As an OCD sufferer I obsess compulsively over my appearance it got to the point where I wasnt leaving the house at all and failed my first year at uni because I couldnt bring myself to go to classes. There was one ocassion where my mum (i'll never forget this:-) ) drove me all the way to uni and took me back because I was too anxiety ridden to even get out the car.
Its just another set of rituals, obsessions and compulsions but there are times when it gets pretty bad where i'll brood and stare at my reflection descending into a sort of self loathing despair indistinguishable from outright feral madness a
I dont know whether I have BDD but I can certainly relate to the condition and benefit from the self help advice (dont keep mirrors round the house, avoid photo taking, dont compare to others, avoid triggers). Anyone else here have the same condition and how have you managed it? Are you managing? Any novel bits of advice?
Perhaps the best coping strategy ive found is avoiding media which focuses on beauty. Instead try and watch at least one show in which the characters are predominantly plain. Last of the summer wine for instance or even something like Dad's Army. It may seem trite but it teaches you that there are other laudable traits than physical beauty. It stands in direct idealogical contravention to shows like Eastenders or the dreary parade of flesh and giblets that is MSM.
28 Apr 2014, 6:34 pm
