Silk Naturals

sewwies wrote:And Cupcake, amazing answers as always. Would you be my Scottish guru?!

Cupcake wrote: One (of many) simple truths is that one of the greatest powers that we all have is in how we choose to respond. Lots of people don't want to realise this and take a hold of that responsibility. (Easier to blame bad parents, lack of support, etc). You don't have to live by how you feel.

I was researching cosmetic surgeries and this website has finally convinced me that I am an inappropriate candidate for it. My entire adulthood, I have been desperately wanting a tummy tuck and boob job, but now I think I'm finally coming to terms with the idea that my body is not the issue; my mindset and self image are.

Anyway, I just wanted to pass the information along in case it helps anyone else.

"Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious illness in which a person is preoccupied with minor or imaginary physical flaws, usually of the skin, hair, and nose. A person with BDD tends to have cosmetic surgery, and even if the surgery is successful, does not think it was and is unhappy with the outcome."

Symptoms of BDD:
* Being preoccupied with minor or imaginary physical flaws, usually of the skin, hair, and nose, such as acne, scarring, facial lines, marks, pale skin, thinning hair, excessive body hair, large nose, or crooked nose.
* Having a lot of anxiety and stress about the perceived flaw and spending a lot of time focusing on it, such as frequently picking at skin, excessively checking appearance in a mirror, hiding the imperfection, comparing appearance with others, excessively grooming, seeking reassurance from others about how they look, and getting cosmetic surgery.

Getting cosmetic surgery can make BDD worse. They are often not happy with the outcome of the surgery. If they are, they may start to focus attention on another body area and become preoccupied trying to fix the new "defect." In this case, some patients with BDD become angry at the surgeon for making their appearance worse and may even become violent towards the surgeon.

Treatment for BDD:
* Medications. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are antidepressants that decrease the obsessive and compulsive behaviors.
* Cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a type of therapy with several steps:
1. The therapist asks the patient to enter social situations without covering up her "defect."
2. The therapist helps the patient stop doing the compulsive behaviors to check the defect or cover it up. This may include removing mirrors, covering skin areas that the patient picks, or not using make-up.
3. The therapist helps the patient change their false beliefs about their appearance.

I think it's high time to suck it up and get back on the antidepressant medications instead of verbally abusing the hell out of my spouse.

I know there's already a mental health thread, but I think there should be one specifically for body image issues because it's helpful to know other people who are going through the same things.