Body Dysmorphia Makes People Hate How They Look – Here’s How You Can Support Them

December 9, 2015 / Christine Deneweth

Do you know what body dysmorphia is – and how it’s different from common misconceptions about it?

If someone you know has BDD, you need to know how it affects their body image. It’s not the same as just disliking your body or a body part. This comic will help.

Here’s a great explanation of what body dysmorphia is (and isn’t), with some solid tips on how you can support someone who has it.

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

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Click for the Transcript

Panel 1

Text: Body Dysmorphia Revealed

Panel 2

Jackie talking and smiling. She has medium long curly hair, a necklace with a key on it, and pieced ears.

Jackie: Hi everyone! My name is Jackie, and I have body dysmorphic disorder.

Panel 3

Jackie talking and smiling.

Jackie: Before we get into a story about a bad day I had with a friend, let me explain what body dysmorphic disorder is and what it isn’t.

Panel 4

Text: What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Text: BDD – Uncontrollable negative thoughts about real or perceived flaws that can last for hours. This can lead to missed work/school and isolation.

Panel 5

Text: How does it show up?

Text: People with BDD are preoccupied with their body image. Sometimes it can be specific parts of the body that has a slight imperfection or is perceived as imperfect.

Panel 6

Woman afraid of the mirror.

Text: This can manifest in compulsions like mirror checking/avoidance or seeking surgery.

Panel 7

Man frowning looking in the mirror.

Text: What it isn’t:

Text: It isn’t just disliking your body or a body part.

Panel 8

Jackie hunched over and crying.

Text: This is an extreme disorder that affects a person’s day-to-day life. It goes beyond just a feeling.

Panel 9

Jackie crying.

Text: It isn’t something that the person can get over and forget about. It is always on their mind.

Panel 10

Woman talking to crying man.

Text: It’s not good to tell someone with BDD they look fine. That’s like telling someone to get over it.

Woman: You look fine!

Panel 11

Text: People with BDD can also have anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, and eating disorders. But just because someone has BDD doesn’t mean they have other disorders. It is its own independent disorder.

Text: BDD not equal to eating disorder.

Panel 12

Jackie smiling.

Text: For me, I have BDD and an anxiety disorder.

Panel 13

Jackie scared looking out the window.

Text: I have a hard time doing social things, and I really don’t like to shop for clothes because I want to avoid thinking about my body.

Panel 14

Jackie touching her face and looking in the mirror.

Text: I have a face picking compulsion, but at the same time, I want to avoid looking in the mirror.

Panel 15

Jackie smiling.

Text: So how do I get through it?

Panel 16

Jackie standing on one leg on a yoga mat.

Text: I like to do yoga to help me feel connected to my body. It can be scary, but I like to push myself.

Panel 17

Jackie typing on the computer.

Jackie: I have a body dysmorphia Tumblr where I can get my emotions out, connect with other people that have it, and find resources to make life a little easier.

Panel 18

Jackie smiling and looking in a mirror

Text: Most of all, I remember that BDD is what make me feel how I feel. I try to recognize what triggers me and remember that this is what the disorder is.

Panel 19

Jackie talking.

Jackie: So back to the bad day I was telling you about.

Panel 20

Jackie waking up in bed.

Text: I made sure to wake up early because I was anxious. I had plans with my friend Alex who knew I had BDD. But I don’t think they knew much about it.

Panel 21

Jackie crying and looking in the mirror.

Text: It took me an hour to figure out what to wear. I almost broke down in tears a few times, but I found something to wear.

Panel 22

Jackie looking in the mirror.

Text: I was supposed to be meeting up with my friend Alex, but my face picking compulsion wasn’t going to let me be on time.

Panel 23

Jackie screaming looking at a pimple on her nose.

Text: If I so much as find anything resembling a pimple, I freak out. Sometimes I end up picking all day.

Panel 24

Jackie meeting up with Alex. Alex is tall and has long black hair.

Text: Finally I was able to break away from the compulsion and meet up with Alex. But my anxiety was already through the roof.

Panel 25

Jackie looking behind her at a person looking at her.

Text: I could feel everyone’s eyes on me.

Panel 26

Alex waving Jackie into a clothing store.

Text: Then Alex dragged me to a clothing store. My worst nightmare. They wanted to help me find a dress for a wedding we were going to.

Panel 27

Jackie crying and screaming.

Text: They insisted I try on a dress, and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

Jackie: I can’t do this!

Panel 28

Jackie running out of the store with Alex looking sad.

Jackie: I ran out of the store.

Panel 29

Jackie crying and breathing heavily.

Text: It was too much. I don’t feel comfortable with having to try on clothes and look at my body.

Panel 30

Alex talking to Jackie.

Text: Alex ran out to check on me.

Alex: Hey Jackie, are you okay?

Panel 31

Jackie talking.

Jackie: To be honest, Alex, I’m kind of tired of having to remind you of my BDD. I really can’t do things that directly involve my body image. It really stresses me out and sends me over the edge. Please be a little more conscious of me.

Panel 32

Alex talking.

Alex: Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t thinking about your well being, I was thinking about the wedding. Sorry! Please let me know how I can make you feel more comfortable.

Panel 33

Jackie talking and smiling.

Jackie: I forgive you, Alex. I understand that you didn’t purposely hurt me. I have a few tips on how to help your friends with BDD.

Panel 34

Alex dragging Jackie into a clothing store.

Text: Instead of saying we look fine, let us talk through what we’re feeling. We are silenced far too often. It’s patronizing and downright ableist sometimes.

Panel 35

Image of phone.

Text: Always ask permission if you want to take a photo. Let us see the photo and give approval that it’s okay. Before Alex knew about my BDD, they tried to take a selfie with me. That’s when I had to talk about it and explain that pictures are not ideal for someone who struggles with body image.

Panel 36

Jack and Alex eating pizza on the couch.

Text: Some days are hard. Maybe we can’t hang out with you at the mall, but we always figure something out.

Alex: Like pizza!

Jackie: I knew there was a reason I love you!

To learn more about this topic, check out:

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Christine Deneweth is a Contributing Comic Artist for Everyday Feminism. A queer cartoonist and artist, Christine lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She is a cartoonist for Eastern Michigan University’s newspaper the Eastern Echo. She writes children’s books about mental disability and has a comic strip that has been published for five years. Comics can be found on her Facebook page, and art can be found on her Instagram @crassaster. Check out her work here!