OCD Action

stuart
Member

Hi everyone!

This is my first visit to the site, i've only just been diagnosed with bdd, and wish i had found this site before it controlled my life so much, but it's a great relief to know i'm not the only one who feels this way.

I'm now 21 and although i can i have felt this way for as long as i can remember it really started to effect me when i turned 16. I had a bad few months and it seemed i started to blame it all on my spots, which i know now weren't that bad at all. I would spend ages in front of the mirror really close up, then with the magnified shaving mirrors. c.ds widows. I would always be covering my face with my hands and wouldn't look anyone in the eye's, and wouldn't do anything to bring attention to myself. But all the time constantly comparing myself to everyone else, looking in magazines, and would believe everything i read about wonder cures and buy in to them, and ended up being given heavy drugs for my skin. But as the bdd went unnoticed the problem just got worse and worse to the point its totaly controlled my life, but don't want to scare anyone away from me by going into too much detail.

I can relate to what Dave said especially, and everyone else like me seems to find it really difficult to actually write down what there feeling, it's like there is a total fear of rejection and everything has to be perfect, its taken me about an hour to get this far.

Everyones always said i've been a total perfectionist and i'd be really interested to know if this is a common thing, apart from my obsession with my skin i would spend ages weight training, and silly things like hand writing or drawings, anything always has to be perfect and its like nothings ever good enough.

I'm really glad i've found this site, it's a great releif to be able to relate to people and would love to get the chance to speak to people more about this, and help others from my experiences.

Thankyou,

Stuart.

Sat May 3 2003 13:50:55 #
testuser
Member

Hi Stuart,

I am not an expert in BDD. so I wont really comment on your post, I will leave that for the experts on here

But I thought you might find this link of interest, its about BDD in men.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1632112.stm

Take care,

Ashley.

Sat May 3 2003 21:31:29 #
pollyhobbit
Member

Hi Stuart,
I just wanted to say hello and welcome, i'm fairly new here too and i can totally relate to everything you have said. I find it amazingly difficult to write posts in fact sometimes i'll write one and it will take me ages then i just delete it and don't bother! I think it's fair to say that's one of the reasons why this board is a bit quiet sometimes.
Anyway, it's good to see someone new here, take care.
Tracie

Sun May 4 2003 21:52:10 #
daveah82
Member

Hi again stu, thanks loads for your emails, they've been a great help (I'll try and get around to replying if I can )

The problems that you have had seem almost unbelievably identical to mine, it was almost like you have been telling my life story! lol. All that stuff about analysising myself in every reflective thing I could lay my hands on! Shaving mirrors Cds etc. and also coming up with crazy ideas about what was causing my spots! Been there and done that and still do do that but I'm learning to control myself.

Where I do differ from you I think is that I think my BDD was started by my spots (which really did get horrifically bad). To this day I have never seen anybody with worse acne. The drugs I was prescribed were life savers. During that time I became obsessed with my skin, but when that completely cleared up I obsessed about other features of my appearance. Only now my skin has started to get bad again I think I am most scared about it getting as bad as it used to be which is why I obsess with touching, rubbing, picking at the smallest blemishes. This often leads to the spots looking far worse than they are.

Thanks for all ur advice, it's helping me already!

Oh and I'm a big football fan too ;o) dont think I can play as well as you, but I support Shrewsbury Town / relegated this season to the conferece! I think maybe we could have done with you playing for us ;o)

Dave

Fri May 9 2003 22:34:51 #