
Ten years ago, Andy used to spend eight hours a day in front of the mirror and couldn’t imagine ever being able to function. Now, he works full time and describes himself as 90% to 95% recovered.
You can download the transcript for this episode here:
Fraser has raised over £1,000 by running this marathon and has shared his story in the news.
The Film Bulking up will largely be based on the real life experience of muscle dysmorphia, suffered by the actor Micky David (who is playing Danny) in his early twenties:
“It’s hard to explain but if my t-shirt wasn’t tight around my biceps or if I’d eaten something that wasn’t in my nutrition plan it’d play on my mind on repeat.
After once being told how skinny I immediately took on an eight week bulking regime, force feeding myself 4000 calories a day & lifting heavy weights. Although I put on 10KG and packed on muscle I suffered numerous illnesses including urine infections, daily bowel issues, a shoulder injury and muscle damage, not to mention daily insecurities about the way I looked.
Every detail embedded in the film are day to day occurrences I faced when Bulking Up, from panicking over what to eat to the meticulous logging of nutrition and progress. I want the film to be truthful, so to recall on my own story and specific elements of others was fundamental.”
BulkingUpis a short film about muscle dysmorphia and men’s mental health. We follow our protagonist Danny (Micky David) as he battles with the perception of his own appearance, whilst his world starts to falls apart.
BulkingUp Is a co-production between Firework Productions (TAYLOR) and theAcademy Award Winning Slick Films (The Silent Child, Sucker Punch)
The Story
Danny’s journey to carve the body of his dreams is lined with hurdles. His best mate constantly pesters him to go out drinking, which jeopardises his progress. He is on thin ice at work for persistent lateness after cramming in extra workouts. Then he has to endure his boss’ incessant daily fantasies over male celebrities, which only escalates his anxieties. Even when his girlfriend tries to be intimate with him, hatred of his own body comes between them.
Six weeks in and Danny is still unable to bear his reflection. His fitness fixation soars and his regime turns into a vicious cycle of binging, lifting and throwing up. His life spirals out of control, catastrophically splitting up with his girlfriend, falling out with his best friend, dropped by his agent and being sacked from work. Just when things can’t get any worse he seriously injures himself at the gym, putting himself out of action.
After twelve weeks Danny’s obsession has turned his life upside down and he stares longingly at the influencer’s profile. He appears to have it all; the body of an Adonis, over a hundred thousand followers and a lifestyle to die for. However, underneath his filtered snaps hides a very dark reality that is about to take its toll. Oblivious and alone Danny embarks on a new, but dangerous, alternative to achieve the physique he has always longed for.
Fraser has raised over £1,000 by running this marathon and has shared his story in the news.
The Youtube channel & podcasters ‘Game Coping’ will the hosting a 24-hour charity live stream of PS4 & PS5 video games, interviews and live music in aid of the BDD Foundation! This will be held on Friday 20th August beginning at 2pm BST and finishing the following day on Saturday 21st at 2pm.
Duncan will speed run the game Dishonoured 2, interview someone from the BDD Foundation, and will sing a song – all live!!
If you donate you can request a game to be played, or a song for Duncan to sing!
Donate what you can, but we do have some bonuses for you just like last year.
Donate £5 or more before Wednesday the 18th of August and you can request a game for us to play on the stream.
Donate £15 or more before Tuesday 17th of August and you can request a song for Duncan to sing during his mini virtual concert during the stream.
Thank you all so much for your support! See you in the chat on Friday the 20th of August from 2 pm BST! We’ll be live at the link below…
On Saturday 26th June 2021, The BDD Foundation and OCD Action joined forces to bring our wide-reaching community together for a day of education, inspiration and connection.
Featuring leading BDD clinician Katherine Phillips MD and stories of lived experience
“I’m no longer distracted from the things I want to do. I’m happier and healthier than ever.”
Flora Howarth suffered with BDD alongside an eating disorder until just 18 months ago. Since then, she’s made truly inspirational progress is overcoming the disorder, and built up a personal toolkit of tricks that will be really helpful to listeners.
You can download the transcript for this episode here:
