‘Inside’ – a music track by Delta Lima inspired by a short film on BDD
‘INSIDE’ is inspired by Delta Lima’s upcoming short film ‘Hall of Mirrors’, which explores Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Sales of the track will be donated to the BDD Foundation who do great work in raising awareness and supporting people with BDD and those who treat people with the disorder. Please support the BDD Foundation and Delta Lima. Track is available for purchase on iTunes.
‘Inside’ – a music track by Delta Lima inspired by a short film on BDD
When we first saw this cartoon, we groaned. We thought that the cartoonist had misunderstood the nature of BDD, which is of course defined as a preoccupation and marked distress with a perceived defect which is not noticeable to others. However, this cartoon has another layer to it.
Fables however often have a dark undertone (at least before being Disneyfied). In the original Ugly Duckling story, the Duckling was regarded as “different” from the rest of the brood and was mercilessly rejected and bullied by them – he was after all a swan. He was not shown much kindness in the wider world either. After surviving his first winter, he eventually embarks on an experiment to test out his fears (i.e. cognitive behaviour therapy with or without an SSRI anti-depressant!). With every expectation of being killed or humiliated, he approaches a group of swans. Instead of attack he finds acceptance and even admiration. He sees himself reflected in the lake, a beautiful swan… ahhh!
This story resonates for many people with BDD who as children were bullied for being slightly different because of small stature, for example, or bat ears, acne, specific learning difficulties, sexuality and so on. Many of these differences in appearance recede over time or can be treated cosmetically, but the psychological scars remain as BDD.
The interesting thing about Hans Christian Andersen is that he apparently suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder and was described as a “tall, ugly boy with a big nose and big feet”. When he grew up with a beautiful voice and a passion for the theatre he was cruelly teased and mocked by other children – maybe he had BDD?
He apparently also suffered from a phobia of being buried alive (“taphephobia”). He placed a sign above his bed saying that he was not dead and directed that an artery be cut before his burial. Taphephobia was first described by Italian psychiatrist, Enrico Morselli, in 1890. His paper also contains the first description of dysmorphophobia (the old name for Body Dysmorphic Disorder), which brings the story full circle to that of the “Ugly Duckling”!
‘Inside’ – a music track by Delta Lima inspired by a short film on BDD
Helen is a short film, created in order to raise awareness for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
This motion-capture short hopes to convey themes of obsession, distress and isolation which may be generated by the disorder. The story unfolds as Helen finds herself mentally trapped, having locked herself away in the bathroom of a student house party. Taunted by her own reflection, Helen cannot see what others see as she tries to escape the body created in her mind.
Created by Lydia Kenton and Esme Prior for their Final Major Project at Bournemouth University’s NCCA (National Centre for Computer Animation).
‘Inside’ – a music track by Delta Lima inspired by a short film on BDD
“After all if you’re in shape people notice you, and being ignored is the last thing you want to happen”
Driven by a daily quest for perfection, Will takes us on a fast paced, sweaty, physical exploration of how the gym has strengthened and weakened his relationships, his physique and ultimately his life. A complex love story from a gym addict’s point of view, set within a 60 minute workout, A Gym Thing tackles body image and bigorexia, leaving those who don’t visit the gym with a greater understanding of ‘why we do what we do’.
In March 2017 they presented a staged a reading of A Gym Thing at the Pleasance Theatre in London, and received excellent feedback. Members of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation attended:
“A Gym Thing educates as well as entertains, and is a much needed piece of theatre that should be shown widely.”
They have assembled an exceptional cast and creative team to ensure the show is as compelling, dynamic and effective as possible.
‘Inside’ – a music track by Delta Lima inspired by a short film on BDD
We would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to an inspirational awareness campaign: “In the Face of BDD” started by @omazie (Omari) at the BDD Foundation Conference to support people to recover from Body Dysmorphic Disorder and find the courage to share with their loved ones.
The campaign is simple: a 365 day challenge to inspire BDD sufferers to become BDD Warriors by posting a “No Safety” photo (#Onetake, #Nofilter and #Noselfie) of themselves taken by a loved one every day for a year. Please search for @omazie on Instagram to participate, follow and/or show your support for the campaign or email Omari at inthefaceofBDD@gmail.com. For updates also consider following the BDD Foundation on Instagram @BDDFoundation or searching the hashtag #inthefaceofBBD.
Omari recently reached 100 days which means at least 100 strangers know about BDD and Omari has faced 100 exposure exercises. We are truly in awe of his dedication and courage in spreading awareness about Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
“Hall of Mirrors” is a short film that captures the decisive few days in the life of Basil, a young man who suffers from a mental disorder that forces him to never leave home. The name of the disorder is BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) and it is a psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.
