Mental Health Issue

[alobar51]

[quote=cherandbuster;584142]Hi There

>>>Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a real condition.

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It sure is. And not one to be taken lightly.

The first step towards solving a problem is admitting that you have one. Kudos to you for that.

The things that you are describing here are the symptoms, not the problem. Hopefully, the therapist you've chosen understands this condition well enough to help you get to the core issues.

As a nutritionist, I can tell you that there are biochemical anomolies that must be addressed along with the behavior modification that will be part of the therapeutic process. There are neurotransmitter imbalances in virtually every case like this that create a perceptual alteration that causes what you think you see to appear as if you were looking at yourself through a funhouse mirror. This condition is very similar to what anorexics(sp) report what they see when they view themselves.

Your success in solving this is very dependant on addressing both halves of the equation, the emotional/spiritual, and the biochemical.

I recommend the work of Dr. Alexander Schauss from Bastyr University.

Good luck.

[laneybug]

Originally Posted by uv_lightmyway

No I am not joking around...that routine I do was actually developed as a kind of confidence builder a while back...my doctor suggested I do something that would normally make me feel embarrased so that I can work past social anxiety...that's why I do it (sometimes).

I think the picture is awful. And I think I look horrible. I have gone through every measurement as to why I fall short...and the reason I smiled is because if I didn't I look even worse.

Here are the things that I sometimes do:

1. facial measurements...worrying about proportions - ie. eyes too big, to round, my nose extends at an improper angle above the perpendicular (I measured with a protractor once). My cheeks are too big, as is my forehead. My hair doesn't match my skin tone. the list goes on and on.

2. too young looking...

3. hair is a mess...just can't get it to go the way I want.

4. Dumbo ears.

Photos are a real trigger for me...I once had a 5 day attack because my ******* brother took a photo of me and framed it. Attacks are the worst, and they seem to hit at the worst time...one glance in the rearview mirror could do it...

While reading your first post I got a few sentences in and it just screamed Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and I'm glad to know you've been diagnosed. It's a very real condition, and I'm glad you're getting help for it.

Although... I think you're therapist would be very upset with you for this kind of posting you've done. Usually, in therapy, one works on trying to ignore or redirect the type of self-degrading you are doing here, and that's all you are doing!! Although you have a sincere condition, you do not need sympathy or others to build you up. That is entirely self-defeating for you, so I'm not even going to try. People with your condition could hear all day long that they look fine, but it's never enough. You need to do the work your therapist is giving you, you need to make a list of the qualities about yourself that you really like and post it here even, you need to fight this illness head on and stop letting it smack you around.

On another note... you mentioned your ribs showing and your waist being 28" and still thinking your fat. Do you have an eating disorder as well? Anorexia, perhaps? How about paranoid thoughts? The Body Dysmorphic Disorder could be a symptom of something else, so I would definitely continue on the track you're on with therapy, and really get into the meat of the issue, really talk about everything.

As for your list. Let me give you one of mine.

1. Proportions.... nobody is symmetrical. Nobody. One ear is sometimes higher than another, eyes are never perfectly in line, noses come in a full range of sizes, shapes, etc. So forget proportions. You are not a sculpture. And hair matching skin tone? I've never heard of this being a complaint. How does hair match skin tone anyway? This just sounds ridiculous.

2. Too young looking. Please. I'm 21 and I get mistaken for my boyfriend's daughter all the time. Just forget this silly complaint altogether. Youth is not a sin. And all the while you're complaining about looking young, pretty soon life will pass you by and you'll be complaining about looking too old. So enjoy your "youngness."

3. Hair is a mess.... uh, hello... have you seen the hairstyles men are wearing these days?? Messy = good. For some reason, the just-rolled-out-of-bed look is sticking around, so go with it. And who really cares about hair anyway? As a man, you should be grateful you have any.

4. Dumbo ears.... let me tell you about Will Smith. He was made fun of all through school for having dumbo ears, and you know what? Women absolutely love his ears, not because they're any smaller, but because he has CONFIDENCE and the ears are just a charming little extra, so to speak.

Basically, you need to work on your personality and your confidence. Do you really want to look like a freakin' Ken doll? I really hope that one day you'll realize that all your so-called "weaknesses" are actually unique and individual and can be quite sexy if you just have the confidence and pride to call them YOURS.

Eh, sorry for the long-winded post.