Body Dysmorphic Disorder(BDD)
I think this disorder is so misused and misunderstood on tumblr. I understand everyone has their own experiences and struggles with mental illness but I see very few posts that get it right.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is not the same as looking into a mirror and wishing you were skinnier. It is not simply seeing yourself as fat. It’s not denying yourself food because you are scared of gaining weight. It is not an eating disorder. It is not self pity. It is not a cry for attention.
Having this disorder means that you have an altered view of your own body. Usually it is a particular area that is perceived to be flawed or damaged in some way. It could be that a person sees certain body part in such a way that it is not in proportion to the rest of their body.
A lot of people struggle with the same things no matter what their perceived flaws are. Some people will go to great lengths to hide these parts of their bodies. You can obsess over them to the point where you won’t go out into the public because you are so ashamed of your flaws. You believe you are deformed, a monster, unlovable. It is very common for people struggling with this disorder to get plastic surgery to fix their perceived flaws. Even multiple surgeries because the problem is rarely fixed that simply. Mirrors can be a huge problem. BDD alters the way you see yourself even in a mirror. Some people can only focus on their flaws and others feel disconnected from the reflection almost like it is someone else they are looking at. It’s common for people with BDD to get stuck looking in mirrors for hours at a time looking at their perceived flaws. There is a lot of shame and embarrassment involved. You can tell a person with BDD 1000x that their body is fine, that they look normal and nothing is wrong with them. Mostly it does not help because their brains will not allow them to believe it and it seems like the person is lying to them.
There is hope. There are ways to manage it. The first thing you need to do is get a therapist. There are different kinds. Most people are most familiar with psychotherapists the kind who listen to you talk about your problems and ask what you think about them. They can be helpful but what most people who suffer from BDD need is cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a different kind of therapy that is a way to train your brain to think differently. With help you can learn how to manage and fight back the negative thoughts about your body. It will probably be the hardest thing you will ever do in your life. You will be asked to do and have to hear things you never wanted to face. You will only get healing out of it if you put the work in. It’s not an easy fix but it is worth it if you want to live a life free from BDD.
I know this is a lot of text but if it helps one person it was worth typing it out. I know first hand how much of a daily struggle it is to live with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I also know how truly amazing it is to work hard for yourself and be able to look into a mirror and feel confident with your body. If anyone has questions about my experience or needs help feel free to contact me.