OCD Action

Grace
Member

Hello,
I wonder if anyone who struggled with their body image as a teenager could let me know what helped them through. I am developing a course for young people with a preoccupation with their body image and would really like to hear some first hand accounts of who/what helps, and who/what doesn't help, in overcoming body image issues.
Many thanks.
Grace

Mon Jul 5 2010 10:39:32 #
conniec
Member

We suffered terribly with our daughter as a teenager. It got to a point where she didn't want to go to school and any social activities with friends was out of the question. Grades were dropping as well as her long time friends. We sought medical help as well as psychological help.

Tue Jul 6 2010 0:34:52 #
Grace
Member

Thank you Conniec!
Was the combination of psychological and medical help enough to address her problems? What would she say really helped her through that time?

Tue Jul 6 2010 15:27:57 #
N.O.C.D.
Member

I cannot comment on what medical help may be available, but as someone who had problems with their body image in their youth (there was no help in those days for an unknown condition, that was assumed psychosomatic, but is now known to be Body Dysmorphobia Disorder), I would suggest that assertiveness training, improved self esteem, and finally a belief in ones ability - self worth - may be of significant benefit.

Tue Jul 6 2010 17:03:08 #
Grace
Member

That's really helpful, thank you Number 6!

Wed Jul 7 2010 9:44:13 #
Unregistered

Hi Grace

I certainly started having problems with my self image when I was doing my A levels. This resulted in over 20 years of anorexic feelings (aimed at keeping my weight well below 8 stone and constantly looking in the mirror. I no longer control my weight but still have problems with self image at the age of 62 and know (like Number Six)that this is to do with lack of self esteem and the inability to be assertive. This in turn impacts on my contamination OCD which is very tied up with this need for perfectionism.

My therapist recommended : 'A Woman (assertiveness and you) In Your Own Right,' by Anne Dickson. This may well help the young women in your group. I feel sure that the ability to say 'no' and express how we feel is a major factor in combatting BDD and OCD. Feelings of anger and frustration at perceived loss of control and over-responsibility do (in my opinion) seem to exacerbate OCD, BDD and anorexia.

Best
Anne

Wed Jul 7 2010 11:08:37 #
thelazypick
Member

Hello grace,

I've been having an extremely low self-esteem from the time I was a teenager. I constantly worry about being too fat and would feel sorry for myself when I see prettier girls.

For me its mainly because the people around me used to mock me for being ugly and fat. My cousins are all slim and pretty and people would make nasty remarks like 'why are they so pretty and you look like that? Are you even related?'. I felt really hurt and started sinking into depression.

But because I enjoy reading and writing, I find that penning down my bitterness works for me. Think its important for us to find an activity we really enjoy doing.

Fri Jul 9 2010 3:15:29 #
Mattch
Member

I had BDD. I have gotten better through CBT and ERP. One thing that may help is Mirror usage tips. Dr David Veale has some, which I will post down further in this post.... but first I also wanted to mention this article, it's called; "Mirror gazing increases attractiveness in satisfied, but not in dissatisfied women: A model for body dysmorphic disorder?"

And the link is:

here

I only read the abstract. There is a charge to purchase the full article.

Here is the abstract;
Abstract
Body dysmorphic disorder is a severe disturbance in which the person is preoccupied with an imagined defect in appearance. It is unclear what causes and what maintains BDD, although it is assumed that patients are characterized by an increased self-focused attention. Since patients spend a lot of time examining their ‘defect’ in reflecting surfaces, it might well be that mirror gazing itself is an important maintaining factor for BDD, as it may lead to a loss of sense of proportions. If so, normal individuals' body evaluations are expected to decrease likewise after mirror exposure. In the present study, 50 female students watched both their own face in the mirror and a photograph of a neutral female face for 3.5 min. Before and after gazing, they rated the attractiveness of the faces. Results indicate that mirror exposure did not lead to decreased attractiveness in normal participants. However, when participants were divided into high and low satisfaction about appearance, highly satisfied individuals' evaluations of their own face improved, whereas low satisfied individuals' evaluations tended to decrease. For the other face, only the low satisfied individuals showed increased attractiveness scores at post-test. The results are explained by selective visual attention and are in line with recent findings in eating disordered women.

On that note, here are Dr David Veale's mirror usage tips;
The Do’s and don’ts of mirror use(Taken from a free, published article from http://www.veale.co.uk)

-Use mirrors at a slight distance and use ones
that are large enough to show most of the body

-Focus attention on the reflection in the mirror
rather than on how you feel

-Use a mirror only for an agreed function (e.g.
shaving, putting on make-up) and for a
limited period of time

-Use a variety of different mirrors and lights
rather sticking to one that you ‘trust’

-Focus attention on the whole of your face
rather than on selected areas

-Do not use mirrors that magnify

-Do not use ambiguous reflections (e.g.
windows, the backs of compact disks or
cutlery)

-Do not to use a mirror when you feel depres-
sed: try to delay essential use until you feel
happier or find other things to do until the
urge to mirror-gaze has passed

And a bit from several therapists at a BDD conference -in the US a few years ago- who mentioned "mirror rules" that they enforce with their clients, and how this is effective.

-One of the rules was the "arm's length" rule, which is just like it sounds. No viewing our reflection any closer than arm's length.

-The other mirror rule was the "6:00pm" rule. No mirror viewing after 6 pm. The assumption is that if one is not going out for the evening, there is no reason to be in the mirror.

Another bit to possibly keep in mind;
The longer the person looks in the mirror, the worse he or she feels and the more the belief of ugliness and defect is reinforced. A process of selective attention would begin by focusing on specific aspects of the external representation (e.g. the photo or gazing in the mirror), which would lead to a heightened awareness and relative exaggeration of certain features (Veale).

Hope the do's and don't of mirror use help.

Mattch.

Mon Jul 12 2010 7:35:57 #
Grace
Member

Thank you Anne, thelazypick and Mattch, I really appreciate your openness and your thoughts, ideas and references are really helping me shape the body image workshop. Thank you!

Mon Jul 12 2010 9:31:23 #