It is not uncommon in my limited experience, to witness a friend experiencing a bad hair day (and believe me, in Namibia, that could possibly be every day) rush highly agitated from the ladies' all the while tugging at her hair and mumbling how she hates herself. Very few of my family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances are satisfied with their looks even though they look and function as they biologically should (being part of the species as it is), and I have yet to meet that reckless and heroic soul willing to score her / his own appearance a perfect 10/10 - in public.
Everyone is aware that there's a huge difference between hating oneself on a bad hair day and hating one's hair, for as long as one has been aware of its existence. If you pop into a hairdresser during lunch on a bad hair day, or apply a fragrant ointment or gel, the perceived problem should be satisfactorily resolved. Similarly, professional medical advice is readily available (via the generous auspices of medical aids, cash is always welcome, by the way) for physical ailments and illnesses. The problem with hating one's hair full stop and regarding it as a physical defect (or grotesque abnormality), is indicative of an underlying mental disorder.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) was identified by the American Psychiatric Association (ASA) as a mental health disorder defined as ''a preoccupation in some imagined defect in personal appearance, or an excessive concern with a minor physical irregularity. The preoccupation causes significant distress or impairment.''
Among the imagined defects identified by the ASA as particular to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) are, among others, constant preoccupations with the appearance of one's thighs, shape of the derriere, colour of eyes, shape of nose, colour and texture of hair, and texture and colour of skin. BDD may sound harmless but those affected by it will tell they feel maligned, afflicted and even punished by a physical aspect. It is not uncommon for them to blame perceived failures, especially failed relationships, on some aspect of their appearance. It doesn't end there, unfortunately.
(Image: Amy Winehouse - Famous Face.us)
Everyone is aware that there's a huge difference between hating oneself on a bad hair day and hating one's hair, for as long as one has been aware of its existence. If you pop into a hairdresser during lunch on a bad hair day, or apply a fragrant ointment or gel, the perceived problem should be satisfactorily resolved. Similarly, professional medical advice is readily available (via the generous auspices of medical aids, cash is always welcome, by the way) for physical ailments and illnesses. The problem with hating one's hair full stop and regarding it as a physical defect (or grotesque abnormality), is indicative of an underlying mental disorder.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) was identified by the American Psychiatric Association (ASA) as a mental health disorder defined as ''a preoccupation in some imagined defect in personal appearance, or an excessive concern with a minor physical irregularity. The preoccupation causes significant distress or impairment.''
Among the imagined defects identified by the ASA as particular to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) are, among others, constant preoccupations with the appearance of one's thighs, shape of the derriere, colour of eyes, shape of nose, colour and texture of hair, and texture and colour of skin. BDD may sound harmless but those affected by it will tell they feel maligned, afflicted and even punished by a physical aspect. It is not uncommon for them to blame perceived failures, especially failed relationships, on some aspect of their appearance. It doesn't end there, unfortunately.
People with BDD may go to extremes to compensate for having a perceived defect which includes seeking plastic surgery, avoiding mirrors, excessive skin rubbing or picking, excessive grooming (an obsession with make-up, hair, nails), excessive exercise, camouflaging (using clothing, hats, shoes, body position), constant comparing of a body part to others' appearance and skin tanning / whitening (darkening / lightening).
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) added that people suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), depending on the personal level of dissatisfaction and the degree of preoccupation with the perceived defect, typically also exhibit other anxiety disorders such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) which manifests in a variety of repetitive behaviours such as repeated checks in mirrors, obsessive weighing (weight), compulsive brushing of hair and teeth, and washing of hands.
BDD becomes a fully fledged mental disorder upon its mutation into a social anxiety disorder and / or an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa and / or bulimia, most notably). At this advanced stage of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, changes in behaviour take place and a person may refuse to participate in social situations (beyond the minimum) because s/he is convinced of the conspicuousness and repugnance of her / his physical defect to others. Similarly, as a form of self-castigation (to compensate for the perceived defect), a person may either cease to feed her body or consume a large quantity of food only to induce retching later.
An important distinction must be made here between legitimate physical defects and BDD which in its entirety is a figment of the imagination, a mental disorder (with no physical origin) because in more than 95% of cases, the individuals affected are absolutely normal and perfectly healthy. The perceived defects they are preoccupied with are not real and yet, they are convinced of its abnormality.
