5 ms·

There’s a great long-form article about this: https://medium.com/matter/8476df17bddf https://medium.com/matter/8476df17bddf

by mgsk 4y ago

shanusmagnus 4y ago
Ugh, that's heart-wrenching. Curious, did you know about this phenomenon already, and thus remember the article? Or did you find it just now?
implements 4y ago
> “The tension that had lined his face was gone. I sensed relief, happiness. David’s leg had plagued him for much of his life. He was free of it, and now he seemed whole.” This type of ‘cure’ for dysmorphia is not something to be celebrated.
- GavinMcG 4y ago
  …why not? Italicizing “not” isn’t much of an argument.
  - implements 4y ago
    His fixation with amputating his leg started at four years old, it has an admitted sexual element, and now he has a permanent life-altering disability - all this for the want of proper psychological treatment.
    - fzeroracer 4y ago
      The study deals with this though. The people that have BIID do go through psychological treatment, seek therapy, medication etc which don't seem to blunt the issue. But ultimately the end result seems to be that they will eventually, one way or another, find a way to get the surgery they desire. I don't know what your solution would be in that scenario other than to criminalize it and even then, there's reports of people doing home made amputations by sitting on rail tracks or whatever else you can think of.
    - bastawhiz 4y ago
      > proper psychological treatment And that is....? There is no psychological treatment that cures BIID and the patient here seems very happy. Is it really better and "proper" to give someone treatment that doesn't solve their problem and leaves them upset?
      - filoleg 4y ago
        I think the main idea of a proper psychological treatment is that it wont "leave them upset".
        freemint 4y ago
        ... and able to function acceptably in society.
    - throwaway4bid 4y ago
      I have BID. I've been in therapy for more than a decade. Therapy has not done anything whatsoever for my dysphoria. I'm convinced that my overall quality of life would improve if I got the disability I desire. The mental anguish is simply more intense than the consequences of physical limitation. I personally know others who have "gone through with it" and they really are happier now.
      - shanusmagnus 4y ago
        What kind of therapy do they attempt? Anything that attempts to integrate the physical body w/ the brain's schematic representation? I'm struck by similarities between BID and phantom limb, and wonder if tx incorporates any of the same strategies. Also, FWIW, I'm sorry for your condition. It sounds hellish.
        throwaway4bid 4y ago
        thank you. my case is kind of special, since I also have a progressive genetic disorder that's led to me being disabled. it affects me in some of the ways that I "want", but not as completely as I'd like, and causes other issues I never wanted at all. I attempted to integrate like you suggest, shifting my BID towards the direction of my newfound disability. mostly using cognitive reframing, acceptance/commitment therapy, and working at the peripheral issues like imposter syndrome, shame, grief. I feel much less shame now, and I'm able to use BID as a coping mechanism for my physical condition, but the darned dysphoria is still present.

There’s a great long-form article about this: https://medium.com/matter/8476df17bddf https://medium.com/matter/8476df17bddf

by mgsk 4y ago

There’s a great long-form article about this: https://medium.com/matter/8476df17bddf https://medium.com/matter/8476df17bddf

shanusmagnus 4y ago

Ugh, that's heart-wrenching. Curious, did you know about this phenomenon already, and thus remember the article? Or did you find it just now?

implements 4y ago

> “The tension that had lined his face was gone. I sensed relief, happiness. David’s leg had plagued him for much of his life. He was free of it, and now he seemed whole.” This type of ‘cure’ for dysmorphia is not something to be celebrated.

GavinMcG 4y ago
…why not? Italicizing “not” isn’t much of an argument.
- implements 4y ago
  His fixation with amputating his leg started at four years old, it has an admitted sexual element, and now he has a permanent life-altering disability - all this for the want of proper psychological treatment.
  - fzeroracer 4y ago
    The study deals with this though. The people that have BIID do go through psychological treatment, seek therapy, medication etc which don't seem to blunt the issue. But ultimately the end result seems to be that they will eventually, one way or another, find a way to get the surgery they desire. I don't know what your solution would be in that scenario other than to criminalize it and even then, there's reports of people doing home made amputations by sitting on rail tracks or whatever else you can think of.
  - bastawhiz 4y ago
    > proper psychological treatment And that is....? There is no psychological treatment that cures BIID and the patient here seems very happy. Is it really better and "proper" to give someone treatment that doesn't solve their problem and leaves them upset?
    - filoleg 4y ago
      I think the main idea of a proper psychological treatment is that it wont "leave them upset".
      - freemint 4y ago
        ... and able to function acceptably in society.
  - throwaway4bid 4y ago
    I have BID. I've been in therapy for more than a decade. Therapy has not done anything whatsoever for my dysphoria. I'm convinced that my overall quality of life would improve if I got the disability I desire. The mental anguish is simply more intense than the consequences of physical limitation. I personally know others who have "gone through with it" and they really are happier now.
    - shanusmagnus 4y ago
      What kind of therapy do they attempt? Anything that attempts to integrate the physical body w/ the brain's schematic representation? I'm struck by similarities between BID and phantom limb, and wonder if tx incorporates any of the same strategies. Also, FWIW, I'm sorry for your condition. It sounds hellish.
      - throwaway4bid 4y ago
        thank you. my case is kind of special, since I also have a progressive genetic disorder that's led to me being disabled. it affects me in some of the ways that I "want", but not as completely as I'd like, and causes other issues I never wanted at all. I attempted to integrate like you suggest, shifting my BID towards the direction of my newfound disability. mostly using cognitive reframing, acceptance/commitment therapy, and working at the peripheral issues like imposter syndrome, shame, grief. I feel much less shame now, and I'm able to use BID as a coping mechanism for my physical condition, but the darned dysphoria is still present.