Pantagraph.com | News | Size 0 teen battles body dysmorphic disorder

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Dee wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:06 PM:

" I do however agree that psychological factors play a significant part. The emphasis placed on looks in this day and age is a major trigger for many BDD sufferers, but NOT the actual cause. "

Dee wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:04 PM:

" Anyone who believes BDD is not a real disorder, I can assure you that it is. It is related to obsessive compulsive disorder which is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.

People with BDD can't just control it and it's nothing to do with being shallow or vain. BDD is an excessive preoccupation with appearance to the point where it takes over your life and you can no longer function normally, for example, becoming housebound or suicidal.

Another misconception is that BDD means a beautiful person that thinks they are ugly. The truth is anyone with a genetic predisposition can suffer with BDD regardless of their actual physical looks. What makes it BDD is the obsessive nature of the disorder how much it impacts their daily functioning.

I can only put some of your comments down to ignorance and lack of understanding. This disorder very much exists and without treatment it can lead to severe depression, social withdrawal and even suicide.

"

Andrew Lewis wrote on Oct 31, 2007 2:34 PM:

" I live in Eureka, California and I was wondering if you'd marry me Cheyenne. 707-444-0261 call me "

To JD wrote on Oct 9, 2007 2:26 PM:

" I am not disagreeing with what you say, only how you say it. I have never attacked your blogs before, maybe other people feel the say way about your know-it-all attitude. "

Anyone who thinks this sort of thing wrote on Oct 9, 2007 3:17 AM:

" has one cause (and it appears there are many, here) is very mistaken. In one person's case there might be dozens of significant contributing factors. Those claiming or those wishing there is just one cause are severely oversimplifying, making evident their complete lack of understanding. No remedy can be achieved by those not prepared to consider bigger possibilities/probabilities. "

abcd wrote on Oct 9, 2007 12:45 AM:

" Regarding comments that this is only a medicalization of experiences that all normal people have: What sets BDD apart from normal appearance anxiety is excessive concern that is reinforced by rituals, like checking, grooming, or comparing, and behaviors like avoidance of social situations. The endpoint of the person believing they look abnormal and not fit for other people to see might seem odd not having been through that trauma, and not having the same experiences. There are many factors, for example there is some evidence that it is common for people with BDD to have obsessive or perfectionistic traits (perfectionistic doesn't imply an obsession with looking handsome or pretty - most people with BDD only want to feel like they look normal, however all suffer regardless, the content isn't too important). That might sound like there's some innate flaw in a person causing an inevitable outcome but those traits can be directed in positive ways. It's not all or nothing. "

abcd wrote on Oct 9, 2007 12:39 AM:

" In response to comments about shallowness or vanity: It's a misunderstanding to view this as a flaw of shallowness or vanity. First, because appearance concern is normal and it is important to other people. It isn't perverse to feel bad about not looking normal. It isn't unconcern with other, important values. It's excessive concern (consuming) about that value (appearance) via a feedback loop of anxiety in behaviors and auxiliary beliefs. Second, the over valued idea is reinforced by interpretations that are repeated over time. These interpretations are faulty, however this characteristic isn't unique as most judgements operate under good enough heuristics. Read a little Social Psychology; the normal conclusions we draw are riddled with errors; the problem then with the over valued idea is that it isn't helpful. It hurts the well being of the person and causes low self esteem, and without that buffer it's more difficult to cope. It isn't stupidity or a deficit of wisdom. Knowing many people with BDD I find they are just as reflective as the next person. It isn't a symptom of what's wrong with youth today, bad parenting, consumer culture, although they are factors just like anything else in our lives. "

JD to: To JD wrote on Oct 8, 2007 5:02 PM:

" One does not need to be a doctor to understand the basic principles of things, even the difference between psychological and mental disorders. Your continued attacks on me show just how threatened you are of people who know more than you, and I am thinking that may be a lot of people. If you disagree with something I say, than state so and make your case. So far, all you have done is attempt to discredit anything I have posted, not by proving me wrong but because through fallacious remarks which have nothing to do with anything but some personal grudge. "

Area Resisdent wrote on Oct 8, 2007 10:25 AM:

" I am going to have to agree with JD on this one. Besides anyone who has had a basic psychology class knows that all teenage girls are prone to this mentality, but some suffer from it severely. I am sure our society has a lot to do with enhancing these conditions, we have become quite narcissistic! Everything is "too the extreme" as well. Our models are too thin, so what do we do to counter, we have Plus-size models. Can't we just have average-sized models? Why does it have to be the extreme ends of the spectrum. BTW, everyone throwing around size and weights in their comments need to keep in mind the relative associations of heights. My girl-friend is a size 0 and 100 pounds, BUT she is only 5 feet tall, so she looks perfectly healthy. "