The goal of Hall of Mirrors is simple – to raise awareness about the disorder, give hope to sufferers, and inform the average viewer. This will be a film which will not only entertain and move you, but also educate and inform on the issue of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It will be a film which will provide a positive change in the lives of those who need it.
“Hall of Mirrors” is a short film that captures the decisive few days in the life of Basil, a young man who suffers from a mental disorder that forces him to never leave home. The name of the disorder is BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) and it is a psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.
Basil isolates himself completely until he is confronted by his foster brother, Henry, with the news about their mother’s deteriorating health. Basil is unable to leave the apartment to visit his mother in her last days, but Henry manages to get him out and the two drive to the town where they grew up.
During this road trip Basil is forced to face the demons that infest his mind and initiate the change in his life.
“Hall of Mirrors” is a short film that captures the decisive few days in the life of Basil, a young man who suffers from a mental disorder that forces him to never leave home. The name of the disorder is BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) and it is a psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.
Liz Atkin is a visual artist based in London. Physicality underpins a creative practice with her skin as a primary source for corporeal artwork and imaginative transformation. Compulsive Skin Picking dominated her life for more than 20 years, but through a background in dance and theatre, she confronted the condition to harness creative repair and recovery. She creates intimate artworks, photographs and performances exploring the body-focused repetitive behaviour of skin picking. Liz has exhibited and performed her work in therapeutic settings, galleries and venues in the UK, Australia, USA and Japan.
Liz is an advocate for mental health and Compulsive Skin Picking (dermatillomania) in the UK and around the world. Liz speaks publicly about her experience to raise awareness and reduce the stigma and shame surrounding this condition. She has spoken at conferences and featured on Tedx, BBC News, Huffington Post and Woman’s Hour, amongst others.
“My experience of skin picking started from a young age. The illness wasn’t actually diagnosed until my early 30s, by that point I’d been picking for the best part of 25 years and it was only through internet searches that I realised it had a name. I found the behaviour soothing – it would block out tension, anxiety and uncomfortable emotions as through picking, and I’d hit a ‘zoned-out’ sense of calm. It developed into something I did subconsciously so there were hours where I would be picking my skin without really thinking about it. The disorder became a private vicious cycle that totally dominated my life behind closed doors. My body was littered with wounds and marks beneath my clothes. No one knew about it. I took care to mask and hide the illness and behaviour from those closest to me, wearing clothes that concealed the parts of my body covered in scabs and scars, making excuses and using make-up on my body to mask it.
I began to document how, when and where the illness took place and I began to recognise patterns. When I felt the urge to pick I tried to turn it into something else, something creative. Drawing, especially with charcoal, has become one of my greatest tools for recovery“
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she gave away more than 18,000 free #CompulsiveCharcoal newspaper drawings to commuters on public transport in London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Cologne and more.
To see more of her artwork and learn more about her advocacy and media work follow this link to her website
“Hall of Mirrors” is a short film that captures the decisive few days in the life of Basil, a young man who suffers from a mental disorder that forces him to never leave home. The name of the disorder is BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) and it is a psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.
Are you worried about how you look? How much time per day do you spend thinking about how you look? What part of your body do you want to change? Do you think you are not thin enough? Has the way you look affected your life? My name is Leigh de Vries and I have a condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
BDD is a disabling preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in ones appearance.
As a life time sufferer of BDD I have always believed myself to be severely deformed. In Dec 2014 I collaborated with make-up artist Shaune Harrison who created a prosthetic tumour that covered one side of my face, giving birth to the monster I perceived myself to be.
Accompanied by cameramen with hidden cameras, we spent a day filming, travelling on public transport and walking the streets, documenting my feelings of isolation and people’s reaction to my grotesque appearance.
Based on my personal experience of BDD I want to educate people about the condition, as well as reach a wider audience of professionals.
In addition to raising awareness I hope that my own exposure might help other sufferers to recognise and get help for this little-known and often misunderstood condition.
On a personal level, the project to date has been extremely helpful in my own recovery. It gave me something to focus on. Knowing that I had the potential to help other people in the process has brought me allot of joy.
“BDD isn’t who you are, and it doesn’t last forever.”
Nicole has many strings to her bow, including being a writer, a psychotherapist and a trustee of the BDD Foundation. Her doctoral research was focussed on BDD in educational settings. With her lived experience of both BDD and anorexia, she brings some really fresh and interesting perspectives to the podcast.
You can download the transcript for this episode here:
