What impact has the BDD Foundation had on your life? We want to hear from you!
We are currently evaluating our services and working on our impact report, and we want to hear from you. We hope you will share your experiences of engaging with the BDD Foundation and the impact any of our services and our wider work has had on your life, or the lives of others.
We welcome responses from our entire community. This includes anyone with experience of BDD, including lived experience, providing support to someone experiencing BDD, carers, families, partners, friends, professionals and students.
If you prefer to send your thoughts through a different format or with a creative piece attached, please email impact@bddfoundation.org
Thank you for your input. As well as allowing us to measure our impact, your responses will contribute to the continued growth of the charity and allow us to stay user-led, and to identify our strengths, areas for development and most crucial services.
This year, we are hosting our 5th International Conference, and celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the BDD Foundation & new horizons.
We will be taking the opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and recent achievements, whilst also looking ahead to advance the future of the charity.
Our conferences are an opportunity to bring together our wonderful BDD community in a supportive, inspiring and informative space. Individuals with BDD, their loved ones, as well as mental health professionals and students come together to learn about the condition, innovative approaches to treatment and hear inspiring stories from those in recovery.
There will be countless opportunities to hear from experts, and learn about varied perspectives in the development and treatment of BDD. The conference is also a space for those living with BDD to find comfort in shared experience, know they are not alone and meet other people in the BDD community. This year, we are introducing a community and support room where those with BDD can connect with others and speak with volunteers about ways to access support through their journey of recovery.
We have some really exciting speakers and topics lined up, to include:
Ticket info:
General admission: £25
Student admission: £15
Livestream: £10
Mental/ medical health professional: £40
Solidarity rate: for those who would otherwise be unable to attend for financial reasons or other barriers. We have a small number of bursary tickets available on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact info@bddfoundation.org for more details.
To avoid disappointment please consider purchasing your ticket to the physical conference early. In previous years we have sold out in advance.
No matter where you live you can now attend the conference via the internet with the option to attend via Webinar/Livestream for a reduced ticket price.
To reach as many people as possible, we will be filming the speakers on stage. Please be assured that the camera will be solely focused on the speakers and that all filming will be sensitively and discretely carried out. There will not be any recorded footage of attendees. If you have any concerns about this, please do not hesitate to approach one of our volunteers on the day.
All halls and rooms at 20 Bedford Way are accessible and a managed evacuation process is available from areas on levels 1 and 3 of the building for persons with mobility impairment. Logan Hall is situated on Level 1.
In previous years, we have gathered feedback from attendees, with many reflecting on the day as one which offers hope and connection. We aim for the day to be inspiring and informative to as many people as possible and hope this year’s event is of benefit to all. If there is anything we can do to support your attendance, or for any questions relating to the 2023 Conference, please email info@bddfoundation.org.
We look forward to seeing you in November for another successful event. It is a day not to be missed!
For Ulrike’s master’s project at university, they have created a collection of six artworks focused on the theme of Body Dysmorphia. Ulrike would like to share their work with fellow sufferers to find out if their work resonates with you and receive some feedback.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a body image problem that is marked by an intense preoccupation with one’s physical appearance. It can result in extensive gazing of one’s perceived flaws or – as in my case – in avoiding looking at oneself all together. For me, my body is an alien shell that carries me around and not something I can identify with. I cannot actually look at myself neither in the mirror nor in photos. The body of work created explores different approaches to visualise the tension between me and my body. Photographs were digitally manipulated, worked into and written upon. The object is the subject and vice versa. Initially connected by aversion, they show an attempt to be at peace.
Acceptance and Self Love (featured below) use my eyes perspective’s view of my body creating a neutral distance. It is not always possible to think positively during moments of struggle with BDD. Peace is found in admitting the negative thoughts.
Shadow Dance (featured below) confronts my body indirectly by its shadow, hereby creating enough distance and abstraction to allow looking at myself. Poses explore the interplay between the observer, the arranger, and the ‘me’. Twelve shadows are arranged as a group describing a story of curiosity, instability and peace.
