Tragic story which illustrates seriousness of body dysmorphia with relevance to other dysmorphic disorders

[Ereshkigal]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4951968/Artist-40-thought-ugly-killed-herself.html

Apologies for DM link. This is so sad. But I feel it illustrates just how all consuming the feelings of body dysmorphia can be and how warped a view sufferers can have of themselves. She thought she was ugly and was terrified of getting old and fat. From the pictures you can see that she was a very attractive woman who looks a good 5-10 years younger than her real age, not that that counts for anything, but just highlights her distorted view of herself. She was clearly suffering from a serious mental illness. It seems to me that there are some major similarities with gender dysphoria here. Just my thoughts.

[Albadross]

What other kinds of dysmorphia are there that don't involve the body?

[Ereshkigal]

Not sure there are, just the way I worded the thread title. A bit clumsy, I agree, sorry!

[QuentinSummers]

Just seen this. So sad, poor woman and her family

[20lbsToLose]

From the pictures you can see that she was a very attractive woman who looks a good 5-10 years younger than her real age, not that that counts for anything

So why include that in your post. What if she wasnt attractive and young looking to you or others?

Nobody should feel the need to take their own life based on how their outer appearance is perceived to others.

[Ereshkigal]

Not the point. The point is that her view was clearly distorted.

[Ereshkigal]

It's about the dysmorphia, not about suicide.

[20lbsToLose]

Dysmorphia exists because of comments like you just wrote about her attractiveness. What is and isn't attractive.

If she were "ugly" and took her life, what would your or peoples responses be?

Not surprised? She's not pleasant to my eye.

[differenteverytime]

The other thing that strikes me about this terrible case is the overwhelming nature of the dysmorphia. Her appearance was more important than her future, her family, her art, her very life. Whatever her actual appearance was like, that could never have been true. I wish she had been able to access therapy that worked to help her live with herself, because even if she'd had the surgery it still probably wouldn't have been the answer.

[Ereshkigal]

Go away and goad somewhere else. Body dysmorphia is a serious mental illness. This woman had been diagnosed with it. Look it up.

[Ereshkigal]

Sorry, cross post, different.

[Ereshkigal]

The other thing that strikes me about this terrible case is the overwhelming nature of the dysmorphia.

Yes, that's what struck me too.

[differenteverytime]

I have a relative who spent time in a psychiatric hospital for a different condition. She said there was another woman there who was obsessed with the appearance of her eyes - had bankrupted herself paying for cosmetic surgery and was still constantly planning for changes that she wanted. I don't know what became of her. I hope that she received intensive therapy - I don't know what even works for that sort of situation - but certainly having the surgery hadn't helped the poor woman. I really feel for the family and friends of the woman in this case. It seems similar to EDs and other body-based delusions - they probably tried to challenge her belief about herself but she wasn't able to see beyond it.

[differenteverytime]

I suppose, in a society which places such importance on what women 'should' and 'shouldn't' be like, it's hardly surprising that some vulnerable individuals take that message on board to an all-consuming extent. I can think of several parallels.

[20lbsToLose]

If that was aimed at me OP, well I'm not "goading". But that goes to show that in a society that puts so much emphasis on a woman's appearance, its no surprise that you have made a comment on how you view her visually.

[Ereshkigal]

It seems similar to EDs and other body-based delusions - they probably tried to challenge her belief about herself but she wasn't able to see beyond it

Yes, precisely.

[Ereshkigal]

20lbs

I'm allowed to have an opinion on whether someone is attractive or not. We all do. Don't be ridiculous. It's entirely relevant to the distorted belief she had about her appearance. Which probably significantly contributed to her killing herself. That's the point you're utterly failing to grasp. I won't be engaging with you further.

[20lbsToLose]

O don't understand why you're getting defensive. Maybe think next time when you post something about body dysmorphia, not to make comments on someone's attractiveness.

[Ereshkigal]

ODFOD

[differenteverytime]

The NHS describes body dysmorphic disorder here, along with the range of therapies, medications and support that are recommended for its treatment. It seems awful that this woman must have believed surgery was the only answer.

[Ereshkigal]

You really are very obtuse.

[Ereshkigal]

Not you, different.

[20lbsToLose]

You're a very unpleasant person and I think you're taking my posts the wrong way.

[Ereshkigal]

You are entirely taking my original post the wrong way. I don't think you understood the point. Heigh ho.

[Ereshkigal]

Stop derailing my thread.

[differenteverytime]

It must be a hugely complex condition to treat. The person will be very resistant to seeking help to start with, believing as they do that the inherent problem is their own body, and that the solution lies with correcting their body. If their family/friends discourage the surgery, as this woman's husband did, they probably see that as controlling, even abusive behaviour, that challenges their rights over their own body.

I'm glad that there is treatment available that challenges the person's view of themselves in a therapeutic environment, and I wish it had been enough to help this woman, who clearly needed more intensive therapy than was available to her.