Custom essays on Rachael Baughan’s Autobiographical Book The Butterfly Girl

Rachael Baughan, the author of one of the best-sellers, used to suffer with BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder). Her book The Butterfly Girl has become so popular among readers because she presents her own life experience, motivates people with this syndrome to fight against it, gives practical tips and leaves hope for the better future. The book was nominated in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a severe mental disorder. It makes the person see an absolutely distorted image when he or she stands in front of the mirror. In reality the person may be very attractive and good-looking, however, the distorted images makes them accept the wrong picture. The person starts suffering from different psychological disorders. Light depressive state is usually followed by the process of desocialization and isolation. Other people’s attempts to help are accepted as miserable sympathy. The person loses connection with reality. This syndrome is often followed by such illnesses as bulimia, OCD, anorexia, agoraphobia, depression and General Self Loathing. Rachael Baughan has come through all steps of this illness and with the help of her book she wants to help people with this disorder or their relatives and friends who are losing hope to turn their nearest person to a normal life.
Her style of narration, realistic data presenting and touching appeals make the book exclusive and very close for people. In the book she writes: “I was diagnosed with BDD in 1998 a time where I hated myself so much that I could barely leave my bedroom, I wished my life to be over and felt that I had no place within this world, however once I was diagnosed by an American Psychologist I became determined to regain control over my life!” (Baughan, 2008, p. 16). These lines resemble some readers their own state and help to realize that there can be a way out.
The story may seem a bit ordinary: the girl suffers with BDD, she is not able to lead a normal way of life, she is depressed and wants to die. Nobody can help her. Her mother even completed a counselling course in order to help her daughter to over the disorder, however, it was useless. At last, Rachael realized that it was only she who could help her. It may sound as an easy problem to solve, however, people who are acquainted with this illness understand what a long and difficult way Rachael should have had.
The author starts from her early years and tries to come to the roots when the disorder started. When she was thirteen years old she lost her closest friend. It was a terrible tragedy for her and has changed her life forever. Rachael describes her attempts to commit a suicide, the obstacles that could have worsen the illness, her life which had turn into hell and her final battle against BDD. As Rachael states, the first and the most important step is to realize that you are really ill. She insists that BDD is a real illness, despite the fact that it is often called Imaginary Ugliness Syndrome. It is a severe mental health problem and it requires proper treatment. These are not just negative thoughts about your body and appearance, it is a phobic hysterical fear of ugliness. Rachael insists that the most serious obstacle is the distance that the person with BDD creates. This border does not allow his or her relatives to help. Due to this fact outer interaction is hardly ever effective and may often become even harmful and dangerous.
The next step is to face this reality. It is important to have a hope and a strong will to change the situation. It is the only possible key for treatment. Nobody can make you be happy, healthy and beautiful except yourself. Rachael reveals one secret: if you think that you are attractive, other people start accepting this fact. There is no one standard of beauty. Different people, different nationalities have their ideals of beauty. Such heated disputes considering this topic prove one more time that the beauty is unique and exclusive and there is no standard for it. “It is inevitable that we will notice flaws within our self, if you study anything for long enough there is always a flaw, perfection does not exist, We all have a different opinion of what is perfect, i.e. choose different cars, have a different favourite colour etc, The reality is even if there ever was such thing as perfection then life would be boring, its what makes us different and unique” (Baughan, 2008, p. 113). Acceptance of this fact is a step forward on the way to the treatment.
The next step is the readiness to fight the illness, change everything and face the greatest fear in the life. For Rachael it has become her participation of beauty pageants, for example Miss England and Miss Great Britain. She has faced her fear of being judged. Now she is the owner of a Modelling Agency TRUE MODEL MEDIA and the author of autobiography. She was able to overcome the disorder. Rachael, presenting her experience from the very beginning to the successful “end”, reminds one more time that it was her way and it is not a model of pattern for other people who suffer with BDD. Her book is a tool to show that there is always a way out. This way is individual and every person should find his or her “treatment”. “I truly believe that if you hold your head up high and act confident, then others will believe in you too, being attractive is about being at peace with yourself, if you are a happy person then you can create a good vibe around you, people will naturally see you as more “attractive”. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s who we are that makes us!” (Baughan, 2008, p. 205). Inner harmony with yourself is the guarantee of happiness and acceptance.
To sum up, Rachael Baughan in her autobiographical book The Butterfly Girl shows a long way that she has come from the first symptoms of BDD till today, when she has almost overcome the disorder. She states that this disease may stay with her during all her life, however, now she knows the way to live with it and to accept herself in a real life. The most difficult stage, as she points, is to realize that you are ill and require medical help. She created this book for other people who suffer from any disorder and have no hope for the better living. Every person may find a way out but it is necessary to look for this way and to follow it.

 
Reference
Baughan, Rachael. (2008). The Butterfly Girl. John Blake Publishing Ltd.