Post 2: Cutting Desire

In regards to a treatment for people with BIID, I would strongly have to agree with Dr. Ray Blanchard in saying that there isn’t currently a humane method to deal with this and probably never will be.  Although I’m sure people with this condition would not like this notion, the only other way around it would be to go through these under-the-table doctors around the world performing these surgeries.  “There isn’t a single one of us that enjoys having this. We’re all trying to figure out how we got it and how to get rid of it. It’s a mental torture. And the only way to get rid of it is by getting the surgery” Alex says when discussing his BIID.   If I were to propose anything, it would be for these patients to attend counseling sessions or some form of therapy to help them cope with their circumstance, as this is much more logical than a dangerous self-inflicted disability or a doctor illegally performing the removal for you. I understand that this may be a mental illness but unlike depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and many others, there is no medication or cure to improve this condition. “But I think they would be treated the same way anybody with a mental health problem would be treated”, says senior vice president Nancy Starnes of the National Organization on Disability.  I believe this to be one of the strongest statements in the article because although she advocates for those born with disabilities, she still has the same respect for those who wish to inflict a disabilities upon themselves.  Feeling the need to make yourself disabled most certainly sounds wrong in my perspective and like the article said, this probably would be frowned upon by many but after Newsweek did their research, it was found that “the advocacy groups contacted were reluctant to pass judgment”.  This is truly surprising! I also find it very astonishing that BIID is currently being considered for significant research funds.  Before reading this article, I had not even heard of this condition and “Josh’s” story in the opening paragraph took me off guard as I did not know what this article was about.  I find this condition very odd because I’m unable to wrap my head around how it is possible for people to have such a strong desire to lose a limb when there are disabled people who would do anything to have one.   This also can be applied to any of the other mental illnesses mentioned above, as I do not know what it’s like to go through any of those but when explained by friends and family who have had experiences with mental illness, it’s definitely a reality that there’s no escaping.  I suppose this is just the counselor side of me talking but at Sunshine Campus in Rochester, NY where I work over the summer, every single camper has a disability whether it be physical or mental and some of these kids with dysfunctional limbs or no limbs at all who rely on prosthetics would be appalled at these people with BIID who go to the highest extremes to be rid of an extremity. My insight regarding this phenomenon is first-hand and very biased in a way but I have yet to meet or talk with someone who has BIID so until that day comes, I am convinced I won’t be able to understand or relate to anyone with this condition.  I’ve only been exposed to the opposite point of view and that is where I firmly stand.