26 February 2023 , 12:20
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A woman tormented by her body image took her own life after years of seeing herself as "a monster."
Charlotte Comer was just 30 when she died after battling Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and years of mental anguish over her appearance.
Affected since a teenager, she ran up huge debts from buying clothes she knew she would never wear and only drank Pepsi Max in the months before her death.
Heartbroken close pal Belinda Tonkins paid tribute to the former teaching assistant whose life was cut short, describing her as "beautiful inside and out".
Belinda explained: "BDD meant always seeking perfection but seeing yourself like a monster.
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"Any perceived flaws seem exaggerated like seeing yourself with an enormous nose."
Charlotte to her own life in July 2021
She became obsessed with looking in mirrors and only drank Pepsi Max (SWNS)Speaking to Birmingham Live, she added: "For Charlotte, she was often too anxious about what people might think about her to leave the house. Her BDD led to anorexia and self harm because she hated the way she looked.
"It also caused almost an obsession with clothes shopping which led to huge debts.
"When she was out, she couldn't bear to look in mirrors and believed that everyone was staring or laughing at her."
One symptom, Belinda explained, was that her friend hated having her photo taken so there are hardly any of the pair together.
Worcestershire coroner David Reid ruled that neglect by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust played a part in Charlotte's death in July 2021.
He recorded a verdict on February 17 that she died as a result of suicide and her death was contributed to by neglect.
Charlotte also loved children and hoped to have her own familyCharlotte, from Upton-upon-Severn in Worcestershire, worked as a hospital physiotherapy assistant and loved working with children with hopes of having her own family.
"She was kind, caring, intelligent and just beautiful inside and out," Belinda added.
The pair met when they were teenagers and helped one another through "some of the worst times in our lives," she explained calling Charlotte a "wonderful friend".
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She adored her pet dogs and trained one called Erin to be a therapy animal, taking her to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London where she volunteered.
Her love of children also led to her working as a teaching assistant at Manor Green School in Maidenhead.
Belinda said: "Her dream was to work at Great Ormond Street one day. We would walk our dogs together as well as watch horror films and go bouldering.
"Charlotte is irreplaceable. I wish she knew how much she was loved and is missed by so many people.
"Before her death, her greatest wish was for there to be more understanding and support for people with BDD so that they wouldn't have to suffer as she did."
Belinda has set up a JustGiving page in memory of her friend which has smashed through its £500 target, raising £2,295 for the BDD Foundation.
She hopes to help advance education and understanding of the condition.
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email [email protected] or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.