MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Oprah did a show about this yesterday, it was so sad. The doctor did say it exists in varying degrees in people and affects their lives in different ways
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200509/20050914/slide_20050914_101.jhtml
Look at the picture of that guy who was on there-he looks like a model to me yet he thinks he looks like a monster. The girl was so pretty too. But obviously you can't tell them that, they don't believe it. Then there was that woman Jenny who had all the plastic surgeries- like Oprah said, Michael Jackson probably has BDD.
It is so strange- some people are seemingly so fond of their looks, and then on the other extreme there are people like this. It really ultimately doesn't have anything to do with their looks though, not if I understand it correctly.
Dr. Katharine Phillips is the world's leading expert on body dysmorphic disorder. She's written what many call the bible of BDD, The Broken Mirror. "BDD is a serious psychiatric illness," Dr. Phillips says. "It's not vanity. And it can be absolutely tormenting."
"People with BDD see themselves differently from the way everyone else sees them," Dr. Phillips adds.
Dr. Phillips says that BDD is one of the most misunderstood psychiatric illnesses to people who do not suffer from it. For instance, you think your daughter or son is attractive, so why are they living in such pain?
"Most people with BDD don't want to be unusually beautiful. Most people just want to look normal, and acceptable," Dr. Phillips says. "They want to blend in and not feel deviant in some way. It's so difficult for people to understand this illness. Family members try to talk to the person out of their concern…'You're beautiful.' But that doesn't work. You need the right psychiatric treatment to get better. This can be a devastating illness, but the good news is that most people get better with the right treatment."
It is a psychiatric illness but part of it is our culture, I would think it has to be a factor in this. It certainly can't help. Obviously it's not just women either.
"Celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown has strong convictions about our culture's obsession with perfection.
"I know I'm going to lose some friends out there or customers for talking about this, but I'd rather be honest and help people," Bobbi says. "I just don't get what's happening. All women do is feel bad about the way they look. Society is really pressuring women to look young. I think the older women get, it's such a mistake because if you're doing a plastic surgery to try to look younger, it doesn't work. You just look like you've had plastic surgery."
Bobbi believes it's time we stop the game of comparison before it takes over our lives.
"Women look at images in magazines," she says. "Covers of magazines are paintings! It's a work of art—hairdressers, makeup artists, stylists, and forget about the little surgeries or the big surgeries they've had. It's not realistic. I think American women have to break the cycle immediately. Stop looking at what's out there. If you are constantly comparing yourself to people around you—trust me—there are people that are better looking than you, taller, skinnier, richer, nicer, more talented. Stop! It's not important. It's really about yourself."
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200509/20050914/slide_20050914_101.jhtml
Look at the picture of that guy who was on there-he looks like a model to me yet he thinks he looks like a monster. The girl was so pretty too. But obviously you can't tell them that, they don't believe it. Then there was that woman Jenny who had all the plastic surgeries- like Oprah said, Michael Jackson probably has BDD.
It is so strange- some people are seemingly so fond of their looks, and then on the other extreme there are people like this. It really ultimately doesn't have anything to do with their looks though, not if I understand it correctly.
Dr. Katharine Phillips is the world's leading expert on body dysmorphic disorder. She's written what many call the bible of BDD, The Broken Mirror. "BDD is a serious psychiatric illness," Dr. Phillips says. "It's not vanity. And it can be absolutely tormenting."
"People with BDD see themselves differently from the way everyone else sees them," Dr. Phillips adds.
Dr. Phillips says that BDD is one of the most misunderstood psychiatric illnesses to people who do not suffer from it. For instance, you think your daughter or son is attractive, so why are they living in such pain?
"Most people with BDD don't want to be unusually beautiful. Most people just want to look normal, and acceptable," Dr. Phillips says. "They want to blend in and not feel deviant in some way. It's so difficult for people to understand this illness. Family members try to talk to the person out of their concern…'You're beautiful.' But that doesn't work. You need the right psychiatric treatment to get better. This can be a devastating illness, but the good news is that most people get better with the right treatment."
It is a psychiatric illness but part of it is our culture, I would think it has to be a factor in this. It certainly can't help. Obviously it's not just women either.
"Celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown has strong convictions about our culture's obsession with perfection.
"I know I'm going to lose some friends out there or customers for talking about this, but I'd rather be honest and help people," Bobbi says. "I just don't get what's happening. All women do is feel bad about the way they look. Society is really pressuring women to look young. I think the older women get, it's such a mistake because if you're doing a plastic surgery to try to look younger, it doesn't work. You just look like you've had plastic surgery."
Bobbi believes it's time we stop the game of comparison before it takes over our lives.
"Women look at images in magazines," she says. "Covers of magazines are paintings! It's a work of art—hairdressers, makeup artists, stylists, and forget about the little surgeries or the big surgeries they've had. It's not realistic. I think American women have to break the cycle immediately. Stop looking at what's out there. If you are constantly comparing yourself to people around you—trust me—there are people that are better looking than you, taller, skinnier, richer, nicer, more talented. Stop! It's not important. It's really about yourself."
