Coping with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Content Warning: Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Eatings Disorders

If you or someone you know needs help coping with BDD, please visit https://bddfoundation.org/

Last week, I wrote a post called "My Life with Body Dysmorphic Disorder". BDD is an under-represented condition that causes me to fixate on certain aspects of my appearance and it warps the way I see myself. To hear more about my experience, click here: https://www.thewildflowerway.org/post/my-life-with-body-dysmorphic-disorder

As I mentioned in my previous post, this is something I am living with. Even though I'm struggling, I still manage to get out of bed every morning and go about my day. Sometimes this is really difficult, but I have found ways to cope and overcome these obstacles.

Here are some of the things I do to manage my life with body dysmorphic disorder...

Morning Routine

I am a routine oriented person, and sticking to my morning rituals helps me get out of the door on time (most of the time). I build in the time I'll need to do my hair and makeup and aim to have some wiggle room. I plan my outfits the night before so that I don't spend too much time stressing over what I'm wearing. Although it's not foolproof, planning ahead helps me stay on track.

Emergency Kit

If I think something is going wrong, I'll fixate on it and let it ruin my whole day. I always travel with an emergency makeup kit with a travel size concealer, mascara, and any other essentials I might want later. It's a cute little Vera Bradley bag that puts my mind at ease.

Pack Extra Outfits

This is easier when I'm driving somewhere, but I love to pack an extra outfit in case I change my mind about what I should be wearing when I get somewhere. This obviously can't work everywhere, but in many cases I'm able to change before my friends and I go out or when we get back from our adventure. Bringing something I know I'm comfortable and confident gives me a way out if I start to spiral.

Get Ready On My Own

Although I love the hustle and bustle of girls getting ready for a fun night out, it can be stressful for me to share the mirror and get distracted from the task at hand. In college, I'd often get ready on my own, and then head over to my friend's before she was finished getting ready so I still could join in on the fun. Listening to throwbacks, giving outfit opinions, and helping each other get ready are some of my favorite memories from college, but a little self-care beforehand was always necessary.

Photo Fixes

Photos are a huge trigger for my body dysmorphic disorder, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to reduce my anxiety. For one, I have go-to poses that are likely to be flattering. I'm also a sucker for the "now a silly one" or the laughing candids so if the posed photos stress me out, I at least have something cute to remember the occasion from. I also try not to ask to see the photos right after they've been taken so that I don't get caught up in the "can you take one more?" spiral. I try my best to take them and let it go. I also keep a folder of photos of myself that I like as reminders that it's not my body, it's just sometimes the photo.

Keep Friends in the Loop

Sharing how you feel can feel like letting out a breath you've been holding for ages. Your friends should lift you up and help you feel confident, anyways (and you should do the same for them, too), but when they know you're struggling they'll be there even more. Your good friends will be the first ones to hype you up when you post a new selfie and give you outfit advice and help you find something you're happy in. Keeping them in the loop helps me stay present and afloat when I feel like I'm drowning.

A lot of this may seem obsessive to you, but I can't just pretend like my mind isn't racing 95 percent of the day. So much of my time is taken up by thinking about my appearance, but I grew tired of just panicking and not being able to do anything about it. The reality of my situation is that I have to plan ahead, have backup plans, give myself resources, and learn to let go. This is all part of taking care of myself.

Life with body dysmorphic disorder is not always fun, but it's livable. I focus on the positives and I fight through the rest.