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Beating BDD Podcast #12 Debbie and Daniel

“We can’t put into words how life has changed… When we look at Oliver now, we see a strong, determined, brave young man that has a future and can live the best life he can.”

Episodes 10 and 11 featured an interview with Oliver Butcher, who spoke publicly for the first time about his struggle with BDD. In this episode, you’ll hear how his experience affected the lives of his mum Debbie and his older brother Daniel.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #11 Oliver Butcher

“We can’t put into words how life has changed… When we look at Oliver now, we see a strong, determined, brave young man that has a future and can live the best life he can.”

This is the second part of my interview with Oliver Butcher. In it, you’ll hear him describe the self-abuse that was part of his BDD, how that affected his family and the advice he’d give anyone suffering from the disorder. For another perspective on Oliver’s story, episode 12 will feature a really frank conversation between his mum Debbie and his brother Daniel – so keep an eye out for that.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #10 Oliver Butcher

“We can’t put into words how life has changed… When we look at Oliver now, we see a strong, determined, brave young man that has a future and can live the best life he can.”

For this episode – the first of two – I spoke to Oliver Butcher, who’s currently in the middle of treatment for his BDD. It’s the first time he’s spoken publicly about his struggle with the condition, so we’re especially grateful for him for having the courage to come forward. You’ll find the second half of Oliver’s interview in episode 11.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #9 Omari Eccleston-Brown

“We can’t put into words how life has changed… When we look at Oliver now, we see a strong, determined, brave young man that has a future and can live the best life he can.”

In the second part of his interview, Omari describes the things that helped him most in treatment and beyond, and gives some valuable advice to anyone trying to help a loved one with BDD.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #8 Omari Eccleston-Brown

“We can’t put into words how life has changed… When we look at Oliver now, we see a strong, determined, brave young man that has a future and can live the best life he can.”

Omari had so much great stuff to share that we’ve split his interview into two. In the first half, he describes what recovery means to him and how BDD affected his life, including his romantic relationships.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #7 Alex Mummery

“Now, I’m always the confident version of me, because I’m not pinning of all my identify on the way I look. So even if I look in the mirror and feel dissatisfied, I still walk away from it a confident person.”

Alex’s BDD started at around 13 after a friend made a comment about the shape of his head. After 10 years of growing his hair long to disguise the perceived flaw, he did a course of CBT alongside his own exposure therapy. Now, he exposes his head to the world every day and says his BDD is no longer a problem.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #6 Alanah Bagwell

“If I compare myself to 5-7 years ago, it’s absolutely incredible. And the days I don’t think about it – which are actually really common now – are just amazing.”

My guest for this episode was Alanah Bagwell. Just a few years ago, Alanah was suffering from BDD so severely that she missed whole chunks of her education. Today, she’s something of a BDD celebrity, appearing on several TV programmes and doing press interviews to raise awareness of the disorder. And like other recent interviewees, she’s also studying to become a clinical psychologist to help others.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #5 Callum Murphy

“I feel continually surprised that every day can be a different experience rather than every day just feeling so painfully the same.”

For this episode I spoke to Callum Murphy. He was very frank about how BDD has affected his life and the people around him, as well as how desperate the disorder has made him feel. He’s now recently out of therapy and has some great insights into how to get the most out of it – and how he keeps himself well.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #4 Gareth Stephens

“In the last five or six years I’ve probably had two dysmorphic thoughts. On both occasions I looked in the mirror, then thought, “No, I don’t do this anymore.” And I was able to walk away and get on with my day.”

For this episode I spoke to Gareth Stephens. In just eight years Gareth has gone from being too ill with BDD to work to helping others recover from anxiety disorders as a CBT therapist in south London. His interview shows that however bad things seem, it is possible to make a full recovery from the disorder.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

Beating BDD Podcast #3 Hannah Lewis

“Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but it does get easier.”

For the third episode of Beating BDD, I spoke to Hannah Lewis. Hannah’s BDD first appeared when she was about eight. Now 25 and in recovery, she’s recently embarked on a PhD on how to prevent the disorder from developing in secondary school age children.


You can download the transcript for this episode here:

The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. Charity no. 1153753.

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