Brian Cuban, brother of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, will discuss his struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) on Tuesday.
Cuban will talk about dealing with BDD throughout his life and how the disorder led to other issues such as alcohol abuse, steroid abuse and suicidal thoughts, said Karen Bell Morgan, assistant dean of Campus Life.
Morgan, along with Dr. Carla Garber, a licensed professional counselor, made this event possible. Cuban will speak on campus as a part of Feed Your Body and Soul Week.
The week is dedicated to promoting positive body image and positive self-talk for the TCU community.
Garber wrote in a press release for the event that Cuban’s story is especially influential, since “he is the first highly visible male to openly detail his decades-long battle with eating – a battle that began with shame about body size and shape.”
Last year, Cuban published “Shattered Image,” a book about his journey, where he describes BDD as a disorder that made his thoughts “…dramatically exaggerated” and caused him to “imagin[e] physical flaws and allow[ed] that fantasy to shape nearly all of my interactions with the world.”
Chelsea Reynolds, senior fashion merchandising major, became involved in eating disorder awareness and iAMBliss after losing a friend to bulimia. She sad she became involved with the organization to fundraise for those who cannot afford treatment. iAMBliss is part of Project Bliss, an organization that raises awareness about eating disorders.
“I am sure there are many girls on campus that could use the help,” Reynolds said. “A lot of the time, you have no idea who is going through the disease because it is easy to hide and close off from your friends.”
As part of Feed Your Body and Soul Week, there will be a selfie challenge starting Monday, Feb. 24. Students can take pictures of themselves without makeup or any filters and post it on their Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag “#FYBSW,” Morgan said.
There will also be a jean drive, where students can donate jeans that they’ve been holding on to or that no longer fit, Morgan said.
“We want students to donate them at different collection points at the BLUU and at the rec center, and we will then donate those jeans to a local women’s center, and if you donate your jeans you get a FYBSW t-shirt,” Morgan said.
The event will be at noon in the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center in banquet hall Cox A.
Space is limited, so Karen Bell Morgan asks that students, faculty, and staff RSVP by emailing her at [email protected].
