From maths to image disorders. Quite a transition in under a week.
This week we talked about
- A neurological disorder- The desire to have one or more limbs amputated to match the internal identity.
Some overlap exists between this disease and other body image disorders such as anorexia and body dismorphic disorder.
The difference between a normal amputee and someone with BIID is that the former feels as if the limb is still there; the latter does not feel that anything is missing. They actually feel that their body is whole WITHOUT the limb, which is a thoroughly bizarre concept.
They do not feel diabled, embarrassed, or ashamed, but rather see is as an improvement of their appearance. Some people are even more excited by a partner with an amputation (Acrotomophile) or just plain love amputation (Apotemnophilia).
So what causes all this seemingly abnormal, insane behaviour? As usual, noone is entirely sure. It could stem from a neurological disorder that has been misdiagnosed, it could be a Freudian external result of an internal conflict, it could be an outcry for love and affection or they could be modelling behaviour form something seen as a child (war victims or relatives, helps them to perceive it as normal).
Either way, all are deeply embedded psychological causes to do with the brain influencing the body and compelling it to amputate for one reason or another.
This mental ongoing has mixed ramifications on sufferers (who don't actually consiously think they even suffer post amputation).
There are pretenders- people who pretend to be disabled but aren't. Or there are Transablers- people wanting to have a disease so that they amputate.
The internet is said to help the disease along by giving people more access to information, methods and images. Some methods are self inflicted unfortunately, which disguises the actual disease as a mere accident; a gun shot wound, using dry ice, lying on train tracks etc. It can be misdiagnosed as depression quite often. Antipsychotic drugs are then prescribed but seldom quash the desire.
- More men than women have this disorder. Possibly because of male dominated war zone and involutntary amputation and subsequent heroism.civil war.Women want more severe amputations done.
The BIG issue-
amputation or no amputation?
If this is a legitimate disease i feel no reason for people not to amputate. If they are unhappy and feeling tormented by an extra limb, and their life will improve post amputation, i see no reason to question their motives. It is like telling someone that they cannot commit suicide. If a person is unhappy in their physical body they should be allowed to augment or to leave it as long as they do not pose risk or threat to any other human being.
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