Jen wrote on Oct 8, 2007 9:19 AM:

" Why can't people accept that women of all sizes are beautiful? Society portrays that size 0 is what we should all strive for, but I don't believe that's normal. I've been been everything from a size 6 to a 20 in my lifetime, currently a size 14. Of course there's always room for improvement, but I don't want to be a 100 lb., size 0! That is NOT what the average woman looks like. Take a look around people! My heart goes out to Cheyenne - it's hard enough to be a teenager these days. I hope she gets the help she needs & can learn to love herself, inside and out. "

Dr. Orangutan Chief Cardiologist Miller Park Zoo wrote on Oct 7, 2007 8:05 PM:

" Are you a doctor? Answer NO. I am non factional character who makes a desperate attempt at exposing the truth. "

pamiam wrote on Oct 7, 2007 7:24 PM:

" I work with Cheyenne, and as someone who sees her often, I can say honestly that she is a beautiful person with a wonderful personality. I was very surprised to see this article, as I had no idea that she was struggling with this disorder. I'm very dissappointed with the responses and lack of support. I was glad to read that she was being seen by Dr. Kimber, he is an excellent doctor and will guide her in the right direction. I'm sure that we will all be supportive of her here at work, for we know what a wonderful young person she is. "

To JD wrote on Oct 7, 2007 6:29 PM:

" Are you a doctor? No matter on which story you comment you always try to come across as some kind of authority. I see your blogs everywhere (story on appendix and many others). If you are a doctor, please proof your blogs before posting. Otherwise let me know your name so I can be sure I don't go to you. "

Oh brother wrote on Oct 7, 2007 5:38 PM:

" One more thing created by people's lack of self confidence labeled as a disease and "society's fault." Get real. If you say this mindset is inflicted by society, it can't be a medical disease. And no one can MAKE you feel or think a certain way. Only you can. This has nothing to do with society's attitudes toward Cheyenne, and everything to do with Cheyenne's reaction to society. Period. "

Grieving mom~ wrote on Oct 7, 2007 5:24 PM:

" I lost my 16yr old daughter in a car accident in February. Please, Cheyenne, wake up and realize how precious life is. I'd give anything to have her back, and my 2nd home is not in Florida, but Park Hill cemetary. "

The most beautiful thing in this world wrote on Oct 7, 2007 4:17 PM:

" is a person who regardless of their body exudes real confidence. I am a competitor body-builder and I love women of all sizes. I've dated people who could be models- of all sizes. Confidence is a special trait that occurs in someone randomly regardless of their size- I've even seen huge people with fantastic, healthy confidence and that's SO appealing! The one woman from my past that I still think about and actually long for was a lovely size 16-18 with volumptuous soft curves and gorgeous long hair and a smile so bright she could light up the night- and her heart- WOW! She swam and worked-out and though by most peoples' standards she was too large- let me tell you- she was a hundred times more beautiful than ANY stick-figure celeb I see on the silver-screen today! We need to ALL work on having a better body image. Even if you weight is twice what is healthy for you, by all means work on correcting that to get healthy- but love your body no matter what size you are. It's a gift from God and you need to love it and be good to it. "

Good point wrote on Oct 7, 2007 12:53 PM:

" People should come together and try to solve the world's problems. For starters, stop worrying about your physical appearance and focus on a real problem! Whiny little angst-filled teenagers are not a problem; they cause them! "

contn'd~~ wrote on Oct 7, 2007 10:48 AM:

" their are so many wonderful people out there but the few that are so mean are the ones we should worry about. We are living in some serious times. We have a government that can't be trusted and people that are being murdered or raped. Children being molested and this is a time when everyone should try to pull together and work as a whole instead of divided. Try to have some empathy in your heart for others and work together to put this country back on it proud feet. Stop insulting those less fortunate than us. That is grade school crap. You should have grown up by now. Unite not fight!! "

What has happened~~ wrote on Oct 7, 2007 10:44 AM:

" to people? In todays complicated world I know peple have a lot of things on their minds, but the cruelty some people show on these blogs is overwhelming. People are hateful, insulting, rude, obnoxious, to someone that has an afliction it's is downright scary. Has America come to the point that we are so blind that we can't see the pain or suffering in another human being. Sure it doesn't make sense to you, but to them it does. Why people so insensitive to others any more. Do you not have a heart? Have you been taught to be mean and cruel to others. contn'd "

To: to quote from Quote wrote on Oct 7, 2007 9:48 AM:

" by the way doesnt a healthy girl mean she is a size 0 "

Pekin Girl wrote on Oct 7, 2007 9:40 AM:

" Cheyenne, You are right, you don't look good. But now how you think. You're too thin, and your bones stick out. It makes you look ill, and you are. Your cheeks are sunk in, you've lost breast and hip tissue, making you look like a boy. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm telling you what I see, dear. You are a lovely person, but you are destroying yourself. I haven't read once anyone mention about how this is affecting your organs, but it will damage them. We don't want your looks, Cheyenne..we want your contributions to society - your thoughts and ideas and opinions. Your generation will be running this country one day, and we'd like you to be a part of that. Get the help you need, learn all you can about getting healthy, and stay with us. Be a part of our future - we need you. We need your entire generation. You deserve to receive kindness from yourself, and part of that comes by getting healthy. I wish you all the best in the world, from a mom who has a daughter your age. "

Penny wrote on Oct 7, 2007 9:34 AM:

" I am sad that there are comments here about beauty and looks and the outer shell of a person. This is exactly the main reason this girl is ill, because so much emphasis is put on the outside of the body & what it looks like. I heavily blame society (although other factors surely exist) for this girl's outlook and the outlook of many, many teen girls. What are we telling our kids when it's okay to post billboards of bikini-clad skinny girls selling cars or beer or what have you? Or set out magazines at the check-out talking about what celebs had boob jobs, tummy tucks? It's our fault - we adults - that have not spoken up loud enough to the media to stop hitting our children in the face with this stuff...It's no wonder we have less and less people who are shallow and lack honor and integrity - we're all too busy focusing on the outside instead of the inside. Tsk tsk. "

get a life wrote on Oct 7, 2007 9:25 AM:

" mothers would do a huge favor to their daughters by engaging them in something other than physical appearance. These girls need a diversion, a hobby, basically, a life. "

I can't see how she wrote on Oct 7, 2007 8:38 AM:

" can get any prettier. She is beautiful in the face, maybe she could get more beauitful on the inside. As a young teen I hated my looks but I realized I just had to do the best with what I had to work with. Maybe her problem is she wants to be THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL in school not just another pretty face. She needs to realize that aint possible because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. "

Toffee wrote on Oct 7, 2007 8:17 AM:

" There are girls who are even bigger than her that have this issue. This is really sad, that society/media has made a so-called image of pretty...this girl would be it. Some of you on here are saying that a size zero is a perfect size, and when you get to college and you see girls with "jiggly thighs" you'll feel better about yourself. Some of us girls with jiggly thighs are comfortable with ourselves and we are just as beautiful as miss cheyenne and don't even come close to a size zero. I hope that society and the media starts to portray that beauty does not only come in a size zero but all shapes and sizes. We need more plus size models...come out of your shell people thicker girls are sexy too. "

al wrote on Oct 7, 2007 7:41 AM:

" only the pantagraph would run this story next to the one of the new workout center at isu with pics of girls working out to lose weight and look better. too funny. "

Why Is This On The Front Page wrote on Oct 7, 2007 4:31 AM:

" news must be slow today for the AP to even bother with such nonsense and the Pantagraph to put it on the front page. If you guys can't do better than this I am going to cancel my script. "

To: GQ wrote on Oct 7, 2007 3:47 AM:

" Size 0, weighing 100lbs is NOT healthy. Look at that picture of her. Collarbones that stick out an inch is not healthy. Being able to see a woman's pelvic bones is not healthy. B-U-L-L is right. Her "condition" is the result of that narssistic society that we've become where unless you're malnourished and thin as a rail, you're fat. "

JD wrote on Oct 7, 2007 1:44 AM:

" A mental disease is often something caused, and judged by, social norms. Just because it is given a name, does not mean that there is not something wrong caused by societies effect on the person. So the question begs to be asked, is this something caused by nature or by society? Unlike things like bipolar, which is a chemical imbalance, this disorder is more psychological. It requires alot of therapy to accept oneself for who they are, not what society thinks they should be. As such, yes it is a disorder, but it is not a mental disorder, it is a psychological one brought about by society's inane focus on physical appearance. "

To all the pigs wrote on Oct 6, 2007 11:25 PM:

" You all wish you could get someone that looked like her to like you. Reality is though you all deserve what you get and hopefully that is nothing because as perfect as you think you are well you have at least one major flaw and thats judging a book buy its cover. Oh an I a man buy the way and am happy with a women that does not look like a barbie doll. "

To: Well wrote on Oct 6, 2007 10:35 PM:

