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Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder - My Story of Living With BDD

"It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see."
~ Henry David Thoreau

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This is the Story of My Life Living With Body Dysmorphic Disorder

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Assessing The Cost of Appearance Concerns and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

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This is my first exercise from Feeling Good about the Way You Look: A Program for Overcoming Body Image Problems. Kindle location 1109 at 24%.

What is My Poor Body Image Costing Me?

Having struggled with poor body image for quite some time I have adjusted life to accommodate my problems. I was no longer aware of the huge toll my problems have taken on my life. Here is my list of disadvantages of being obsessed with my appearance. I will use these to help motivate me to make change.

  1. Dissatisfaction
  2. Shame/embarrassment
  3. Guilt
  4. Anxiety
  5. Concern that my children will become preoccupied with appearance
  6. Loneliness/isolation
  7. Jealousy of better looking people
  8. Self hate
  9. Disgust
  10. Anger
  11. Fear of rejection of abandonment
  12. Fear of being ridiculed
  13. Avoidance of intimate relationships
  14. Stress on relationships due to avoidance behaviors or comparing
  15. Making excuses or lying about the problem
  16. Not being fully present at work because of appearance concerns
  17. Being late because of rituals
  18. Avoidance of body focused activities (swimming, gym, sun)
  19. Refusing overnight trips
  20. Avoidance of social activities
  21. Feeling horrible in certain clothes
  22. Avoidance of getting your picture taken
  23. Avoidance of mirrors
  24. Avoidance of being seen from certain angles
  25. Avoidance of certain tasks (for example, sitting near a window or under bright lights) 
  26. Time for rituals (mirror checking, comparing, shopping appearance fixing)
  27. Accidents due to mirror checking
  28. Alcohol or drugs to cope with preoccupation
  29. Cost of beauty products suck as skin creams and soaps

Questions to Ask Yourself if You are Losing Motivation

  • Do I want to change? Yes
  • Do I want to stop being so obsessed with my looks? Yes
  • Do I want to stop comparing? Yes
  • Am I tired of being scared by mirrors? Yes

Books Worth Reading

Shattered Image: My Triumph Over Body Dysmorphic Disorder

This is a wonderful book written by Brian Cuban – The brother of famed billionaire and tech mogul Mark Cuban from The Shark Tank. It is great to finally hear a man’s voice in this space. The book is honest, timely, and gives practical advice that we can all use to overcome BDD. The book is also available in the Kindle Lending library which is how I found it. This is a must-read.
The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder

A fantastic, concise, and essential book to understand the diagnosis and treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It is a fairly short and easy read, that is full of top-notch information! Material is complete and presented in an organized and useful way. The understanding enabled for both client and therapist is one of the main traits of this book. And the author is obviously committed to the betterment/healing of her clients.
Feeling Good about the Way You Look A Program for Overcoming Body Image Problems

This is a wonderful book!  Written by the Director of the MGH OCD and Related Disorders Program, and Founder of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Clinic, this book offers individuals suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder with critical tools to understand BDD and to bring their disorder under control. The step by step approach detailed in the book is exactly what is needed for patients and clinicians alike. I have enthusiastically been recommending it to all of my clients who have BDD, and to colleagues interested in learning more about it. This book offers new hope to the millions of people worldwide who live with this troubling, but treatable disorder.
The BDD Workbook: Overcome Body Dysmorphic Disorder and End Body Image Obsessions

This workbook really delves into the thought processes of a person who suffers from this exhausting illness. The worksheets and exercises really cause you to challenge the beliefs which have been ingrained in your memory for decades. I would highly recommend this workbook for anyone who is self-directed and able to work through the exercises on their own.

About Stephen

My name is Stephen and I was officially diagnosed with BDD in October of 2012. I have lived with it my whole life. This blog is my story, my shame, and my path to recovery. It starts on Day 1 of my new life. To live, and love myself, to teach others how to do the same, and learn more about what it means to live with body dysmorphic disorder. Here are some resources that I use...