Body Dysmorphic Disorder

I have suffered from body dysmorphic disorder for years now. I hate everything about my appearance. It started out with me not wanting to leave the house because of the fear I would disgust anyone that was forced to see me. Eventually it led to to severe panic attacks at the thought of having to go anywhere. A few months ago at my very worst I took a knife and began to cut open my face.

After this incident I stopped going to high school and decided on a cyber school program. I am recovering through cognitive therapy and antidepressants. I still cannot look in the mirror without wanting a knife. I need to know that someone healed and overcame this condition.

Im sorry your going through so much right now, you might be better to go to a forum specialising in Body Dysmorphia, as there will be more understanding and support there.

I found this one, which might help?

http://www.psychforums.com/bod...

I wish I had seen this post in the Anxiety forum sooner! One of my best friends Myka has Body Dysmorphic Disorder,and has had it since she was about 14 years old. She is stick thin, and quite pretty, and still HATES her appearance. It baffles me. Do you honestly not leave the house because you think you are going to disgust people? I can honestly tell you hun I promise you, you are not even close to disgusting people in public I;m sure. PLEASE dont cut your face! I have battle scars of my own, on my forearms and wrists, and a few on my left ankle, and please dont leave marks on your beautiful skin! It's not worth it. I am currently graduating high school this June, although I've been done with credits since January, I still go to school about 3 and half, sometimes 4 and a half hours a day. I have found staying after applying for colleges, writing college essays, paying for the senior trip, studying and signing up for the SATs, and applying for Federal Financial aid has tipped my stress threshole, and has thrown me into a mild hypo-manic episode! Are you going through the BS i am? If you are, hang in there! But, I also know a girl who had this (B.D.D) for about 5 or 6 years, and seemed to get over it. She stopped needing to go to a psychiatrist and stopped needing medication, but still goes to therapy like once a month and does yoga and like three sports, so her body is very toned and healthy now.

I wonder how much bullying and peer pressure in school exasperate this disorder. Teens (and tween for that matter) are so critical and do so just to boost their own egos. Maybe you previous posters could tell me more about this.
I was a pudgy child and in junior high and high school stood out as the fattest girl of my peers. Don't think for a moment I didn't hear about it as well as being just stared and snickered out. My band uniform was so tight on me that I could barely breathe. I'm not saying that body dysphoria isn't organic sometimes. Would like your observations.

I've been through a lot of body battles myself and kept it to myself. I had bullimia on and off for years and even at an Australian size 8 (I was probably even smaller than that) I was still never happy with my appearance and thought I was bigger than I was. Now as an adult I have to pay the price for never being able to have pearly white teeth, which sucks because everyone says I'm pretty but most times they notice my teeth. I have now learnt to love myself, so just know that there is hope and that it doesn't have to be this way forever. All the best and don't cut yourself anymore, it's not worth the price you pay for when you're older. Much love, stay safe and stick in there girl!

I also have body dysmorphic disorder and EDNOS. I hate my body and it ended up causing me to develop my eating disorder. I've carved words such as "Fat" "Ugly" "Don't Eat" and "F*** Up" into my skin. I can't finish high school in school, I'm being admitted to an inpatient program at a Psychiatric health center to focus on my eating disorder and hopefully figure out things with my moods whether that means a diagnosis, different/more medications, and any other treatment (they've looked into DBT).
I hope you can overcome the disorder, it's an awful feeling to not be able to look in the mirror without wanting to tear your face and your body apart.
I wish you luck.