" These days, the main qualification for entry in the DSM is potential for profit. The most disturbing trend in medicine in the last 5-10 years is labeling anything that be spun as a "disease" in the name of selling drugs. See: obesity. "

to: Patty wrote on Oct 6, 2007 10:32 PM:

" I wish that were true, but without some serious self-image changes she'll probably get chewed up and spit out in college. With her current self-esteem issues she'll jump at attention from the wrong guys and get hurt too many times, making the problem worse. The guys who only care about one thing will be after her like crazy, and the good guys know better to steer clear from girls with dad issues and eating disorders. CHEYENNE: don't look to guys' opinions to reaffirm anything about yourself. You need to discover and nurture your own self image and worth. For yourself. "

Dr. Orangutan Chief Cardiologist Miller Park Zoo wrote on Oct 6, 2007 9:41 PM:

" Thumbing through the Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English Main Entry: dysmorphic...Part of Speech:adj....Definition: malformed or misshapen; pertaining to an abnormality in the shape or size of a body part....Example:John Kerry has a long, rather dysmorphic face. Etymology:Greek 'badness of form' "

To: quote wrote on Oct 6, 2007 6:18 PM:

" I'm sure your fat in all the right places, baby! Gimme your phone number. "

I'm a fat person wrote on Oct 6, 2007 5:55 PM:

" who weighs 400 lbs. I am a great guy who so far is otherwise healthy and I lead a wonderfully fulfilling life but always at the back of my mind- sometimes in the forefront of it- is the struggle with my body-size and body-image. I've lost 200 lbs. 3 times in my life, so LOSING weight is something I have mastered- it's the other components to keepig it off and sorting it all out in my brain that proves difficult. The dilemma is at once both simple AND complicated. There are many, multi-facedted "causes". All eating disorders regardless of which extreme- too heavy or too skinny have mutual contributing factors. Again- it can be a seemingly simple issue with seemingly simple remedies- but at the same time obviously it's complicated as well or so many wouldn't be struggling so severely. The first step in healing and remedy as with most things is clear understanding. And from peers, loved ones and the medical community- compassion plays an important role. "

GQ wrote on Oct 6, 2007 5:30 PM:

" I hope Miss Cheyenne realizes that she is NOT fat, she is the perfect ideal size ! You are truly blessed with the looks that will turn heads and a body type thats is perfect for fashionable clothes. Let the pear shaped sized 12's postulate and blame society for their shapes, it will be YOU that is out on dates lookin good while they sit home alone and try to blame society for their inabilty to balance diet and excercise. You are not stupid for being a size zero, but you are ignorant if you listen to those that try to tell you otherwise. "

to quote from Quote wrote on Oct 6, 2007 5:06 PM:

" If you call me fat being the size of an average woman than I guess I am. You see a healthy woman is not a size 2 or 4 but the average size of a healthy person is around 10-12. So I guess I am as fat as I can be. But, you know what? I am happy with myself and the only person I have to impress is my husband and he doesn't have any problems with it. We get along just fine in and out of the bedroom;) "

Narcoleptic wrote on Oct 6, 2007 4:59 PM:

" I just wish the Pantagraph could have done an article about me when I was seventeen. My teachers all thought I was lazy, my parents insisted I didn't go to bed at the correct time and my schoolmates had a blast doing things to me when I fell asleep in class. My own PCP even insisted I didn't show signs of narcolepsy. Whether or not this girl's condition is is considered "legitimate" by the medical community, I have a hard time believing that hers is a serious one that lasts a lifetime. With a bit of cognitive adjustment and a couple college boyfriends, she'll be fine in a few years. "

al wrote on Oct 6, 2007 4:53 PM:

" what about the girls out there that are truly ugly though...is that just being honest with themselves? "

I'm the opposite wrote on Oct 6, 2007 4:41 PM:

" I've somehow convinced myself my bald head and beer gut are sexy, so I don't worry about how I look! "

cdawg wrote on Oct 6, 2007 4:41 PM:

" geez patty "

to Well wrote on Oct 6, 2007 4:19 PM:

" oh yes according to you liberals everything is a disease or disorder. It is just exactly this kind of mindset that puts people who are off the deepend like this girl, to think, "sister you are not alone, it is OK to be uncomfortable with your deformaties." BULL said it tried and true that these narcississtic people are just too self centered and obsessed with perfection that they are killing themselves. If a person is so shallow that they succumb to peer pressure when all they have to do is look into a mirror and prove someone wrong, they are the ones at fault; not the cirtics. Anyone who is so wrapped up in themselves that they see the world through a critics eyes, should singled out and ridiculed in society. This is a case where lierals pile on to say, 'see how peer pressure can influence a person?" When in reality what a person should say is, "I am quite comfortable with who, and what I am so keep your opinions to yourself. "

