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Facial dysmorphia?

5 replies

tinkywinkyshandbag · 29/04/2020 19:42

I'm struggling with my daughter at the moment, she's 18 and due to go to uni in September. She's always been quite sensitive and emotionally up and down even as a young child. Since going to secondary school she's struggled with friendship groups, she's very intelligent, loves music and art and has a very witty mind but can't seem to find any friends who she can form a lasting close friendship with, she's very much a perfectionist and sets herself (and others) very high standards. She's never had a boyfriend. She's very good looking, tall and slim and has a great fashion sense, the kind of girl that people actually do a double take in the street. But she is convinced that she's ugly. She is hardly ever seen without make up and won't have her photo taken ever, so family gatherings like Christmas are always difficult. She thinks she has a huge nose - she doesn't have a tiny button nose but it's a perfectly beautiful nose, lovely skin, amazing eyes etc but she thinks she is ugly. A friend sent her some photos she took of her, they were lovely, but she was in tears about them. Since lockdown her mood has declined and she's spending a lot of time in her room, I feel it's very introspective and unhealthy. Today she did finally admit that some professional help would be useful, but I'm not sure what - the problem is clearly psychological, but it needs to be a really good therapist and we don't have any income at the moment. Has anyone overcome this and what kind of therapist/therapy helped you? I read that 20% of people with this condition commit suicide and that really frightens me. Thanks.

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tinkywinkyshandbag · 30/04/2020 23:35

Bumping in case anyone can help 🙏

OP posts:
Newkitty · 30/04/2020 23:43

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I had anorexia and body dysmorphia at your daughter’s age. I would frequently feel too ugly to leave the house or let anyone see me.

Cognitive behavioural therapy was useful for me at that age. There might be some resources you can access online.

Newkitty · 30/04/2020 23:44

I haven’t used that book specifically, but another in the series. You could also work with a therapist to d some cbt. Courses tend to be time bound and shorter than other types of therapy so may be easier to fund as well.

Good luck to you and your daughter

tinkywinkyshandbag · 01/05/2020 07:30

Thank you so much for responding that's so helpful. I've been looking into CBT but it's so hard to know who is a good therapist and who is merely good at self promotion! But thank you I appreciate you responding.

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