Susan Rachele on Negative Body Image: 4 Ways It Affects You

Susan Rachele suffers from a mental condition known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD. A person suffering from BDD sees his or her body as flawed. It may have to do with weight issues, a physical flaw such as scars, an unflattering mole, or any other perceived deformity. Where a "normal" person would be quick to brush off such flaws, someone with BDD behaves otherwise; often becoming so obsessed with the perceived flaw to the point of avoiding social interactions and undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures to become more beautiful—or acceptable in public.

When a person has a poor or negative body image, certain disorders may develop, foremost of which is an eating disorder. A poor body image affects the person in four distinct ways:

1. Body perception or Perceptual Body Image. You see your body as flawed even if it really isn't. You have a specific perception of your body where you may see it as too fat or too thin, or too dark or too white, or in other ways that aren't the accurate representation of your body.

2. How your body makes you feel or Affective Body Image. How you feel about your body can elicit either satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Where perceptual body image is related to how you see your body, affective body image is more concerned with how you feel about it.

3. How you think about your body or Cognitive Body Image. This isn't the same as perceptual body image. So as not to be confused, cognitive body image is related to how you think about your body, along the lines of "If only I were a little thinner, I would be more popular, or "If I had more muscles, I would be more accepted by my peers," and so on.

4. Your behavior based on your body image or Behavioral Body Image. With a distorted body image, your behavior can be deeply affected by it. This is where certain disorders, such as an eating disorder, may develop as mentioned above. Your body image affects your behavior in extreme ways.

For Susan Rachele, seeing a cognitive behavior therapist is an important part of her recovery process. Her CBT is helping her cope and overcome her BDD.

Susan Rachele: The Good, The Bad of Being A Perfectionist

Hello, my name is Susan Rachele, and I write this blog entry as a way of owning up to my perfectionist tendencies. Some people may view this as a debilitating thing, but I believe that it is still up to the person to make the most out of it.

In my case, my perfectionist tendencies are only but a small part of who I am. Initially, I was diagnosed with PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and ADHD (Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). It's a good thing that my cognitive behavioral therapist looked at the other factors affecting my day to day life and found that I actually have BDD (body dysmorphia disorder), OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). With that said, you can just imagine how hard it is to function normally with all these disorders. On the one hand, my BDD tricks me into thinking I have so many flaws and my OCD adds to it, causing me to notice every bit of it. My SPD, on the other hand, causes me to withdraw and isolate myself as I get over-stimulated by my environment.

As for my perfectionist tendencies, I find that this happens in all I do. For example, in connection with BDD, I will not do something in front of others if I can avoid it because I know I’ll look awkward and unattractive while doing so. Before I would jog five miles almost every day, but I would go early in the morning so that no one would see me. The perfectionist in me knows I wasn’t doing it correctly as well, so I would go out of my way to avoid being caught in an embarrassing scenario.

Now I am proud to say that I am making progress is battling these disorders, in part because of therapy and other self-care activities.

My name is Susan Rachele, thanking you for reading my blog.

Susan Rachele: When Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Aggravates Body Dysmorphia Disorder

Hello, my name is Susan Rachele, and I would like to share my story living with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and BDD (Body Dysmorphia Disorder). In a way, it would appear that having OCD and BDD is a horrifying combination to have, but I am proof that it's not a hopeless condition. In fact, I work with a cognitive behavioral therapist to help me work on these irrational beliefs.

Can you imagine how OCD can aggravate BDD? Let me give you an example. As someone who suffers from BDD, I avoid mirrors as much possible. I have even gone so far as to stop owning full-length mirrors because I am not happy with the person I see in the mirror. Because BDD forces me to focus on my "flaws" and "imperfections", my OCD heightens it and doesn't allow me to catch a break. As a result, I am forced to narrow in on the tiniest of flaws visible.

Of course, there may also be some good aspects to having OCD, such as having a keen eye for details. Unfortunately, more often than not, my OCD does not serve me and even torments me when it acts up with my BDD. One positive story I can share about having OCD is the first time I ever picked up a contract; I could pick it apart and understand it more than anyone else. A lawyer complimented me on this, but overall, OCD and BDD combined have nonetheless caused additional grief.

As I mentioned, despite these setbacks and sufferings, all hope is not lost. Besides working with a therapist, I have also sought the help of a herbalist and a meditation guru to help me. My name is Susan Rachele, and I hope to share my progress about my disorders in the coming blog posts.

Susan Rachele: Overcoming Learning Disabilities

Hello, this is Susan Rachele, and I would like to share something about me that may not be obvious from the outset. While my appearance may make me look like any other person you cross paths with on the street, I actually have a learning disability called geographical dyslexia.

Have you ever wondered why some people have astute spatial awareness? And why some people have a bad sense of direction? I'm not saying that everyone who falls under the latter is geographically dyslexic, but learning about this disability may help one understand why certain people have a hard time with directions.

When it comes to dyslexia, the first thing people may think of is the reading and writing disorder. People who are dyslexic are confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations, and the condition can affect these individuals' social skills and self-esteem. However, dyslexia may also cause problems and confusion with directions, and not even on a complicated level such as reading and following maps—geographically dyslexic people may have trouble differentiating something as basic as left and right.

Imagine the anxiety and panic directional confusion can bring; more so if people who are geographically dyslexic do not know that they are, and they're unaware that there is such a condition. They may live their whole lives blaming themselves for this inadequacy when, in fact, people who have any form of dyslexia should be accorded the support they need.

In America alone, it is estimated that 1 in 10 people—around 40 million adults—are dyslexic and only 2 million know about their disability. What more of the people who have geographical dyslexia, which is less known than reading and writing difficulties?

I'm Susan Rachele, and if you have learning difficulties like I do, I hope you are well on your way to overcoming them.

Susan Rachele On Coping with A Parent with Severe Bipolar Disorder

Hello, this is Susan Rachele, and I would like to share my experience growing up in a household with a parent who has severe bipolar disorder. It is my hope that other people in similar situations be inspired to seek help for this mental illness, not only for the sake of their loved ones' well-being but for their own as well. This is especially true if they have had to suffer the various psychosocial implications connected to the mental disorder.

As mentioned, I grew up in such a household, and found myself on the receiving end of its myriad of aftereffects. Children who have parents with bipolar disorder are in a constant state of fear, anxiety, and worry because of their parents' unpredictable manic-depressive episodes. As a result, they may experience underdeveloped behavioral and intellectual growth.

Generally, the worse the conflict and verbal abuses are, the more severe and worse outcomes will be for the children involved. As children have yet to fully understand what is happening to their parents or why they do what they are doing, the poor state of the parent-child relationship can adversely affect their self-worth and self-esteem.

As for myself, I was initially diagnosed with PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and ADHD (Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Studies have found that PTSD is extremely common in such households due to higher instances of violence, physical abuse, and other similar events. It was also found that these children may develop ADHD as well.

I have since worked with a cognitive behavior therapist to help me cope and heal from past life events. Working with my therapist, she found that I actually have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD).

While these may seem like a whole lot of letters to worry about, I know I've taken a good first step when I sought therapy. My name is Susan Rachele, and I hope you do not hesitate to seek the help you need.

The Life I Am Missing

How much of life have I completely missed out on? This is a question I ask myself every day. And how many others will wake up tomorrow and ask themselves the same question. For millions of Americans with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, one of the most tragic losses is the everyday life that happens around us. It is all due to the inattention that plagues our minds.

Hello, my name is Susan Rachele. My life with ADHD is governed by one goal, and that goal is “focus.” The inability to focus is one of the hallmarks of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. I could be talking to someone for five minutes and not hear a single word they say. I am listening; I think I am even listening hard. But inside my mind there are very different things happening. While my eyes may be focusing on the lips of another, my thoughts wander everywhere. The conversation I am in sounds like it is coming through static.

School years are supposed to filled with warm memories and learning the lessons and skills that will enable you to live life to its fullest. I have no such memories as these. When I was not forgetting even the most basic tools that are required in school, things like pencils and paper, I was avoiding work altogether that I thought would be too difficult or would expose my inability to solve the most basic problems or organize the simplest thoughts I could possibly express. On top of it all, schoolmates are not the most understanding people in the universe.

People will accuse me of not caring, but that is not true. Inside, I am desperately trying to keep my mind and my eyes on the things that are important at the moment. Things like the face in front of me that is speaking, or the task that must be finished. Distraction is the demon that plagues my mind at all times. But if you only remember one thing from this post, make it this: my name is Susan Rachele, and you are not alone. I, Susan Rachele, share your struggle and your pain, as do many others. And you will never be alone.

The Everyday Struggle with PTSD

Sometimes, I will appear to be lost in thought. You will see me sit for long periods of time, alone, with no apparent purpose. That sudden blast of a car horn that may momentarily catch anyone else’s attention will cause me to be so startled that I will begin crying uncontrollably. I usually am not able to accept consolation, even from those closest to me. This is the reality of my life suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Hi, my name is Susan Rachele, and I want you to know that Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, or PTSD, is very, very different from the ordinary stressors of everyday life. It is not just having the blues or having a bad day. Everyone has bad days and sometimes bad weeks, months, or even years. What makes Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome so much worse is the living hell it transplants you to, where you must stay. It is this living hell that I have lived in for many, many years.

If you suffer from PTSD, as I, Susan Rachele, do it is extremely important to remember the one thing I have often forgotten during my struggles. You can forget everything anyone else has told you about PTSD and the horror that it brings. You just need to remember one thing that I tell you: you are not alone. Organizations large and global, and others small and local, are there to help you in your fight against Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I have fought against PTSD for many years. My resolve has only become stronger than before. My will to fight on, to live, has never been greater.

I realized that there were people who understood what I go through every day. They wanted to help me. The only thing I needed to do was to take the hand that was outstretched and accept the help that I so desperately needed. And this is the advice I am going to give you if you struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, as I do: if there is a hand being offered, take it. Embrace the future, because you are not alone.