Petite Patty wrote on Oct 6, 2007 3:54 PM:

" Cheyenne, when you go off to college you'll notice the fat girls with the pimples and jiggling thighs and you'll wonder why you worried at all! With your looks you can marry for money but you'll realize this when six guys call you for a date on Friday. "

Kevin wrote on Oct 6, 2007 3:46 PM:

" you can blame her problem on society because we need to work on the way people look and treat each other "

to quote wrote on Oct 6, 2007 3:29 PM:

" you must be a fat person because no skinny person would say that and who cares what stupid judge judy said "

Was a teenager in the 80s wrote on Oct 6, 2007 2:58 PM:

" This age old delima has been around for years. In the 80's many girls had disorders like this but back then it was more about being self-crital, having a self perception of being thin. Today, it seems girls are critical of themselves of not feeling sexy. This comes from so much of the TV shows and also the standards being set by magazines, shows, media, internet, and peers. It is too bad this age old issue continues and probably will. I think it is more than just the person feeling self-centered. I think it stems from a need to be perfect and in contol of something. Just a comment... "

Just because some fuzzy haired wrote on Oct 6, 2007 2:28 PM:

" liberal freak type writes about something in the DSM IV doesn't make it truth. Maybe it won't be in the DSM V. Was it in the DSM III? It's too bad you can't all be beautiful like me, but get over it. I'm with B-U-L-L. $H!#Can the psycho babble and grow up. "

so wrote on Oct 6, 2007 2:23 PM:

" what would happen to these kinds of folks if something truly tragic happened to them, as it does to millions of other folks? cancer,accident,diseases, etc "

Uncle Andy wrote on Oct 6, 2007 1:27 PM:

" Ok here it is, the cold hard truth. If you're over the age of 16: If you wear size 4 or smaller, you're probably underweight. If you're size 6-12 you're just fine. If you're over that, you probably need to lose a little weight. I don't mean to sound superficial, but if you have an average sized frame (which most people do... that's why it's called average) then this range should roughly match up with a physician's idea of a healthy weight. "

Dr. Orangutan Chief Cardiologist Miller Park Zoo wrote on Oct 6, 2007 1:03 PM:

" Size 0 ? People with low IQ scores are sometimes placed in special-needs education. "

Only she~ wrote on Oct 6, 2007 12:57 PM:

" Can truly help herself. I have no doubt she's told a zillion times how pretty she is, but she has to feel it on the outside as well as inside. Good luck to ya. "

quote.. wrote on Oct 6, 2007 12:56 PM:

" Judge Judy has said this quote often on her show and I think it speaks volumes. She said..."Beauty fades, Dumb is for ever". When will Magazines and tv shows stop showing girls who really need to eat or read a book and learn something as sexy? I would much rather be a size 12 and have some brains than be a size 0 and be dumb as a rock. You can be sexy, beautiful and intelegent at any size, in this day and age a woman should not have to rely on her beauty to make it in the world unless she is a stripper. "

to B-U-L-L wrote on Oct 6, 2007 12:51 PM:

" I suppose you do not understand mental disorders in general. You must be the person who tells people who are depressed to "suck it up" and those who are bipolar to "get a grip." It's uninformed people such as yourself that make working in the mental health field so difficult! Educate yourself and quit commenting by making yourself look stupid! "

well wrote on Oct 6, 2007 12:17 PM:

" This is a medical disorder. You can read all about it in the DSM - IV. Ohhh, I bet you dont even know what that is! If you did, you would know that this is a real disorder. "

B-U-L-L wrote on Oct 6, 2007 11:54 AM:

" This is not a "disorder". It is purely the sad result of narcissism fed by parents and peers who put girls who look a certain way on a pedestal. Yes, beauty can be a burden, and those who don't take themselves seriously reap the benefits of their gift, while those who revel in the attention can't stand the thought of losing the often undeserved adoration suffer from self destruction. Can all the psycho babble and just tell these kids to grow up. "

what teenage girl..... wrote on Oct 6, 2007 11:49 AM:

" isn't this way? I know this is a real disease but come on. I think girls, teens and woman all feel this way. We see are self as one way while people see us the other way. How many of woman love what they see in the mirror everyday and dont' want to change something? "

Area Resident wrote on Oct 6, 2007 11:39 AM:

" Am I the only one who thinks this has more to do with the superficial nature of American youth culture than any kind of predispostion to a medical condition. Perhaps we need to start raising awareness and decrease the very narrow and narrowing standards of beauty. "

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