Hi there
I have suffered from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) for the past 12 years or so and thought it would be good to share my experiences.
Not much has been written or said about BBD although it is thought to affect around 1% of the UK population. Christmas can be a difficult time for BBD sufferers as it is a traditionally a social time, with lots of parties and so on.
I am supposed to be at a Christmas party tonight but backed out at the last minute because I couldn't stand what I saw in the mirror. I had spent ages getting ready but I suffer from facial eczema and have experienced a flare up in the past couple of days. No matter how many hours I spent try to conceal the redness with makeup, it just didn't work. The illness has led to me placing great importance on physical appearance and I think others are judging me by how I look. When I had finished getting ready this evening I was disgusted by what I saw and felt too embarrassed to be seen in public.
I know that this illness, and it is and illness, affects many people but most are too ashamed to talk about it. I think that talking about it does help and want to encourage others to do so.