Love is Louder than the Pressure to be Perfect

 
(Source: fuckyeahplobnrstuff)

Four Beautiful Women...

 

MAIL ONLINE posted this article in July 2009. I really admire how strikingly honest these women are. 

 On the left, four beautiful women who suffer with BDD bravely pose for self portraits. On the right, their portraits are digitally altered to show what they see in the mirror every single day. THIS is what BDD looks like. 

Click here to read the full article. 

 

Dove Self-esteem commercial

This video is an oldie but a goodie :)

A special Photography project...

I am working on a personal photography project that is very near and dear to my heart.

I'm looking for willing participants to pose for photographs which will creatively represent body confidence, body image, body dysmorphia and self esteem. If you are dealing with self esteem issues, have in the past or know anyone who is struggling... this is a great opportunity to freely express yourself.

Please contact me and tell me your story....

Disney star Demi Lovato talks mental illness..

Disney star Demi Lovato recently spoke out about her struggles with body image, bulimia and bipolar disorder.  
Demi says "she hopes to become an advocate for girls facing similar struggles."

The singer-actress who developed an eating disorder as a child has said
"Feeling comfortable in your clothes is something I deal with to this day. I wish I had somebody I had to look up to when I was younger to stand up and say, 'Hey, I have fat days.'  So I want to be able to start
a foundation or something that's for girls feeling confident, to empower them."

 I applaud Demi for getting proper treatment for her issues. This should set a great example for young girls and women struggling to be comfortable in their own skin. It just goes to show you that even celebrities as beautiful as Demi have a distorted body image. There is no such thing as "normal"



Way to go Demi!


Click HERE to read full article!

BDD Stigma

Why is there so much stigma surrounding BDD and other mental illnesses?
If it's such a common thing to have a mental illness in today's society, why are we afraid to talk about it and get help? It seems that the reason for stigma is due to the fact that many people have preconceived notions about what mental illness is and what it means.
"Crazy" "Lunatic" "Unstable" "Deranged" "Violent" and other harsh terms like this tend to be initial reactions when the term "Mental Illness" comes to mind.
The big issue is, these notions can be greatly distorted due to influences like contemporary media.

Commonly held misconceptions and stereotypes of people with mental illness (including BDD) include:

• They are all potentially violent and dangerous.
• They have nothing positive to contribute.
• It is the person's own fault that they have a mental illness. 
• They cannot be responsible for everyday chores, duties and functioning.
• They aren't as intelligent as people without mental illness.

Contrary to popular belief, plenty people with diagnosed mental illnesses like BDD and others are fully capable of living "normal" healthy lives. Many are fully functioning members of today's society. They are your friends, sisters, fathers, cashiers, receptionists, colleagues, teachers and strangers on the street. BDD can occur in any race, culture, city or town. Male or female. BDD and other mental illnesses can happen anywhere.
Would you be able to recognize a mental illness in someone you sit next to on a bus? Probably not.

Statistics show that 1 in 5 Canadians will experience some form of mental health issue in their lifetime.
Once someone is labeled with a "mental illness" there is so much branding and shame surrounding those words that many people are afraid to get the proper help they so desperately need. The negative reaction to mental illness can lead to intense discrimination. For people with mental illness, stigma can be a large barrier to living a "normal life". Finding a place to live, a job, friends or relationships can become extremely difficult with mental illness stigmatization. This fear of talking about mental issues can result in many years of suffering, sadness and sadly even suicide if left untreated.

If you or someone you know has a mental illness like BDD or others PLEASE get help. Talk to your doctor. Seek out therapy, counselling or just talk to a friend.

Click on any of these links for more resources on places to find Health, Help and Hope...

Let's Talk TODAY!

Hey everyone!

Just a reminder that today (Feb 9th/2011) is Bell "Let's Talk" Day!
For every long distance call or text you send, Bell will contribute 5 cents toward mental health programs and research.

Please show your support by texting your little hearts out!

Together we can break down the stigma associated with mental illnesses like BDD

No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted...

'Let's Talk' Mental Illness Awareness Day

Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a form of mental illness in their lives?

Because other mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia are much more well known than BDD, raising awareness and furthering research on BDD is incredibly important...
Due to the stigma that mental illnesses like BDD may carry, many men and women greatly suffer in silence for fear of judgement, trivialization and rejection...

*For every long distance call and text message made by Bell customers on February 9th 2011, Bell Canada will contribute 5 cents to support mental health related programs across the country.

Let's get texting!

Click here to read more about how Bell is supporting Mental Health.

Don't look at me...

"Every day is so wonderful
Then suddenly, it's hard to breathe
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down
So don't you bring me down today

To all your friends, you're delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The pieces gone, left the puzzle undone
Is that the way it is

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down
Don't you bring me down today...

No matter what we do
No matter what we say
We're the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes

And everywhere we go
The sun will always shine
And tomorrow we might wake

On the other side

We are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words can't bring us down
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down
Don't you bring me down today

Don't you bring me down today..."

Learn the Facts: What is BDD?

Millions of men and women around the world deal with body image & self esteem issues daily... so what draws the line between normal self esteem issues and BDD?  

BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) is a psychological disorder in which a person is excessively, extremely and obsessively preoccupied by a perceived (or slight) defect in his or her physical appearance. The concerns men and women have with body dysmorphic disorder echo normal self esteem concerns but are significantly more extreme. The preoccupation that people with BDD experience causes clinically significant stress, anxiety, depression, social avoidance, self harm and sadly even suicide.

Common compulsive behaviours of people with BDD include:

• Frequently checking appearance in mirrors/mirrored surfaces
• Excessive grooming (combing hair, plucking hair, applying makeup)
• Camouflaging the body or face with Makeup, baggy clothes, hats etc.
• Excessive dieting and exercise
• Frequently seeking reassurance from others ("Do I look okay?")
• Completely avoiding mirrors for fear of seeing one's reflection