This story makes me sad. Not only has this woman ruined her body, but she's also ruined her finances, probably for life, in the process. I can't even imagine what she feels like emotionally. Good for her for getting help.
Having a breast removed last week has radically changed my body view - it took about a week to look in the mirror without crying. I truly am disfigured for the time being, so....
I can imagine now in a small tiny way what people with this disorder feel. She is looking at herself and wants to feel normal. I truly feel for her and hope whatever treatment she is seeking really helps.
I got bunion surgery once in my life. I had never worn high heels - I have bones that have looked like twisty straws ever since I was born, and it had started to hurt badly enough that I couldn't walk like I wanted to.
It was a big deal--anaesthetic, a couple of months out of work on short-term disability. It was a HUGE deal and a big, big stressful event.
It wasn't even slightly cosmetic; it was because my foot FUCKING HURT. My foot is certainly no prettier than it was.
I cannot, however, imagine what prompted this poor lady to get addicted to this kind of surgery. When you're dysmorphic about something, there's not a lot of rational reason to it; you just believe that what you have isn't good enough, so you do what you can to try to feel in control. I had a bout of disordered eating in my teens - starving myself and exercising frantically were the only ways I knew to rapidly change my appearance, so I did it.
It's sad and scary, no matter how the dysmorphia manifests, so here's hoping she can get the help she wants.
I sincerely hope at least some of those people are able to find help in rehab, but "Passages" sounds super-sketchy. First off, a lot of addictions may start as a response to a traumatic life event, but studies have shown that at least with physically addictive chemicals, your brain gets rewired over time. Which suggests to me that more than just "reframing" the past trauma is needed. Also, I flat out do not believe an 85% recovery rate. To the best of my knowledge, programs like AA have shown to be the most effective, time after time, but I have been told by people working the program that fewer than half are expected to stay sober permanently (and then pretty much only if they continue to go to meetings, keep up with a sponsor, etc). I imagine this all doesn't apply perfectly to issues like BDD, but it makes me really angry when I suspect someone of taking advantage of people who are genuinely suffering and ill.
@Laulau: @SleeplessNights: I'm always curious where these success/failure statistics for AA come from, because I can tell you there are no surveys being passed around at meetings looking to verify or disprove its effectiveness.
@SleeplessNights: I'm certainly open to the idea that other programs work better - I'm totally ignorant there. But knowing double digits worth of people who have stayed the course for decades now, AA certainly can work, and for some people, it seems to be the only thing that does.
Body dismorphic disorder is a demon that is incredibly hard to kill. I wish her the best, and I am so happy to hear that she is canceling her appointment. I hope more people raise awareness about body dismorphic disorder and the way that our society fuels it.
@huls: I think the last line is "I want to have boobies." I couldn't believe it at first, but then I read somewhere that it was supposed to be funny, even though it's kind of just sad.
That's completely heartbreaking. How can someone look at her and think she is going to be able to cope with more plastic surgery?! It's obvious she's had lots done already!
I thought she was at least ten years older than she is - that's a plan backfiring if I ever saw one.
@badmutha: I don't think its that uncommon either. My co-worker had a permanent numb spot on his chin after oral surgery. I have a spot right above my c-section scar from the birth of my son that is numb. My doctor said the feeling may never come back if nerves were damaged. Its been over two years and its still there. Its a very odd feeling but its a small spot in a place I'm not normally touching.
I'm really glad doctors have started turning her away for being psychologically unfit to undergo these dangerous elective procedures. A medical professional should be able to evaluate someone and decide their mental state precludes their "right" to undergo a treatment.
Wait, why does that sound like something I've been saying a lot recently?
Ack. Ack. Ack. Speaking about her daughter, last year, who asked for a breast augmentation for her 13th bday:
"Alicia insists her daughter waits until she's 16 for the op. She said: "I think a 16-year-old with a nice, sexy figure will do really well as a model as long as she's managed well. That's why I'm happy for Georgia to have a boob job because it will give her a career.
"She's been at a modelling agency since she was about six. She'll be more famous than Britney!"
@yesispeakperuvian: At 16 you're no where near done developing. Not to mention, it is just incredibly sad that any 13 year old is so self-conscious and determined to be "sexy" that they ask for a boob job for their 13th birthday. I get annoyed when I hear women pick themselves apart in front of girls, but I can only imagine the damage this woman has done to her poor kid. I really hope she can break her addiction and that her daughter doesn't follow her path.
@Breamworthy: Wait-- she gave her 13-yr-old daughter a stripper-esque stage name and plans to let her get a boob job at 16 for the sake of a "career"?!!! Is there any way child services can intervene here?
@divine booty: It's surprisingly easy to accept. So many women talk about hating this and that part of themselves and the media is often mentioning how we can correct ourselves that you can readily believe that it's normal to feel this way.
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Good for her for getting help.
02/10/09
sheesh.
02/10/09
I can imagine now in a small tiny way what people with this disorder feel. She is looking at herself and wants to feel normal. I truly feel for her and hope whatever treatment she is seeking really helps.
02/10/09
02/11/09
02/10/09
It was a big deal--anaesthetic, a couple of months out of work on short-term disability. It was a HUGE deal and a big, big stressful event.
It wasn't even slightly cosmetic; it was because my foot FUCKING HURT. My foot is certainly no prettier than it was.
I cannot, however, imagine what prompted this poor lady to get addicted to this kind of surgery. When you're dysmorphic about something, there's not a lot of rational reason to it; you just believe that what you have isn't good enough, so you do what you can to try to feel in control. I had a bout of disordered eating in my teens - starving myself and exercising frantically were the only ways I knew to rapidly change my appearance, so I did it.
It's sad and scary, no matter how the dysmorphia manifests, so here's hoping she can get the help she wants.
02/10/09
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02/10/09
The figure for AA is actually less that 5% now. It doesn't work.
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02/10/09
Holy crap, this is the same lady that would let her daughter get implants once she is 16. I remember this! Remember? Oh this was on Jez a while back!
[www.thesun.co.uk]
I am so glad she is getting help. I hope she changes her mind about letting her young daughter go under the knife.
02/10/09
02/10/09
when i grow up i want to see the world, drive nice cars, i want to have groupies
harmph! whenever i hear about plastic surgery (other than treating a disfigurement) that song just pops in my head.
but i wish nothing but the best for her and that she treats her addiction and shed some light on this growing (apparently) disease.
02/10/09
02/10/09
I thought she was at least ten years older than she is - that's a plan backfiring if I ever saw one.
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Wait, why does that sound like something I've been saying a lot recently?
02/10/09
"Alicia insists her daughter waits until she's 16 for the op. She said: "I think a 16-year-old with a nice, sexy figure will do really well as a model as long as she's managed well. That's why I'm happy for Georgia to have a boob job because it will give her a career.
"She's been at a modelling agency since she was about six. She'll be more famous than Britney!"
[www.thesun.co.uk]
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...!
02/10/09
02/10/09
Alicia, 28, has just returned from America where she had her 12th breast op, but, unhappy with the results, she's already planning her 13th.
The self-confessed 'pushy mum' has also changed Georgia's name to 'Destiny' to enhance her daughter's chances of showbiz success.
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