Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders

[galeteia]

Date: 7/13/2008 1:18:15 AM
Author: ladypirate
So I''ve been thinking a lot about this thread since last night--it really struck a nerve I guess. It is so heartbreaking that so many women have issues with their bodies/the way they look. I don''t know any woman IRL who doesn''t have issues, actually. It''s almost as if it has become so common that it ceases to be clinical and is looked at as the norm, which is really messed up.


There''s a thread about women''s clothing sizes on the shopping board that got me thinking about it further. I certainly don''t have BDD or anything, but I can''t go clothes shopping without having a panic attack about the way I look. Is it just so ingrained in us as women that we should hate any imperfection with our bodies? It''s as though subconsciously we think that we should never have gone through puberty and developed these d*** curves.


Galateia, thank you for being so brave and posting about this. I think far too many women fall into a similar category of body issues that aren''t ''serious'' enough to be taken seriously, and that''s horrible. *hugs* again and I hope you''re doing ok.

I wish I could spend time in this thread and respond individually to everyone who has posted; something I feel each response deserves.

I want you all to know that even if I have not replied directly to your post, I have thought about it a great deal. The trouble comes with trying to reply; I find myself spiraling farther down into depression when I spend too long in this thread, because my coping methods depend on finding other things to focus on.

But I do appreciate each and every post. Some of you have posted deeply personal experiences and I am so grateful that you did.

Ladypirate, I think you''re right on target with your observation that it has become so common as to be brushed off as ''the norm''. I just spent about 10 minutes trying to explain some of my thoughts about how body image issues/eating disorders may have become a ''chicken or the egg'' issue, but it was horribly garbled so I just deleted it.

Deco, I wanted to tell you that although I won''t be making clothes and selling them on Etsy, your suggestion has borne fruit. I have decided to focus on sewing and am currently taking things apart that don''t have the right fit and altering them so the clothes fit my body, instead of my body not fitting the clothes properly. (For me, this is a key change of view to maintain.) I''m also sewing everything by hand, which is painstaking (but easy to control) and thus requires a lot of concentration. It''s nice to feel pride in one''s work, it lets me enjoy my guy''s company while he works without getting bored, and I find it relaxing. So thank you for your ideas, they planted a cheerful seed.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 7/13/2008 3:22:22 PM
Author: Galateia
Deco, I wanted to tell you that although I won''t be making clothes and selling them on Etsy, your suggestion has borne fruit. I have decided to focus on sewing and am currently taking things apart that don''t have the right fit and altering them so the clothes fit my body, instead of my body not fitting the clothes properly. (For me, this is a key change of view to maintain.) I''m also sewing everything by hand, which is painstaking (but easy to control) and thus requires a lot of concentration. It''s nice to feel pride in one''s work, it lets me enjoy my guy''s company while he works without getting bored, and I find it relaxing. So thank you for your ideas, they planted a cheerful seed.

Yea! So glad to hear that. I''m not so very religious but I do believe a higher power created that body of yours

-- whereas *man* created those formerly ill-fitting clothes

.

PS: Selfishly that Etsy idea still sounds good to me -- I could get my own hands on some Gala Couture!

Random other thought: I took my *own* advice (a first!

) -- and DH & I tried out a Swing Dancing class Sat night. Sure, it wasn''t a/c''d and we may have sweated over all the other unsuspecting students when they made us change partners BUT it was fun & we''re gonna do it again soon. Maybe every Thurs. Squee!

 

[galeteia]

Date: 7/13/2008 4:49:04 PM
Author: decodelighted

Yea! So glad to hear that. I'm not so very religious but I do believe a higher power created that body of yours

-- whereas *man* created those formerly ill-fitting clothes

.


PS: Selfishly that Etsy idea still sounds good to me -- I could get my own hands on some Gala Couture!

Random other thought: I took my *own* advice (a first!

) -- and DH & I tried out a Swing Dancing class Sat night. Sure, it wasn't a/c'd and we may have sweated over all the other unsuspecting students when they made us change partners BUT it was fun & we're gonna do it again soon. Maybe every Thurs. Squee!

Heh. Who knows where 6 months of enforced idleness and a sewing habit will end up?

I've never had the time to get really down and dirty when it comes to sewing, but I've always wanted to. Now I have the unique opportunity to do so. I searched around for local sewing classes brush the dust off, but save for some church grannies sewing the sorts of church granny-esque items, nothing's happening until August. But August has a garment class on making coats! Boo-yah!