Using Body Dysmorphic Disorder as the context, it is appropriate under the circumstances to objectively evaluate the growing trend of skin whitening in Namibia, and on the African continent. Sales of skin whitening (or lightening) products are surging in Namibia and across our continent. Suppliers are laughing all the way to the bank while battling to keep up with demand. Skin whitening is so hot in Africa right now, celebrities are shamelessly endorsing a variety of brands. The celebrities are rewarded handsomely for their efforts to boost sales and it must be noted that their before-and-after photographs employed in social media campaigns look photo-shopped.
During my research into the subject of skin whitening, I happened across the online testimony of one Eden of Jamaica. She claims to be a woman of colour of mixed heritage (mother, European and father, Jamaican) who was born with ''dark-brown skin.'' Unlike her, Eden Diaz's younger sister is fair-complexioned. She writes in her testimony that they were very close as children but ominously warns the reader that shortly after their ''close and happy'' childhood, the ''happy years were ending'' for her. During adolescence, Eden's fair-complexioned sister easily found summer jobs and always had a boyfriend while she, the dark-skinned older sister, had not been on a date. One day, she had an eureka moment while reading an article (no online reference provided) which opened her eyes, she testifies, and provided a plausible explanation for her feelings of inferiority: ''White people have all the advantages in the world; they get jobs easier, earn the highest salaries and attract more handsome partners.''
Under the subheading ''Alone...Ugly...Sad...Insecure'', Eden says she felt ''ashamed'' at having people look at her with her dark-brown skin and consequently opted to remain isolated in her home. The entire advertorial reads like the disturbing account of a person suffering of advanced Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Eden was positively elated at remembering the following happy event in her life: ''My Journey to Whiter Skin'' at the end of which she was absolutely thrilled her skin had whitened satisfactorily and she finally received what she deeply craved, the interest and attention of ''handsome men.''
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is such a serious matter, it not only affects behaviour but can also result in poor decision-making based on feelings of inferiority and worthlessness. It is certainly a subject worthy of detailed scrutiny, discussion and analysis within the Namibian (and African) context. Sufferers of BDD have tried and committed suicide in an attempt to rid the world of what they mistakenly believe to be their ugliness.
(Image of Sammy Sosa, before, right, and after, left skin whitening, hair & eye colour change)
BDD becomes a fully fledged mental disorder upon its mutation into a social anxiety disorder and / or an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa and / or bulimia, most notably). At this advanced stage of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, changes in behaviour take place and a person may refuse to participate in social situations (beyond the minimum) because s/he is convinced of the conspicuousness and repugnance of her / his physical defect to others. Similarly, as a form of self-castigation (to compensate for the perceived defect), a person may either cease to feed her body or consume a large quantity of food only to induce retching later.
An important distinction must be made here between legitimate physical defects and BDD which in its entirety is a figment of the imagination, a mental disorder (with no physical origin) because in more than 95% of cases, the individuals affected are absolutely normal and perfectly healthy. The perceived defects they are preoccupied with are not real and yet, they are convinced of its abnormality.
(Image: Skin bleaching advertisement from the 1930s in the USA; Stark Life.com)
Using Body Dysmorphic Disorder as the context, it is appropriate under the circumstances to objectively evaluate the growing trend of skin whitening in Namibia, and on the African continent. Sales of skin whitening (or lightening) products are surging in Namibia and across our continent. Suppliers are laughing all the way to the bank while battling to keep up with demand. Skin whitening is so hot in Africa right now, celebrities are shamelessly endorsing a variety of brands. The celebrities are rewarded handsomely for their efforts to boost sales and it must be noted that their before-and-after photographs employed in social media campaigns look photo-shopped.
During my research into the subject of skin whitening, I happened across the online testimony of one Eden of Jamaica. She claims to be a woman of colour of mixed heritage (mother, European and father, Jamaican) who was born with ''dark-brown skin.'' Unlike her, Eden Diaz's younger sister is fair-complexioned. She writes in her testimony that they were very close as children but ominously warns the reader that shortly after their ''close and happy'' childhood, the ''happy years were ending'' for her. During adolescence, Eden's fair-complexioned sister easily found summer jobs and always had a boyfriend while she, the dark-skinned older sister, had not been on a date. One day, she had an eureka moment while reading an article (no online reference provided) which opened her eyes, she testifies, and provided a plausible explanation for her feelings of inferiority: ''White people have all the advantages in the world; they get jobs easier, earn the highest salaries and attract more handsome partners.''
