The event organisers of ‘What’s Going on in your Head?’ chose the theme of body image to coincide with MHAW and we had the fantastic Omari Eccleston-Brown representing the BDD Foundation with an interpretive dance and then discussion about his experience of BDD.
Elle Magazine reached out to the BDD Foundation for an article in their May edition: ‘The Girl in the Mirror: What it is like to suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder. While general feelings of insecurity plague many young women, for a person who has BDD, such thoughts are all-consuming. The problem crosses over from body image concern if it’s affecting your ability to work, manage a relationship or keep up a social life.
Rebecca and other’s talk about their experiences with BDD:
‘[BDD] stops you from doing everything. It’s a form of anxiety. You’re trapped in your head every second of every day. All you can think about is your body and how uncomfortable you feel in it.’
Read the full article here
In the first of a two part special focusing on the debilitating body image disorder, Body Dysmorphia, Dr Linda chats to Kitty Wallace who has battled with BDD since her teens. BDD is an all consuming disorder, where the sufferer finds themselves fixating on a perceived flaw or defect in their appearance that is invisible to others and it can have a hugely debilitating effect on their ability to engage in every day activities.
In Kitty’s darkest times she found herself unable to leave the house for months on end, avoiding social situations because of her anxiety over her skin. When she did try and leave the house there were times when she found herself locked in an 8 hour cycle of trying to cover up the skin on her face, applying and removing make up until she eventually gave up, exhausted.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel as she goes on to discuss her recovery through therapy.
In part two of the Body Dysmorphia special it explores treatment and therapies that are available if you or someone you know may be struggling to cope with living with BDD.
Dr Amita Jassi is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorder Service for Children and Young People chats to Dr Linda about the hallmarks and symptoms of BDD, how to support a loved one and sheds light on how effective CBT is when seeking treatment and support.
Minnie is a remarkable lady who not only knows the effects BDD can have first-hand but facilitates BDD support groups to help other sufferers. We get to hear, in her own words, her story with BDD starting from experiencing racism in her childhood, to cosmetic surgery in her late teens and suicidal thoughts through to finally getting diagnosed at the age of 44 and then her recovery journey.
She discusses how her CBT therapy worked and what some of her exposure challenges looked and felt like. Very significantly she talks about the ups and downs of recovery and that relapses are a normal part of this.
Vogue has written an article highlighting the new challenges of using zoom for individuals with BDD. “We’re hearing that [patients are] becoming fixated on worrying about their own appearance during the call, getting stuck fixing their appearance for the call by changing their makeup, lighting, or camera angle, and getting distracted during the call by comparing their appearance to others,”
To read the full article follow this link
Laura, the host of ‘This Full Mind’ says: “I am so honoured to have been able to have this conversation with Dr Nicole Schnackenberg, a psychologist, psychotherapist and part of the team at the @bddfoundation.
Since getting diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) a few months ago, it’s felt like a huge weight has been lifted off me. After two decades of feeling alone with my obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours I have a team of people supporting me and have been equipped with language and tools to explain my experience to the people I love (who have been so supportive). Talking to Nicole was such a dream because I felt so seen and understood, and normal! I really recommend this episode for anyone struggling with self image acceptance or supporting someone going through something similar. Huge thank you to Nicole and the @bddfoundation for their support and the important work they are doing! Available now on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and all good podcast apps. Looking to support me and the podcast? Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts ♥️
When she was at primary school, Alex (not her real name) remembers the teacher asking the class what they would do if they won the lottery. “Go on holiday!” “Buy my mum a present!” were typical answers, but all Alex could think about was how she would use the money to fix her appearance, which she describes as “horrific and abnormal.” It wasn’t until years later that Alex was referred to a psychologist, who told her she had body dysmorphic disorder and that together they could beat it.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition. It causes people to worry excessively about what they think are flaws in their appearance, even though these flaws might not be noticeable to other people. BDD affects both men and women and can affect people of any age, but is most common in teenagers and young adults. It’s usually treated with a type of talking therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is sometimes used alongside an antidepressant medication.
As a teenager, Alex got to the point where she couldn’t leave the house without three layers of make-up, if she could leave at all. She spent a lot of her adolescence indoors.
Alex is now 25 years old and has been in treatment for body dysmorphic disorder for over six years. She has learnt that when thinking about herself, she should always think first about who she is on the inside, not what she looks like on the outside. “I’m not blowing my own trumpet,” she says, “but I can be quite funny…”. Alex has realised that she has lots of beautiful qualities and although she still battles every day with feelings of low self-worth, she feels her condition is slowly improving. “I just carry on,” she says, “because I’m going to win the war eventually.”
‘INSIDE’ is inspired by Delta Lima’s upcoming short film ‘Hall of Mirrors’, which explores Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Sales of the track will be donated to the BDD Foundation who do great work in raising awareness and supporting people with BDD and those who treat people with the disorder. Please support the BDD Foundation and Delta Lima. Track is available for purchase on iTunes.
Official Music Video: Inside by Delta Lima
