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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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Sleep, the Secret Elixir to Feeling Better About Your Body

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Sleep to Overcome Anxiety

It sounds like a terrible cliché’, hell even the image attached to this post is. Honestly, I rarely sleep like this guy, all curled up so nicely on his pillow without a care in the world, but when I do, it’s pure bliss.

One way to avoid being terribly disappointed in yourself is to get some sleep.

Part of the ups and downs of body image disorders is a tendency to stay awake.

Some of this has to do with anxiety and I have noticed when I am feeling the most vulnerable I tend to box up and try to focus on something so that I can forget about my nose or my cheek.

Also, still for some reason outside of the house I meet me my enemy, and my love – the open light source that exposes all my imperfections.

So if I can I will retreat into the safety of indoors.

I find the freedom I seek outdoors by being alone, it removes the anxiety and I can get in touch again with nature.

Last night I stayed up till 3 am again after boxing myself up for 24 hours while being extremely productive.

My wife took the kids for a couple of days to spend time with my mother in law so I can get away with this, also I was able to sleep in for the first time in a long time.

I woke up feeling refreshed and ready for my coffee.

We all know sleep is restorative, but it is hard to pay it its due diligence when we are depressed and anxious.

Try sleep I say every night.

Tonight I will try to call a good friend and get to bed before 1 am.

The sleep always makes a difference.

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...