Under the subheading ''Alone...Ugly...Sad...Insecure'', Eden says she felt ''ashamed'' at having people look at her with her dark-brown skin and consequently opted to remain isolated in her home. The entire advertorial reads like the disturbing account of a person suffering of advanced Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Eden was positively elated at remembering the following happy event in her life: ''My Journey to Whiter Skin'' at the end of which she was absolutely thrilled her skin had whitened satisfactorily and she finally received what she deeply craved, the interest and attention of ''handsome men.''
(Photo-shopped image from a home skin-lightening kit advertisement, India)
Happy ending? We should keep in mind that Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a form of anxiety disorder concerning one's physical appearance or a particular aspect thereof, and skin whitening is a primary example of the extreme measures some willingly go to once they are convinced that skin colour is the primary reason for the lack of success in what they consider to be critical areas.
Assurances to the contrary that the millions of different tones of human skin are as natural as breathing for human beings, and that no two people on earth have the same skin colour, will fall on the deaf ears of BDD sufferers padded with cotton-wool; they irrationally believe they are defective for possessing a particularly undesirable feature be it a nose, eyes, thighs, feet, derriere, hair or skin colour. They refuse to reconcile themselves with the term normal within a particular genetic context and cannot seem to appreciate the immense value of physical well-being.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is such a serious matter, it not only affects behaviour but can also result in poor decision-making based on feelings of inferiority and worthlessness. It is certainly a subject worthy of detailed scrutiny, discussion and analysis within the Namibian (and African) context. Sufferers of BDD have tried and committed suicide in an attempt to rid the world of what they mistakenly believe to be their ugliness.
It was rumoured shortly after her death that popular British singer, Amy Winehouse, suffered the debilitating symptoms of long-term Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Due to the serious nature of the disorder, it is not the place of anyone to recklessly diagnose someone as suffering from BDD without due diligence and professional guidance, nor to judge, ridicule and criticise individuals displaying obvious symptoms of BDD.
In conclusion, a few weeks ago on social media a young Namibian man made a crass comparison between what he called a yellow bone (light-skinned girl) and a dark girl. Disturbingly and ironically, he decided that in comparison with a yellow bone, dark girls ''look dirty'' when he himself is dark-skinned, judging by his profile picture.
(Image: Michael Jackson, before and after plastic surgery & skin whitening)
In conclusion, a few weeks ago on social media a young Namibian man made a crass comparison between what he called a yellow bone (light-skinned girl) and a dark girl. Disturbingly and ironically, he decided that in comparison with a yellow bone, dark girls ''look dirty'' when he himself is dark-skinned, judging by his profile picture.
This is but one example of the vulgar comparison and references to skin colour thoughtlessly posted online. It is a cold fact in Namibia and the entire Africa for that matter, that the majority of our inhabitants and citizens are not fair-skinned, blue-eyed, lean nor lank-haired. It is our responsibility, as liberated Africans, to come to terms with and embrace, compliment and admire our brilliant and unmistakable uniqueness.
Handle with care.
* If you or someone close to you displays signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), please contact your family physician for advice or if at all possible, seek assistance and intervention from a qualified psychologist or a trained counselor.
Handle with care.
* If you or someone close to you displays signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), please contact your family physician for advice or if at all possible, seek assistance and intervention from a qualified psychologist or a trained counselor.
This article was researched and written by freelance writer and researcher, Anya Namaqua Links, based in Windhoek, Namibia. Contact: anyalinks@gmail.com
Nice Blog…
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with us.
If you are suffering from any kind skin disorder such as white patches then you can get the best Vitiligo Treatment at Dr Mohan’s Skin and Hair Centre in Punjab. Contact us for more information.
nice
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog post, "Euro-African Life in Namibia." It is informative and very engaging. I appreciate the many comments you've received. I really hope that we can continue this conversation.
ReplyDeleteBody dysmorphic disorder (BDD)