Nicely done on the swing dancing. Swing is a very energetic and athletic dance of choice, no doubt that the next two months will see the emergence of leg muscles you hadn't met before!

Talk about about a cardio workout, and swing music is so upbeat.

I think my next project, after the fabric inserting and darting frenzy happening atm, may be a little bolero jacket that will actually sit properly on the girls. I'm tired of all the armpit warmers out there that don't even cover the straps of a dress; what is the point of a bolero for 'a little extra coverage' that ends up not actually covering up anything?

I typed out a little illustration, but PS's formatting didn't like it. Oh well. I'm off to do some work on the bodice of an 'XL' dress that seems to be made for B cups. Oy. Who actually fits into these things?

 

[ponderer]

Galateia,

I have very little experience with BDD/eating disorders, but I have many family members who are affected by thyroid disorders. While weight gain or the inability to lose weight is the most common complaint associated with thyroid problems, it is actually the most benign symptom. Many of my female realtives psychological states are altered significantly with the changes of their thyroid hormone levels. I would greatly incourage you to seek a further health evaluation to see if their are any physical health problems that may be influencing your mental health.

Best wishes

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 7/13/2008 5:34:54 PM
Author: Galateia

I typed out a little illustration, but PS''s formatting didn''t like it. Oh well. I''m off to do some work on the bodice of an ''XL'' dress that seems to be made for B cups. Oy. Who actually fits into these things?

I hear you on that one! It''s like they think no one has breasts anymore! I''m really glad you''re staying positive--it sounds like the best thing you can do for yourself right now. I''ve been sewing as well, but it''s been curtains for our new house rather than clothes.

You should post your work in the craft thread! I''d love to see some of the stuff you''re doing.

 

[swingirl]

Sorry for your issues with your health. I just wanted to add my son''s regular doctor interpreted his thyroid test differently than the endocrinologist. They prescribed different amounts of the same medication. The endo was more aggressive with the treatment. So you might want to try again and find a specialist who takes it more seriously especially if you are borderline.

There are 2 types of of low thyroid function. One is caused by the thyroid not producing enough hormones. The other is caused by the pituitary gland not producing enough serotonin. People with ADD or ADHA have a higher incidence of hypothyroidism compared to the general population. It''s unbalanced brain chemistry. And depression and BDD fit right in.

The thyroid meds are very cheap, by the way. Good luck.

 

[galeteia]

Date: 7/19/2008 4:23:12 AM
Author: swingirl
Sorry for your issues with your health. I just wanted to add my son''s regular doctor interpreted his thyroid test differently than the endocrinologist. They prescribed different amounts of the same medication. The endo was more aggressive with the treatment. So you might want to try again and find a specialist who takes it more seriously especially if you are borderline.


There are 2 types of of low thyroid function. One is caused by the thyroid not producing enough hormones. The other is caused by the pituitary gland not producing enough serotonin. People with ADD or ADHA have a higher incidence of hypothyroidism compared to the general population. It''s unbalanced brain chemistry. And depression and BDD fit right in.


The thyroid meds are very cheap, by the way. Good luck.

Thank you for posting this, it has me wondering if I might have better luck with an American doctor who is less hesitant to prescribe me something. I don''t have health insurance, though; would I be looking at a GP appointment to get a referral to a specialist, and then the specialist appointment?

The other major symptoms I have is a stubborn internal clock that insists that nights are for staying awake, and mornings are for sleeping. Once 10pm comes and goes, I''m clicking into high gear even if I had 3 hours of sleep the night before and got up at 8 am. ''Sluggish'' is a mild term for what mornings are like for me. I have to force myself to eat in the first 2/3rds of the day, and then stave off a feeding frenzy at night. I also have problems regulating my body temperature, but the other major symptom is terrible menstrual symptoms that seem to be tied to hormone levels.

My doctor was so keen on me having Endometrosis that she refused to look at anything else, and was using any leverage she could to get me to agree to be cut open so they could take a peek. It was her area of interest.

Well, it''s 5:15am and I suppose I should give bed another go. I wish we had evolved without the need to sleep.

 

[swingirl]

I don't know where you are located but if you have American doctors available you might want to give them a try. Since you are not going through insurance you probably don't need a referral. There is a lot on the internet. This is one explanation.

