How to Heal from Body Dysmorphic Disorder God’s Way with Wendie Pett

Today, my guest Wendie Pett and I will tackle the issue of BDD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and body image issues. In this episode, you will learn how to find healing and hope for body image issues and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. You will gain an understanding of what Body Dysmorphic Disorder is, what causes it, what the Bible says about it, and how God can heal you.

It’s time to stop seeing yourself through your trauma, the lies of your past, the things people have said and done to you, and it’s time to start letting how God sees you reign, Daughter of the King!

I know this will encourage you to have a healthy, godly body image, strengthen and free you.

Prefer videos? Watch the Live taping below

First, let's understand the basics of this topic

Spokane Christian Counseling defines Body Dysmorphic Disorder as "much more intense than simply disliking one's body features. It is a severe preoccupation in some aspect of one's appearance, thinking about it for hours or days at a time, believing the worse even when others affirm the opposite.

People may obsessively think they are fat when they, in fact, are thin. They may think their hair is ugly and gross when it is not. What they see in the mirror is different from what others see. Their thoughts are distorted, and it can cause significant distress.

Body Dysmorphia is caused by trauma, abuse, dysfunctional family dynamics, emotional abuse, and bullying or excessive teasing can all contribute to developing a negative self-image, which can lead you to obsess about your appearance."

Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder

In my book, Fit God’s Way, I shared my struggle with my body image and how God healed me, which lead me to write this quote, "The Body Confidence Cure is seeing His perfection in our reflection." Once I acknowledged that I was seeing myself through the world’s definition of beauty, and repented from that, I found healing and wholeness in seeing myself God’s Way.

The Bible teaches us that God doesn't see beauty or value it the way the world does. 

1 Peter 3:3-4 tells us, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

 Beauty comes from the inside not the outside. This is why people can have plastic surgery, wear the nicest clothes and the best makeup, and even get themselves super fit, but when they look in the mirror, they only see flaws.

Overcoming BDD, starts with recognizing yourself as a one-of-a-kind handmade design of God, acknowledging your preoccupation with your body, asking God to show you what started this thinking, and renewing your mind daily in scripture. 

 Here are some steps you can take today:

1. Get alone with God and pray for deliverance from Body image issues. Ask Him to show you the root cause.
2. Come out of agreement with that root cause. You may need to forgive someone, forgive yourself, and address the trauma, bullying, and the words that were spoken over you.
3. Create replacement sentences for the lies you have been believing about yourself. 

For example, if you think, I hate my body, no matter what I do I can’t get it to look the way I want it to, Replacement statement: I am made in the image of God. God formed me. He says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I will choose to love my body and take the best care of it and stop seeing myself as body parts. I am a whole masterful work of Christ!

4. Journal scriptures and Christian quotes. Put them on sticky notes o your mirror and anywhere you need the reminder.
5. Practice the mirror exercise Wendie Pett mentioned in this episode. Look in the mirror for three minutes a day and begin focusing and saying aloud things you like about yourself. Speak life over yourself. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NKJV
6. Unfollow social media accounts that share images that trigger your body image issues.
7. Confide in a friend, join a support group, and if needed seek counseling.
8. Understand that the enemy knows this is a place where he can torture you, so don't take the bait. Start to see the triggers and situations that bring this up in you and fight back with the truth of God. Remember you are an OVERCOMER in Christ Jesus.

The Body-Confidence Cure is seeing His perfection in your reflection. Jesus is the cure for what makes us insecure.

• Your hands have made me and fashioned me. (Psalm 119:73 NKJV)
•  You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. (Song of Solomon 4:7 NIV)
• But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 ESV) 
• So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27 NKJV)
• But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV)
• Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3–4 NIV)
• Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 NIV)  

Speak Life Over Yourself 

• I am His Masterpiece. I am a piece of the Master.
• My weight and shape do not define me.
• There is no perfection on this side of heaven
• God designed my body, and He doesn't make mistakes
• Numbers are not on my report card
•  I'm not beautiful like her; I'm beautiful like me.
• I’m not what I look like. I am a whole person with unique characteristics and value beyond the mirror.
•  I’m not body parts. I’m part of the body of Christ.
•  I’m made in the image of God. 

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  Galatians 5:1 NKJV.

Reasons to Break the Bondage of Body Image Issues

As a sister in Christ, I pray that you take authority in Jesus over your body image. Because if you don’t there are a number of issues that can come from living with body image issues. Issues like, anxiety, depression, isolation, and even suicidal thoughts. If you need help, please reach out to a Christian Counselor today.

Dear God,

I pray for every woman reading this that she feels Your loving and accepting arms around her. In this moment, show her the way You see her. Comfort her pain and help her begin her healing journey. Help her take a step today by laying this down at the feet Jesus. Show her what caused her to have body image issues and help her take authority over them in You. In the moments she’s tempted to criticize her body or her mind drifts back to the event that led her to feel this way, quicken her with the Holy Spirit to remind her that by the blood of Jesus and the word of her testimony, she is an Overcomer. Father the world wants us to look at ourselves as body parts, but You said, we are the body of Christ. Help us get busy stewarding our bodies for Your service through our gifts and remove the obsession with body parts. We pray for forgiveness for body part idolatry, and for the strength to forgive those who caused this disordered thinking about ourselves, and today we choose to see Your perfection in our reflection.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 To learn more about my guest Wendie Pett, visit here website, here.