Hope for New Year

The fireworks have been marvelled at, Auld Lyne Syne has been sung, glasses of champagne have been raised, friends and families have welcomed in the New Year with a warm embrace but, not all of us felt able to participate in the festivities, needing to hide in the shadows, perhaps covering their faces with their hair, not joining in the fun or simply not feeling able to come out at all.

These are those of us who absolutely hate being seen, who feel that they are being judged (negatively) by all around them, who have arrived at this through some trigger in their past – perhaps bullying; a careless, unkind comment or two; “banter” from friends or family; life changes or simply just growing up and getting older.

This is so much more than just a casual “does my bum look big in this” moment, this is a debilitating condition that makes people remove themselves from society, family and friends; leads to severe mental health issues; self-harming as they hate themselves so much - and need a different pain; at its worst it can lead to death as the person can’t carry on any longer.

With the coming of the New Year we, at the Ethan Wright Foundation, are determined to help and support those suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD); to shine a spotlight on the scale of this problem and to challenge the stigma, silence, and misunderstanding that so often prevent people from being seen, heard, and helped.  We want to offer reassurance that recovery is possible, that no one is alone, and that hope can exist even alongside uncertainty.

For those of you who are suffering, there is hope. You are loved. You are not alone. You are unique and important, just as you are. Belief and self-love may take time, and that is okay. What matters is that you have value, and support is here for you.

In the year ahead, we want to listen. We will be inviting those with lived experience of Body Dysmorphic Disorder to tell us, through an online poll, what support they feel would be most helpful to them. We are exploring a range of possible interventions, from one-to-one support and peer connection; to creative and confidence-building approaches such as acting and life coaching. Our aim is to shape our work around what people actually need and want, recognising that support is not one-size-fits-all and that every voice matters.

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing more about this work and inviting participation in our online poll, so please look out for further updates. If you would prefer to share your thoughts, experiences, or ideas privately, you are very welcome to contact us directly. Whether you choose to take part now, later, or simply read and reflect, know that you are heard, your voice matters, and this conversation will continue - with care, compassion, and hope at its heart.

Lauretta – Ethan’s Mum

#NewYearHope #HopeFor2026 #BodyDysmorphicDisorder #BDDawareness #BodyImage #forEthanforOthers