Symptoms: fatigue, depression, sensitivity to cold, weight gain, forgetfulness, muscle weakness, puffy face, dry skin and hair, constipation, muscle cramps, and increased menstrual flow.

When hypothyroidism is present, the blood levels of thyroid hormones can be measured directly and are usually decreased. However, in early hypothyroidism, the level of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) may be normal. Therefore, the main tool for the detection of hyperthyroidism is the measurement of the TSH, the thyroid stimulating hormone. As mentioned earlier, TSH is secreted by the pituitary gland. If a decrease of thyroid hormone occurs, the pituitary gland reacts by producing more TSH and the blood TSH level increases in an attempt to encourage thyroid hormone production. This increase in TSH can actually precede the fall in thyroid hormones by months or years (see the section on Subclinical Hypothyroidism below). Thus, the measurement of TSH should be elevated in cases of hypothyroidism. However, there is one exception. If the decrease in thyroid hormone is actually due to a defect of the pituitary or hypothalamus, then the levels of TSH are abnormally low. As noted above, this kind of thyroid disease is known as "secondary" or "tertiary" hypothyroidism. A special test, known as the TRH test, can help distinguish if the disease is caused by a defect in the pituitary or the hypothalamus. This test requires an injection of the TRH hormone and is performed by an endocrinologist.

 

[purrfectpear]

It''s awful that you suffer so. You are the first person I''ve heard of who has BDD, but actually recognizes it and has periods where it doesn''t depress you. Somehow that sounds as though you have a better chance of dealing with it sucessfully to me. I wish there were a magic pill that we could pass around that would help you ladies who feel "less than" about your bodies.

I''m sure it does no good to tell you that a size 12 is perfectly fine. You already know that intellectually. Your FI tells you that you look great. Somehow there''s a little voice in your head that sabotages you. I sincerely hope that therapy will help you work through this

You mentioned bolero''s. I''ve noticed a few posts from BWW where girls are looking for boleros. You could think about specializing in custom work? I''m sure there''s interest.

 

[FrekeChild]

Hey Gala, this has nothing to do with BDD, but I wanted to let you know that a New Mexican Restaurant is opening up in Lubbock-but it''s Dion''s Pizza. link I think you guys should check it out. Their pizza is pretty freaking good, and pretty inexpensive. They are all over Albuquerque so we go relatively often. Anyway, just thought I''d let you know (if you didn''t already!)

 

[galeteia]

Date: 7/19/2008 5:28:58 PM
Author: purrfectpear
It''s awful that you suffer so. You are the first person I''ve heard of who has BDD, but actually recognizes it and has periods where it doesn''t depress you. Somehow that sounds as though you have a better chance of dealing with it sucessfully to me. I wish there were a magic pill that we could pass around that would help you ladies who feel ''less than'' about your bodies.

I''m sure it does no good to tell you that a size 12 is perfectly fine. You already know that intellectually. Your FI tells you that you look great. Somehow there''s a little voice in your head that sabotages you. I sincerely hope that therapy will help you work through this

You mentioned bolero''s. I''ve noticed a few posts from BWW where girls are looking for boleros. You could think about specializing in custom work? I''m sure there''s interest.

Thank you for posting ypur thoughts; I truly think that if we can resist the urge to suffer privately and admit that our thinking is flawed, it makes it easier to confront the issue and gain ground. Even now it''s hard for me to say out loud to my partner "I''m gloomy from body issues" instead of silently telling myself that I''m replusive and do deserve to be ashamed of myself.

I often wonder about the origins of these kinds of ''twists'' and when cornered, my guy has speculated it may be the body''s interest in attracting a mate ''overclocking'', and the momentum of biology is suddenly pushing in a skewed direction. That being said, this isn''t his field of expertise and he''d probably be exasperated I repeated it.

I''m a huge fan of boleros, so I imagine I''ll get plenty of practice in the next few months. Hadn''t thought of making them for others. Hm. The lace ones especially seem ripe for hours of painstaking, nitpicky work eyed from a distance of six inches. Just my cup of tea! I actually like beading and embroidery quite a bit ... wouldn''t a handpainted silk bolero with tiny beaded trim be fabulous? Hm.

Well, that would be far off, but interesting. Very interesting.