My mother tells me I am fat
Symptom
Since my mother told me I was fat when I was 11, I have spent every moment of my life thinking about weight and trying different diets. None of them have been successful and over the years I have been both a size 10 and an 18. I have done so many diets I have lost count. I am now 45 and still dieting. I need to find peace with myself because I cannot keep going like this. As yet I have managed to not be either anorexic or bulimic although I have been very close many times.
My solution
I needed to deal with the relationship with my mother before I could help myself. This in itself was not easy and she was never an easy mother. I went to a homeopath and a cranial osteopath – no real logic, just what I tried. It took three years but over that three years I got my self esteem and my life back. I no longer diet, I have lost nearly two stone and I no longer am afraid of my mother. I like me and best of all I am happy with my body image. Life begins now
Possible therapies
- Homeopath
- Cranial osteopath
- Colour therapy
- CBT
- Positive affirmations
- Kinesiology
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Body Dysmorphic Disorder
I have recently been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with my appearance, checking myself in the mirror all the time, and picking my skin and punching myself as I hate what I see. I cut myself so that I have to cover up all the time. I stopped going out socially, and only went shopping late in the evening when it was dark. I am told that it probably started with being abused and bullied throughout my childhood so that I had no sense of self-worth.
Now that I have been diagnosed I can get help and start the long road to recovery. I am told I am unlikely to be ’cured’ but I can learn how to deal with the situation so that I begin to lead a more normal life, and my obsession won’t get worse.
Possible Therapies
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy