My Story

Thanks for visiting my fundraiser for The BDD Foundation, a charity which I am raising money for by completing the London Marathon 2026 on April 26th, a year later than expected due to a medication making training difficult in 2025. Please consider donating to help a small but important charity relieve the suffering of people with BDD.   

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition where a person becomes intensely preoccupied with perceived flaws in their appearance that are minor or not noticeable to others. Similar to OCD, this often causes extreme anxiety, repetitive behaviours, intrusive thoughts, isolation, self harm, suicidal thoughts and attempts. The concern feels very real to the person, even if others cannot see the flaw. It is not vanity or simple insecurity. The condition manifests as: 

• Persistent negative thoughts about appearance
• Repetitive behaviours such as mirror checking, grooming, skin picking, comparing with others, or seeking reassurance
• Avoiding photos, mirrors, social situations, or leaving home
• Significant distress that affects daily life, work, relationships, or confidence

BDD is a mental health disorder which I was diagnosed with in January 2022 but suffered from for a number of years prior to that. The impact BDD has on my life has been significant. The biggest impact of BDD has been that I had to dropped out of a Fine Art degree and take two gap years, as I couldn't attend lectures, socialise with friends, or feel like I could function at the level I wanted to. As is the case with many people who have BDD, I was having multiple showers a day, spending 4-5 hours getting ready, researching, planning and ruminating on cosmetic surgery and avoiding busy, social environments often. I exercised extensively, restricted heavily, avoided photographs, covered mirrors with tea towels and experienced suicidal thoughts often. Similarly, I would complete my work in art studios at night when no one else was likely to be there and I would sleep through the day (which gets super impractical). I thought about my face/other areas of concern from the moment I woke up until the end of the day.

As of February 2025, I am able to manage BDD symptoms. I have been treated at The Maudsley’s CADAT unit by my amazing psychologist, Alexandra and can now do the things I couldn't before. I have been able to expand my focus and life again and return to studying- ba fine art at csm. 

By completing the Marathon and fundraising for the Foundation, I am hoping to learn to look at my body with more compassion.
I am also hoping to raise awareness about BDD through sharing my experience of the disorder. 

Below are more details on the disorder and The Foundation. 

Despite being a little known condition, BDD is estimated to impact 1 in 50 people and typically begins in adolescence. 

The BDD Foundation aims to reduce suffering by:

• Raising awareness about BDD.
• Suporting healthcare professionals, such as GPs, allowing them to better understand the nature of BDD and how it might be recognised and treated as early as possible. 
• Providing in person support groups, which are run by volunteers with lived experience of BDD to help people feel less isolated. 
• Running the BDD Conference, which features both experts and individuals with lived experience talking about BDD. 
• Supporting research into the understanding and treatment options for BDD.
• Providing a podcast on BDD.