Nathaniel in fourth grade in 1996.
In the fifth grade, Nathaniel stopped eating and started running. He would run two miles and, an hour later, run two more. “He wouldn’t eat anything with any fat or sugar in it,” says his mother, Judy. “He suddenly became concerned about a little roll of flesh under his belly button. It was like a 20-year-old woman who wants to lose 10 pounds for her wedding.”
Comments
heartbreaking! What grat work by the dad!
One look at how handsome Nathaniel was and we instantly understand what an awful illnesses he must have suffered to not be able to see himself. This disease completely distorted his self-image. Our hearts break for this family. I hope his father's pilgrimage to Boston brings him peace as he grieves the loss of his son and strives to help others.
My heart goes out to you. Thank you for sharing your story and may you find healing in your pilgrimage for your son. I had never heard of BDD, but I've certainly heard of OCD and how devastating it can truly be. The daughter of one of my mom's dearest friends took her life four years ago. Part of her obituary read: "Melissa chose to end her life May 6, 2008. She was a beautiful, caring and creative person who fought depression, OCD, and a variety of other mental illnesses for most of her life. No one tried harder than Melissa to overcome her illness."