Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Body dysmorphic disorder

I was thinking about body dysmorphic disorder, also known as BDD, today as I was shopping for a new blouse. In the past few years, I have developed what can only be kindly described as a, well, flat tire around my waist. Usually I am not aware of it, and it's only when a picture is snapped showing this disconcerting feature that I even think about it much. Or when I undress to try on a new blouse.

That's a lie, really, as I realize that I think about it a LOT. I never used to have this flat tire, and usually I don't imagine myself as having one. But recently, I've realized that my body image as I see myself and my body image as it really is have diverged. In the picture above, you see a very thin girl who sees herself as being fat. This is one of the more well-known features of BDD, someone who cannot get thin enough to lose the fat she believes everyone else sees when they look at her. BDD also manifests itself in becoming preoccupied with one's body image, and in researching this post, I found that (of course) Wikipedia has a fascinating article with plenty of links for further study. This was taken from that link:
The disorder generally is diagnosed in those who are extremely critical of their mirror image, physique or self-image, even though there may be no noticeable disfigurement or defect. The three most common areas that those suffering from BDD will feel critical of have to do with the face: the hair, the skin, and the nose. Outside opinion will typically disagree, and may protest that there even is a defect. The defect exists in the eyes of the beholder, and one with BDD really does feel as if they see something there that is defective.
Now I know some of you are thinking of pictures of myself that I've put up on this blog, but you haven't ever really noticed that roll around my waist. That's because I am going to do everything I can to hide that particularly loathsome part of my current anatomy, from myself as well as from you. The reason for this post is twofold: first, to inform my blogging buddies that you are not alone in being self conscious about a specific body part that you are not happy with. There are lots of us out there.

The other reason is to "come out" about this and thereby (hopefully) let it go. My own particular body image, the one that I imagine I project, is that of a twenty- or thirty-year-old's curves. I forget that I am no longer in that category, unless a picture (or a mirror) reminds me that I am not a contemporary young gal. I completely forget that while I wasn't looking I got old. As my measurements changed, my body image didn't, and today I decided that I'm going to learn to be very happy in a 67-year-old body! It's not like my loved ones haven't noticed, but it's not something they focus on when thinking of my self-worth. It's me who does that.

Without further ado, here's my coming-out picture:
And that is NOT fabric around my waist, that's ME. I'm gonna try to be comfortable with it from now on. Kinda sorta, that is. But I should really do something about that nose!
:-)

30 comments:

  1. What I see is a beautiful, vivacious woman who in NO WAY looks her age,but much younger....and someone happy...which has an unmatched beauty.

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  2. You are so funny. I love it!!! I had not noticed a roll around your middle or your nose either but you've got the right attitude. Good for you.

    Several years ago I was looking through a church directory and came across a man's picture that caused me to mutter to myself "he's got a Hatcher nose." Imagine my surprise when I saw his name was Hatcher, and he was the son of a first cousin of mine. Small world.

    I'm so glad I met you in the blogging world. I just love people like you, free spirits.

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  3. 67? You look a decade younger and a whole lot fitter than many.

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  4. I had to laugh and nod when you said you saw yourself as young. I have been guilty of the same thing. When I am around young people I often forget how they must see me and think of myself as their contemporaries.

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  5. I know all the comments about more to love and all that crap! But... at least we've had it and can tell the stories! You are so beautiful and congratulations on your coming out! (Or sticking out?)
    By the way... Do what I do so your chest sticks out farther than your belly... Just buy more padding for the bra!

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  6. Alas, unlike that thin girl in the pic, I am not delusional. LOL. I see myself as I am: obese and tired looking. However, I was delighted to read a scientific article that stated obese elderly patients lasted longer and even survived their illness than did thinner patients.

    Go smoke that in your pipe!

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  7. I think you look much younger than your age, don't worry about the spare around the middle, it's what happens to us all...
    As I was reading about your flat tire I couldn't help but think, mine is not flat, it's inflated !
    You are a healthy, active individual, and no doubt you have an active mind, just let the rest flop along for the ride ;)

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  8. LOL! It is a very small tire. I have much more to loath!

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  9. You are looking lean and mean! Take it easy on yourself:)

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  10. Your photo says it all...we can come out with attitude! You look very nice DJan...so be comfortable!

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  11. That tire must be powering all your jumps and walks so I think you should be glad for how well the tread is wearing! lol You look great to me.

    I don't have A tire. I have the full set. I hate it and will always hate it. I loathe photos of myself because they look just like me and I have to accept that. BLECH!!!! I don't have a disorder, though. I have REALITY! And the first place I gain weight is my face and stomach. My stomach can be a LITTLE disguised if I stand behind someone but it's pretty hard to take a photo without your FACE! lol Oh well. The fam is stuck with me and I just try not to look in the mirror!

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  12. It's a great photo. You look good. I think most of us have a puffy little muffin top at the waistline. It's that aging stuff. No big deal.