The series Almost Within Reach (featured below) transport the idea of ‘making contact’ with a blurred image in the mirror. My hand is reaching out to the person on the other side offering peace. An impressionistic feel to it transfers the artwork to somewhere between dream and reality. Almost Within ReachIII is covered with unfiltered thoughts about me, my art and my body. The text forms a veil and middle ground between the observer and the image. I am almost at peace with myself.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my artwork. Would you be willing to provide me with some feedback?
Does the work resonate with you?
What are thoughts going through your mind when seeing the images?
Would you say it conveys what a struggle with BDD can feel like?
Does the work highlight the frustration with the condition as well as giving a sense of hope?
“Trust your psychotherapist. They have a much more objective perspective than your BDD.”
A psychotherapist and the founder and director of the Los Angeles BDD & Body Image Clinic, Arie has dedicated his career to working with people with BDD. In this episode, he shares some of the fascinating insights he’s gained from those thousands of hours of experience.
You can download the transcript for this episode here:
What impact has the BDD Foundation had on your life? We want to hear from you!
Ben West speaks with Kitty Wallace & Danny Bowman on the devastating consequences associated with BDD, specifically in men
On 11th May 2023, BBC Morning Live ran a feature on BDD and body image issues in men. Through speaking with our lived experience volunteer DannyBowman, they highlight some of the common symptoms and the impact this has on someone’s home life, school, work, relationships and family life.
“It started with spending an extra hour in the mirror, but very quickly got to the point where it took over my entire life. I became 6 months house bound.”
Danny speaks on the CBT treatment he received, and how this helped him recover from BDD. He is now 10 years down the line and able to lead in a functioning and fulfilling life.
“Luckily I got support from the Maudsley in London. Getting me out and recognising that people weren’t horrified at my appearance was a huge thing for me.”
Kitty Wallace, Head of Operations at the BDD Foundation is interviewed, sharing knowledge and expertise on BDD, and specifically Muscle Dysmorphia, the key symptoms to look out for and the impact this has on quality of life.
“We know that from onset to getting the correct diagnosis is an average of 10 years delay. That is particularly huge in the context of BDD, where the suicide rate is 45 times higher than the general population, so it’s so crucial that people realise that help is out there, and they can get better.”
What impact has the BDD Foundation had on your life? We want to hear from you!
Muscle Dysmorphia is a type of BDD which lead to excessive weightlifting, overtraining even when injured, restrictive diets, disordered eating, and often steroid abuse. It can often cause an individual to prioritise working out over other commitments such as relationships, work or family life.
“If you have Muscle Dysmorphia you are preoccupied by one or more perceived flaws in your appearance, and these will occupy you for several hours a day. They are causing clinically significant levels of distress, anxiety and depression and they are interfering with your everyday life. It’s not subtle.”
It affects men more than women and causes significant distress, with devastating consequences on someone’s life. Sadly, it appears to be on the rise.
The condition is poorly understood, and therefore ‘brushed off’ and not recognised as being severe. However, it’s seriousness should not be underestimated, and tragically, suicidal ideation and completion for those with MDD is common.
Dr. Rob Willson, who has treated people with the condition since the 90s, explains it’s not the physical side that it the main concern. Sufferers will choose the gym over a social event or their career.
“Where you have someone who has over trained and injured themselves and is at home feeling devastated, that’s a real worry. We’re not mucking about here.”
” I ended up retreating from people and making excuses as to why I didn’t want to be around people.”
Charlie King, one of our ambassadors at BDDF, speaks with GQ on this topic and shares his experience of Muscle Dysmorphia. He explains that he was exercising through injury, and withdrawing from social events which would interfere with his training.
After engaging in CBT, to support him in cutting back on checking and comparison behaviours, he is now finding a balance and has reached a kinder relationship with his body while still being a fitness enthusiast.
