#bddresearch

More articles that I found interesting and allowed me to gain a deeper insight into the links that social media can have on BDD. As well as being hereditary, BDD can be influenced by several other factors including media. The articles show how much social media has had an effect on generations that use it.

https://www.thelexingtonline.com/blog/2018/5/7/how-social-media-contributes-to-body-dysmorphic-behaviors

Vanity is defined as "excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit" this is not what BDD is. People can often misidentify themselves or others as being vain rather than having BDD. This often discourages people to see help as they feel ashamed and they're making a big deal over nothing. no one should ever feel like this as it can make the disorder even worse, feeling unheard or misunderstood. These are some articles that I found about the misconceptions/myths that surround BDD. I think they are helpful resources to gain a deeper insight of the sigma that still surrounds BDD and how I could help combat that in my campaign.

https://bddnotvanity.weebly.com/index.html

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd

https://skepticink.com/gps/2015/04/12/youre-so-vain-the-truth-about-body-dysmorphic-disorder/

- wear baggy clothing/be comfortable

- remind yourself the feeling will pass

- distract yourself, do something that you enjoy - walk, watch a show, knit, etc

- talk to someone you trust/professional

- BDD support groups

- exercise to destress

- meditation

- medication prescribed by a professional

I did more research about the signs or symptoms some people may have when they are starting to develop this disorder. Unlike more disorders, it's not something that can only be inherited. BDD can be caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. Pressure from peers or social media can result in the manifestation of BDD.

- constantly comparing your appearance to others

- frequently looking for mirrors or reflective surfaces to check on your flaw

- your thoughts are consumed by this perceived flaw and it's all you can think about

- a belief that others can see this flaw and think of it in a negative light

- looking for ways to hide your appearance while in public

- getting upset when people post pictures of you online

- constantly seeking reassurance from others on how you look

In my previous article research, I found that celebrities that I knew have suffered from BDD and talked about their struggles. I wanted to dig deeper into this and see what they have done to advocate this issue. I found some of these celebrities from The BDD Foundation website and from there I did further research about certain celebrities. https://bddfoundation.org/information/more-about-bdd/famous-people-with-bdd/

Robert Pattinson: - ‘Body dysmorphia, overall tremendous anxiety. I suppose it’s because of these tremendous insecurities that I never found a way to become egotistical. I don’t have a six-pack and I hate going to the gym. I’ve been like that my whole life. I never want to take my shirt off.” - His anxiety and body issues become a big issue especially when he attends red carpet events - “I get a ton of anxiety, right up until the second I get out of the car to the event, when suddenly it completely dissipates,” said Pattinson. “But up until that moment I’m a nut case. Body dysmorphia, overall tremendous anxiety.” - He has suffered from low self-esteem

Billie Eilish: - She has been open about not feeling comfortable being in tiny or fitting clothes - While she was in a competitive dance company she didn't like how she felt, saying “I was always worried about my appearance. That was the peak of my body dysmorphia. I couldn’t look in the mirror at all.” - She's able to talk about issues that most celebrities wouldn't, in the fear of possible backlash or judgement - She also suffers from other issues on top of BDD, these include depression and Tourettes syndrome - Her body image issues started as young as 12 years old

After finishing my formative presentation, I realised that I needed to do a deeper dive into BDD and the resources that are widely available. I was focusing too much on trying to find sources that were New Zealand based. But even before that I should be looking at BDD on a wider scale, so I could gather as much information as possible then slowly begin to narrow it down from there. It is better if I have more information than less, as it means I can build from wherever and focus on certain areas if I wanted.

Currently, I am looking for credible statistics as well as articles that talk about the issues that surround BDD or what people who suffer from BDD have to go through every day.

Points from the article: - BDD is categorised as a mental disorder where someone's idea of their appearance is 'severely flawed' (Blank 101, 2021) - "It is a chronic disorder that affects all genders and usually begins manifesting itself during the teenage years or early adulthood." (Blank 101, 2021) - People who suffered from BDD often go for cosmetic surgeries to try and change this perceived flaw that they have - They often obsessively check themselves in the mirror to cover up the flaw - The low self-esteem that stems from BDD can often lead to unhealthy relationships and an unbalance between personal and work life. This inherently affects their carries and underperformance in the workplace - BDD can come from reasons other than body image, which is what differentiates it from an eating disorder - Someone with BDD has poorer insights, meaning that they aren't aware that their thoughts are irrational - BDD can come from several factors including, genetic, developmental, cultural, past trauma, neglect, abuse and bullying. - Social media also has a big influence on the manifestation of this disorder - Prolonged exposure to it can lead to the development of a negative body image due to its ideal stander for beauty - BDD is commonly misdiagnosed for other disorders as there has been little research put into it - Celebrities like Robert Pattinson, Kim Kardashian and Jameela Jamil have all talked about their battles with BDD - "Never try to tell someone how you think they should feel or that their concerns are invalid. Be understanding and willing to listen. A little compassion and the world would be a better place." (Blank 101, 2021)

After reading this article, I think I want to do more research about the celebrities that struggle with BDD. I want to see the types of things that have been done to try and overcome this and if they have advocated for any organisations to help others. As they have a wider reach to communities due to their fame, I want to see if they have used their platform to talk about these issues and how they did that.

This is a video that was created by The BDD Foundation in 2015. It. follows a woman struggling with BDD through a day in her life. From the moment she wakes up there are subliminal messages showing how she perceives herself and the ways in which her disorder manifests. As she progresses through her day, signs and writings show negative messages and images. In the end, she finds someone that relates to how she's feeling, spreading the message that 'you are not alone'. This video shows how someone diagnosed with BDD can be in a constant struggle to deal with.

The BDD Foundation was started in 2016 by a small group of individuals who suffered from the disorder. It was only a website that provided others with information about BDD but in 2013 it was registered as a charity. Their aim is to educate and make people understand BDD as a whole. They are based in the UK and donate the money that they raise towards research and treatment of the disorder.

I think this would be a useful resource to use within my research even though it is now based in New Zealand. It will help give me a general understanding of BDD as well as an international perspective on the issue. I would be able to gather information about how the UK is aiming to reduce the number of people that are suffering from BDD, and take these methods and apply them into my approach.