I've produced many "True Life" episodes over the years, from "I Have Tourettes Syndrome" to "I Live in the Projects," and it's enabled me to dive into other people's worlds and learn about struggles and joys that are very different from my own. What really interested me in working on "True Life: I Hate My Face" was that most of us hate something about our bodies; however, it doesn't normally consume our lives to a crippling degree.
Pamela and Mandie's inability to love their bodies, flaws and all, absolutely disables them. What's even more shocking is that they're both very beautiful. When I first met Pamela and Mandie, I didn't understand why they couldn't see it -- but after learning about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) from Dr. Eda Gorbis (the psychologist who successful treated Morgan in the "I Have OCD" doc I produced), it made sense.
BDD is an internal issue, not an external one. No amount of makeup, injections or plastic surgery can cure this disorder. It was heartbreaking to see Pamela choose surgery over therapy. (For Mandie, she didn't really know if she had BDD, and it seemed like there weren't very many local options for specialized treatment.)
What struck me as one of the disease's worst aspects is the utter isolation it causes. Mandie has extreme anxiety about leaving the house -- she feels that she isn't even pretty enough to go to the drug store -- and it results in her spending most of her time at home. Very few people in her life knew how deeply she suffered.
I hope this episode can help bring attention to BDD, and that Mandie and Pamela will someday seek treatment so they can fully appreciate their beautiful faces.
-- Leigh Stieglitz, producer of "True Life: I Hate My Face"