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  13. Okay, something weird is going on with blogger. Is this happening to anyone else? I see that 13 comments have been left, and five have appeared in my mailbox but don't show up on here. Paul, Rae, Lynn, Connie and Eva have left great comments but they aren't displayed. Is this just me or has the universe become unstuck somehow? :-)

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  14. At least yours is flat. I can't say the same.

    It's weird how your perspective doesn't really change in some ways. You and Linda Reeder already mentioned it, but I remember being 20 and thinking how old my 27-year-old co-worker seemed in comparison. Now I'm 51 and, like Linda, I have to remind myself how I must seem to young people. But I FEEL the same. I mean, I feel older, but the same person is still looking through my eyes. Does that make sense?

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  15. Hmm...you are missing some comments. Nancy stated the same problem so I'd imagine there's something wrong with blogger...

    I think you look fantastic. It's funny, I was thinking along a similar line today. My thoughts were of a friend of ours who is upset about her weight gain and goes on, and on, and on about how she looks and what she's eating and how she's not losing weight. It gets so very old. My mental conclusion was that she was much more attractive when I first met her (at her current weight, too) and saw her as a vivacious, supremely confident woman. I perceived her as being someone very comfortable in her skin. Boy was I wrong! Still, it made me realize that attitude truly is a big part of attractiveness. So while I may not look like I did before I had kids, I'm not going to let it phase me. I'm going to hold my head up high because I'm beautiful dammit! Maybe I should write that on my mirror, just as a reminder...

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  16. Yeah I can see you but there's nothing wrong, you're still the same you and those (ahem) around the waist doesn't matter at all. The nose looks fine unlike mine which is small but I'm happy with it as long as I can breath LOL!

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  17. You are strong and fit, which counts for a LOT. And if we think of ourselves as cute young things, so what? To somebody, we probably are! I know, honesty is a good thing, but so is positivity!

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  18. You're looking great DJan, none of us would have noticed the tire. I think you're right, we notice things like this more than others do.

    I've been having the same problem with comments all day. It says I have a certain number but they aren't showing up in my comment box. Maybe Blogger will get its act together soon.

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  19. Keep the tire. If you starve to death it will take you longer to die and maybe by then someone will find you and you will have the tire to thank. I always say keep the fat and make the pallbearers earn their money.

    To be perfectly frank, and honest, I never noticed until you mentioned it. And then I have had one hard time trying to find it.

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  20. I decided to be happy with my body when I turned 50. It is what it is...right? I have been in the same clothing size for most of my life, yet I would beat myself up thinking that I was getting fat...even when my clothing size remained the same. So I gave up that notion of thinness. I realized that the media, magazines TV and such were the culprits...planting these notions in my brain by all the skinniness shoved in my face...and the pressure to be like the images they chose for us to look like.
    We all come in different shapes and sizes...the focus should be on being fit...not being the perfect shape. And I might add...fit in both body and mind.
    Awesome post.
    Have a lovely day DJan. And you look great by the way!

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  21. Hey Jan, At least you have a FLAT tire.....Remember those INFLATED inner tubes that we all used in the summer at the lake/pond/swimming pool. well that is what I see when I look in the mirror!!!

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  22. I had to giggle when I read that post D-Jan. My tire has slipped further than yours. I now have saddle bags!! you can imagine that. Problem is that I don't need any more fat round my hips. My hips are nicely rounded? anyway. Those extra inches are not wanted or needed, thank you very much. oh my, if only I could move that fat up to wear I really want it, which would be in the top region where my bra is!
    ps you look fine to me. You really do. :-)
    Blessings, Star

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  23. Don't you dare mess with that cute nose!! Lots of us would really like to have one like that.

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  24. No no. Don't do anything about your nose. I'm not proud of my nose either, but I don't want to look like a barbie doll with her pointy nose either. Individuality rules!

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  25. Very interesting post (and a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately-great minds!). I think more of us are affected with this disorder than we'd like to believe...

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  26. I think you look so great!! and so young!!!

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  27. you are so beautiful. right now. as you are. PERFECT.

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  28. I think you look great. I bet if you looked around at other 67 year olds they look much older than you. Aging can be difficult to accept. One mantra that I say often to myself and others is: I want to look as good as I can for 52, I can't and don't want to look 25. I think that women that are healthy, happy and take care of themselves are beautiful, no matter what their age. You are a perfect example.

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  29. Body dysmorphic disorder is not easy to deal with.

    There are really too kinds (that overlap, but are not exactly the same). One kind has more to do with eating disorders (and is a little more well-known).

    But there is a second kind of BDD that is really a kind of social anxiety issue (more of a fear of social criticism that is phobic and does not involve food issues).

    Both, however, are probably rooted in societies perfectionist standards laid so harshly on Womens bodies.

    Some men can get it too (although more Women by far).

    By the way, I have the anxiety-disorder related kind (no associated eating disorder in my case). There is actually a great resource for that one-- Social Anxiety Anonymous has great support groups for body dysmorphic disorder and also other kinds of social anxiety problems (including telephone support groups for people in remote areas). They've been a Godsend for me.

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