For Dubliner Keith Russell, two diagnoses five years ago gave a name to the deep anxiety he has felt since his teens – body dsymorphia and binge eating disorder. Through therapy and sharing his story, he has finally found peace
Keith Russell: ‘I’ve got quite a lot of regret from when my kids were younger because I felt so anxious about going anywhere with them.’ Photo: Mark Condren
It has been five years since Keith Russell received two life changing diagnoses, of body dysmorphic disorder and binge eating disorder. These followed the generalised anxiety disorder diagnosis he had received in 2016.
“I’ve been able to piece things together in the last few years and connect so many situations, emotions, and thoughts I had about myself to having a massive issue with my self-worth,” Keith, who turns 45 in October, explains of the work he has done over the past five years. “I hated myself in every way. I felt I was a failure, I hated the way I looked, and I hated everything about me.”