Let ’ s Talk ...
Body
Dysmorphia
“ It ’ s the kind of thing that seems to come out of nowhere but has always been there at the same time .”
When asked “ If there was one thing you ’ d change about yourself , what it would be ?” a typical response pin points an aspect of ones appearance . The insecurities we feel may linger , we look into the mirror and see the things we hate daily , more often than not however , we accept them and move on . This sadly is not as easy for a person with Body Dysmorphia ( BDD ).
The BDD Foundation defines Body Dymorphia as “ a disabling preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in appearance . It can affect both men and women , and makes sufferers excessively self-conscious .” What sufferers see as being a flaw consumes daily life and often this leads to the development of compulsive behaviours and routines .
Sufferers of BDD , can often spend hours a day carrying out repetitive behaviours such as obsessively checking their appearance in a mirror or having a total avoidance of mirrors altogether . Typically they may seek verbal opinion from others regarding their appearance , commit to unnecessary grooming rituals and elude social situations . Known as the ‘ hidden disorder ’, many people suffering from BDD choose not to reveal their struggles with body image due to feelings of shame and a fear of their issues being misconstrued as a sort of vanity .
Only recently has body dysmorphia made its way onto the radars of medical professionals . Having in the past been misdiagnosed as obsessive compulsive disorder , depression and / or social anxiety disorder due to the common comorbidities they all entail . BDD is now recognised as a mental illness in the United Kingdom . Artist Emily Joyless (@ emilyjoyless ) first began experiencing symptoms of BDD between the ages of 12-13 . Commonly symptoms of BDD manifest during adolescence and is estimated to affect between 1-2 % of the population equally in both men and women .
Joyless explains to us that there are ways to cope with the mental illness , using art as a therapeutic way of selfexpression ; “ Art became a useful way to show other people how I saw myself , I ’ ve spent hours before now trying to draw how I see myself in the mirror .” A person suffering with BDD will see themselves in an entirely different way than other ’ s see them . Despite being told that their flaws are unobservable they will remain convinced that they are imperfect , with many turning to cosmetic surgery to ‘ correct ’ themselves , however are largely left unsatisfied with the results .
Despite frequent criticism of social media as a platform that may be damaging to young people ’ s self esteem due to unrealistic comparisons , Joyless expressed that it also gives people the accessibility to share and discuss topics such as BDD . “ The internet is truly where I learned what self-love was and that I wanted that for myself … people need to be educated properly about the dangers , but also the wonders that it offers .”
For many , managing BDD may seem like an impossibility , though Isobel is a prime example that it can be done , “ Become more aware of the negative self-talk in your head , the more aware you are the easier is it to recognise where the issues lie . Always remember to put yourself first , it ’ s not selfish , its kindness . You owe yourself that kindness .”
At the request of our contributor an Instagram name was used to ensure privacy .
BYBLE1 . indd 23 02 / 05 / 2018 16:59