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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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Twelve Lead BDD

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The Cure for BDD is inside each of us.

It is hidden below layers upon layers of fear and rejection and the comfort that comes with avoidance.

I spent three years avoiding everything that scared me, and I lost a wonderful three years and millions of perfectly decent heartbeats.

Our heart only beats once, so why waste it?

I had to stop my heart in order to restart it. Literally, stepping away from my life and shocking myself into a new rhythm.

I brought my family along with me, who held my hand, and walked beside me… For that I am forever grateful and unbelievably blessed.

But we all have something to hold onto, no matter how hopeless it seems.

Three years of hiding, and now as I emerge from the shadows of very dark places, I welcome the sun and radiant heat of life upon my skin.

The cure is inside me, when I open my eyes and look beyond the superficial condemnation I place upon myself and into the minds of those who love me, not for how I look but for who I am.

And this journey with BDD makes me stronger, more capable of love beyond my wildest dreams, more capable to hurt, more capable to accept joy and more understanding of the precious nature of time.

I can feel my cure, burning hot inside my heart, just waiting to release me, and pour this love into the world and back into those who have suffered this journey with me.

I love you all so much!

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...

Comments

  1. Judith McCarthy says

    I think I may have suffered from BDD all my life without having a label to slap on it. I’ve always felt like an ugly fraud that people only tolerated as a means to an end. Recently my beloved Mother-in-law sent me her copy of my High School Graduation picture and now I can see it. I was such a lovely young girl! I wasted most of my life feeling less than what I was. Achieving less than I could have due to my massive inferiority complex. All I can say is don’t waste another moment. Not even one second. You are a kind, intelligent, handsome man. Thank you for your blog. You have helped me more than you know.