Charlie now speaks openly about BDD and MDD on his social media platforms, encouraging others to seek support if they are struggling, opening up the conversation and raising awareness of the condition.
“If you’re noticing that you’re becoming obsessive and the enjoyment factor is starting to dwindle that’s the first sign.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with these symptoms, please reach out to our helpline on support@bddfoundation.org or find out more on our Muscle Dysmorphia information page.
In this podcast episode, Kitty explores her experience of ‘feeling different’, feeling like a failure in adolescence, and then first realising she had BDD. She discusses some of her common safety behaviours, checking compulsions and the all consuming experience of BDD.
“I certainly wasn’t seeking perfection, I was seeking normality. How can I blend in with everyone else… I felt that everyone was staring at me all the time.”
Kitty managed to endure her time through school, despite her symptoms of BDD already being very overwhelming. When she moved back home, things became unbearable. Luckily, a family friend highlighted to her that BDD might be what she was going through, and from here her journey of recovery began. After reaching out to the BDD Foundation, she began engaging in therapy and first started her involvement volunteering with the BDD Foundation.
“I thought I was the only person in the world feeling like this. I didn’t see a future for myself, at all.”
They also explore the treatment for BDD, exposure and response prevention exercises, and the important and common issue of shame experienced in BDD and how we can reduce this feeling.
“My average time to get ready at the age of 18 or 19, was around 4 hours. I ached all over from being hunched over in the mirror. I was honing in and trying to pick up on every problem with my face, but I couldn’t fix it.”
Kitty and Rebecca also speak about the topic of relapse, a very common experience for individuals with BDD. She shares the pain of relapse, finding the motivation to ‘try again’, re-engage in therapy and the journey up to present day.
“I felt the most hopeless that I’d felt throughout my journey. I had to step back from work and move back in with my parents, and just totally retreated from the world. I didn’t know how I was going to get out of it.”
Kitty found the drive to try again, after being house bound for months. She shares the hurdles she overcame through this and the feeling of starting from scratch. However, she found that the work she had done before, supported her ability to engage in the exercises again and strengthen those new pathways.
“The second time around it’s been more gradual. That doesn’t mean there aren’t days where the BDD is more in charge than I would like it to be, but it’s been a more consistent recovery. Mainly, what’s made the difference is being kinder to myself, being gentle with myself and not beating myself up when I can’t do something.”
This is such an insightful and important conversation, thank you Kitty and Rebecca.
What impact has the BDD Foundation had on your life? We want to hear from you!
Muscle Dysmorphia can lead to excessive weightlifting, overtraining even when injured, restrictive diets, disordered eating, and often steroid abuse. It can often cause an individual to prioritise working out over other commitments such as relationships, work or family life. It affects men more than women and causes significant distress, with devastating consequences on someone’s life.
As explained in the video, who spoke with Justin Baldoni, Noah Neiman & our volunteer George Mycock, many men suffering from this will begin to tie their masculinity to how they look and experience a compulsive need to ‘be big’.
Noah explains that even as a fitness professional “even I was self-conscious. I was at home feeling I should have done some more sit ups, I felt that I didn’t look good.”
As a form of BDD, the pre-occupation with muscle size and shape causes those suffering to carry out obsessive and compulsive behaviours in the hope of achieving a particular, often very unachievable body shape. Often, individuals experiencing MDD look entirely normal or are already very muscular.
“The more you focus in on it, the more you find flaws… the more distorted your perception becomes.”
As the speakers in the video disclose, MDD often causes suicidal ideation, attempts and completion.
If you or someone you know is struggling with these symptoms, please reach out to our helpline on support@bddfoundation.org or find out more on our Muscle Dysmorphia information page.
Monki launches underwear capsule collection in collaboration with Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
More Than My Reflection
This March coinciding with International Women’s Day, Monki joins forces once again with Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (BDDF) to further raise awareness around Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
In collaboration with the BDDF, Monki is launching a limited-edition underwear collection featuring positive affirmation messages, serving as a reminder to the wearer that they are unique, and that they are more than their reflection and what they see on the outside. The capsule includes two mesh bras and briefs. One set features positive affirmations on the inside of the underwear for the wearer to read, but also reflected the correct way when looking at the mirror, for an instant confidence boost. An encouraging self-love reminder. The second set features various body illustrations, one of the brand’s signature prints.
