News

Wood Carving as a Creative Tool for Healing through BDD

Ben shares his experience of BDD and how woodwork is helping him cope day to day

My name is Ben and I have been suffering with BDD since my late teens and so I’m getting on for nearly 23 years living with the condition. It’s been very much peaks and troughs over the years and I’ve been through various types of treatment including multiple rounds of CBT and various medications. I’ve seen some improvements but it remains something I try to deal with on a daily basis.

During the COVID pandemic, when we were all in the lockdown, I was looking for something to occupy myself with and stumbled across wood carving / whittling on YouTube. I bought myself a set of carving knives and some blocks of Basswood and gave it a go. I quickly found that I really enjoyed it and it became a brilliant way of occupying myself and providing a distraction. I continued with the wood carving beyond COVID and it’s developed over the years into a bit of an obsessive hobby!

I’ve found that it’s been a huge help with me coping with BDD on a daily basis. It provides a great source of distraction and helps me switch off from the relentless thought processes and ruminations that BDD causes. It’s also a great distraction for my hands. My BDD causes endless checking behaviours ( touching / feeling my hair in particular) which I’m not able to do when holding a carving knife and piece of wood!

I wanted to share this passion of mine as it’s genuinely been (and continues to be) a real help in dealing with this all consuming condition.

If you want any further information or just want to reach out I’d be more than happy to speak to you.

Lots of Love, Ben.

bahilton9@hotmail.com

Ella Delancey Jones on Body Dysmorphic Disorder

BDD destroyed my confidence and self-esteem – here’s how I got help

In a recent Glamour article, Ella Delancey Jones courageously writes about her battle with BDD, recounting the impact of past bullying on her self-esteem and development of the condition.

“I didn’t let anyone know how it was affecting me. The shame of it made the thought of drawing more attention to myself feel worse than the bullying.”

Much like many individuals with BDD, Ella turned to plastic surgery in an attempt to calm the thoughts and feelings BDD brought. However, sadly this led to further torment and pre-occupation.

“I stayed inside for days, alternating between looking in the mirror obsessively or dissolving into tears when I caught sight of myself in one. How, I thought, could I live when I looked like this?“

After reaching out for help, Ella received a diagnosis and CBT treatment to address her BDD symptoms. She still struggles, but is able to use the tools learnt in therapy, and is committed to continually building her confidence and self-esteem back up.

Read the Full Article

2024 Community Fundraisers

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

Get Involved

We are looking for community fundraisers to support us in funding vital resources for individuals struggling with BDD and help us continue to raise awareness.⁠ Last year, individuals ran half-marathons, completed Iron Man challenges, trekked some huge mileage, sold at car boot sales, took part in sponsored wax-a-thons, delivered art exhibition events and hosted bake sales, all in the name of helping those with BDD.⁠
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It really can be any kind of event or challenge!⁠

Get in Touch

If you’d like to contribute to the BDD Foundation in this way, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to discuss your idea and we can support you through the process of fundraising for us.

fundraising@bddfoundation.org

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Yahoo Life UK Reports on Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

Yahoo Life sheds light on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), providing valuable insights into the condition. The article comprehensively covers what BDD is, its symptoms, underlying causes, and available treatments.

Crucially, the article dispels misconceptions surrounding BDD, emphasising that it is not merely a matter of vanity but a serious mental health disorder causing significant distress. By addressing these misconceptions, the article contributes to a better understanding of BDD and improves understanding for those grappling with the disorder.

Read the Full Article

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Channel 4 Documentary ‘Obsessed with My Muscles’ – Untold Stories

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

Channel 4 Untold speak out on Muscle Dysmorphia. The documentary featuring Miles Nazaire, follows his journey in understanding more about the condition and how it manifests, realising this is something he is suffering with and committing to continuing to raise awareness of Muscle Dysmorphia.

Miles discusses treatment options with our trustee Dr. Amita Jassi, the criteria for diagnosis and dangers of the condition with Chairman Dr. Rob Willson, and learns from the lived experience story of our ambassador George Mycock.

Check out the full video on All 4 catch up. Well worth the watch!

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Videos from our 2023 Conference

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

Personal Stories:

More topics covered:

You can view the full day here.

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BDD Stories with LAD Bible Roundtable

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

Big thank you to these brave individuals who recently contributed to the LAD Bible Roundtable, sharing their personal stories of BDD. Your courage to use your voices contribute to breaking down stigma around BDD and improving understanding.

The varied perspectives and stories from this discussion are an important reminder that everyone’s BDD journey and recovery will look completely different, and that’s ok.

The discussion covers some really interesting topics, including symptoms, diagnoses, treatment, gender differences, cosmetic surgery, faith, community, rock bottom and turning points in recovery.

Check out the full video below

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What Impact has the BDDF had on you?

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

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.

Please complete the survey here

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.

Survey closes: 11th October 2023

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Get your ticket for our 10-year Anniversary Conference

Is 2024 the year you take on a fundraising challenge?⁠

Tickets available here

Date: Saturday 4th November 2023

Venue: Logan Hall, 20 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AL or livestream

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!

Tickets available

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Being at Peace with Oneself

by Ulrike Behrendt

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 Reach III 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?

Please connect with Ulrike to share your responses and feedback on ulrike.behrendt@student.nua.ac.uk

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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. Charity no. 1153753.