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Justin – The influence of nature & technology on Body Image

Justin Brass shares his experience of BDD through a thought provoking essay.

Disciplining of Men and Women’s Bodies: The Influence of Technology and Nature on Viewing Body Image

My relationship between my health and how I critique my body has been through the influence of technology and nature causes me to feel like I need to discipline myself into meeting unrealistic beauty standards. Furthermore, I have put energy into these beliefs for many years before I was diagnosed with BDD, as society regulates our reliance on the media, which perpetuates various social and traditional expectations of men and women and how they should perceive their bodies. Specifically, this process has generated a significant amount of pressure on I view my self-worth and personal value, as many young boys are exposed to the media’s scrutiny to always appear thin and in specific ways (i.e., ‘the ideal standard for how men should be’). Over time, these expectations have not only become integrated into how I use technology today but has caused me to compare myself to the artificial nature of constructed media, which teaches people to discipline their bodies into meeting conformity. Further, I have realized that our relationship with rising technologies is quite dependent, which has become a necessary component of how many of us live our lives (with or without BDD). This reliance on technology also shapes our normative culture, which is heavily influenced by the images, messages, and standards that we come into contact with throughout our regular lives. These messages are also taught to many of us through our socializing agents such as friends and family, which further perpetuate the standards of what a man or woman should look like. For example, as a child, my father always told me that I needed to spend more time bench pressing because it would make my body look more ‘fit’. My father would also tell me to play more sports and to exercise frequently because men needed their bodies to appear athletically fit, as participation in these kinds of activities were something that I always felt pressured to do. Although I never considered myself to be in an unhealthy physical state, I continuously felt pressured by my family to lift weights, work out, and fixate on my appearance. As a result, the more I did not achieve bodily results that matched what my father expected from me, the further I felt I needed to discipline my body as extremely as possible (i.e., so that I could fit in with the rest of the boys my age). I do not imagine this experience to be different for many men and women such as myself, as many of us are taught at a young age to focus on how our identities appear to others and on remaining beautiful, skinny, and physically ideal. Like many men who can be teased by their peers for not being “buff” enough, there is a great amount of pressure placed onto lots of us who feel like we will do anything just to fit the framework of acceptance by society’s standards. I found the influence of my father to be the biggest impact on my BDD thoughts and behaviours, which in turn led me to compare myself to others in the media because it reinforced the negative perceptions that I was being taught at home. My experience with my family in relation to how I have relied on technology and media was a considerable influencer of triggering my BDD for many years.

            However, once I decided to step away from these unhealthy ideologies and into understanding how our bodies are a part of our nature and not based on how the media constructs our views of the ‘perfect body’, that I felt like I was freeing my mind from pressure. This is what I call the truer ‘nature’ of how we should conceptualize seeing our bodies, as I have studied how complex the human body is and how easily influenced it is by environmental factors, which causes our bodies to develop in ways that are sometimes completely out of our control. In turn, we can not control the nature of our bodies, as each of these many factors will alter our body’s dimensions and it is not our fault if we do not end up matching certain beautified standards. Yet, through our discovery of trying to understand ourselves on a deeper level, our society has developed several labels for describing our physical beings anyway. Through this effort to understand our bodies, we have created several additional terms to classify the diverse or more unique aspects of our bodies. In turn, the expectation to categorize oneself to fit into the framework of society has only divided us into groups based on how we feel we should identify our health, gender, nature, and body image in relation to everyone else around us. Unfortunately, this occurrence continues to be highly influential in shaping how most of us structure our opinions of ourselves, which is either supported or discriminated against by the same arbitrary beauty standards we have placed in society.

             As such, many people like myself have learned from social media to possess low self-esteem because they are constantly being exposed to various influencers and celebrities who perpetuate beliefs that a person can only be accepted if they meet a certain image. This has not only led to encouraging my own problematic behaviour, such as in practicing under/overeating to achieve a certain weight limit, but has also negatively impacted my mental health. In my personal life, I have been a victim of this experience for many years, as I have struggled with overeating habits for most of my life whenever I felt bad about how I looked. However, I now realize due to my natural body structure, no matter how hard I push myself to eat, I cannot seem to meet the weight goal that I have always desired. For a long time, this caused me to think negatively about myself, as I continued to push myself into meeting an ideal male body standard. It was only in recent years, whilst at university, that I realized I was punishing myself, as there was no real or valuable reason for why I was disciplining my body so severely. Once I realized why I was engaging in this behaviour and how it was impacting my health, I understood that this situation was a problem with how I viewed myself. For many years I tried to conform to the unrealistic standards of what the media and what my peers had told me was the true ‘norm’. I never understood why I felt so much stress when I would think about my body image until I realized that I was not alone in struggling with how I saw myself. Furthermore, I felt because I was uncomfortable with my body, I was uncomfortable with who I was on a more meaningful level. The effects of this behaviour led me down the wrong path for many years, which caused me to neglect my mental health and to judge myself for things that are out of my control. Thus, I believe to truly live healthily we must first become comfortable with how we see our bodies. Whether you are a man, woman, or non-gender individual, it is important that you learn ways to bring awareness into the narrative of how you see yourself and in comparison to others and the media. In turn, we can teach future generations that we all come with imperfect bodies, which will allow us to advocate for a future where we can respect each other’s appearances and prioritize healthier ways of living such as in promoting wellness.

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Beating BDD Podcast #23 – Berni Benton

“Forgive yourself… Many more people than you realise live this life. They just look like they have it all together.”

Berni hid what she called her “secret shame” for 40 years before discovering she’d been suffering from skin-picking disorder – a common co-morbidity with BDD that can also manifest on its own. She’s since learnt how to say no to the skin-picking voice and has even appeared in a naked calendar.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Main Stage video from our Joint Virtual Conference

Justin Brass shares his experience of BDD through a thought provoking essay.

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.

You can watch our Main Stage video below!

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Charlie King from TOWIE shares his experience of BDD

Justin Brass shares his experience of BDD through a thought provoking essay.

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…’

Above exerts from a Daily Mail article.

Our chairman, Dr Rob Willson was also on the show to give an expert’s perspective on the condition.

Watch the full episode on catch up

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Well done Fraser running the Loch Ness Marathon for us!

Fraser has raised over £1,000 by running this marathon and has shared his story in the news.

Read Fraser’s Story in the Falkirk Herald

“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.”

Donate via Fraser’s Just Giving page


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Introducing JAAQ.co.uk

Justin Brass shares his experience of BDD through a thought provoking essay.

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.

Go to JAAQ website

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Emma shares her experience of BDD

Justin Brass shares his experience of BDD through a thought provoking essay.

“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.”

Read the full article

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Beating BDD Podcast #22 – Andy Hall

“Forgive yourself… Many more people than you realise live this life. They just look like they have it all together.”

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:

‘Bulking Up’ a film about MD needs your support

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.”

Bulking Up is 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. 

Bulking Up Is a co-production between Firework Productions (TAYLOR) and the Academy 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.

DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS FILM

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taylorthefilm/bulking-up

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24 Hour Video Game Livestream Fundraiser

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…

www.youtube.com/GameCoping

Donate via their Just Giving page


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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. Charity no. 1153753.

Online BDD Conference

An opportunity for professionals, researchers, students, and those with lived experience to find community and to learn more about BDD.

Join this virtual event on Saturday, May 31, 2025!