As part of the ongoing partnership between Monki and BDDF, a donation has been made to support BDDF’s work and expand on educational resources.
“The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of the disorder and how it affects a person’s psyche, wellbeing and self-confidence. As a brand which creates fashion for girls and young women, we have a responsibility to our community to be as inclusive and transparent as possible when it comes to body and beauty representation. Diverse casting and transparent retouch guidelines are two of the areas we have worked with since day one. That’s why this ongoing collaboration with BDDF is important to us — we strive to empower women to feel good about themselves without aspiring to unattainable norms,” says Simone Van Starkenburg, Brand & Marketing Director at Monki.
Monki has showcased a series of personal portraits from three media volunteers who have suffered from BDD and have used their experiences to educate and inform the public about this under-diagnosed and distressing disorder.
They describe how it started, how it manifested, their lowest point, and how they have gotten to the other side. They also share advice on how to support someone potentially going through this or to someone who knows a person that is suffering from this disorder. The purpose is to enlighten, inform, educate on the disorder, encourage to seek help, and to never give up.
As part of the campaign, Monki put up posters and distorted mirrors across the UK, including London, Manchester and Birmingham. It’s wonderful to see the BDD Foundation, and most importantly BDD as a condition being recognised and amplified. You can find many more of the shared images on our Instagram, we have loved seeing them!
In November 2021, BDDF, supported by Monki, started a petition directed at the EU Parliament calling for transparency on altered images on social media. This pushed for changes to ensure that organisations, companies, and influencers are legally required to state when images have been manipulated for paid content online. This tapped into an already important and ongoing movement where we in recent years have seen changes in law changes to legislation in Norway and France. Since the petition’s launch, we have managed to accumulate over 40,000 signatures — but it doesn’t stop there. So far, the petition has been a catalyst in pushing for a similar UK legislative change, which is why it is still important to support us by signing the petition.
Why has the BDD Foundation decided to collaborate with Monki?
We see Monki as an ideal fit for a collaboration with the BDD Foundation. As a brand, they have long-standing ethical policies around their marketing. They strive to challenge beauty norms in their casting from ethnicity to body shape and size and have championed a pioneering #NoFilter campaign. They do not airbrush out features such as stretch marks, body hair, birthmarks etc. Their body positive attitude, inclusivity and continued dedication to the cause signifies that Monki is a brand that genuinely cares about the wellbeing of their community and the BDD Foundation is proud to partner with them.
Monki launches underwear capsule collection in collaboration with Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
Alex and his partner Bryony are walking the West Highland Way in June 2023, to raise funds for the BDD Foundation. As someone who lives with BDD, Alex is passionate about raising awareness of BDD and being an important voice for the many people out there who are yet to speak about their condition or get support.
“I have been diagnosed with this disorder for a while now and at times it can be debilitating for myself and massively impact those who love me.”
Alex has engaged with support from the BDD Foundation, including support groups, retreat days and listening to the Beating BDD podcast. The recommended treatment for BDD is antidepressant medication combined with intensive CBT, however current waiting times in the UK to receive such psychological intervention can be lengthy.
“It is therefore essential that this charity continues to be accessible for people suffering with BDD and their loved ones.”
Alex and Bryony have chosen a walking challenge, as being outside in nature and walking helps them both manage the distressing and unwanted feelings caused by BDD.
“We are both fully aware that there are people diagnosed with severe BDD who are unable to leave the house and face the world. We aim to complete this walking challenge so that we can give these people hope that no matter how difficult things may seem, they can improve with the right help and support.”
Please support Alex and Bryony in this fantastic challenge, and help contribute to our essential ongoing support services and research.
