HWN Suggests

The Power of the Proper Diagnosis

A diagnosis is not an indictment; it is a path to treatment. It is a way to separate yourself from your disorder, a way to say, "Oh, that’s why I behave in this way." It’s a means of getting the help you need. Of course, when a diagnosis is incorrectly applied, treatment is pretty ineffective. It’s not uncommon for people with BPD to be misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder since there are many symptoms that overlap. It’s like wearing a pair of shoes two sizes too small—they don’t quite work, but hey, at least you have shoes.

read full article

Featured

 Borderline Personality Disorder Chameleon Effect

Sometimes we act like a different person than we actually are to impress another. We subconsciously build mechanisms inside our minds for other people to like us. If this happens too much, we can lose our sense of self, and the chameleon personality is created. The chameleon trait is often part of Borderline Personality Disorder(BPD) due to their low self-esteem and fear of abandonment.

 Borderline Personality Disorder May Be Rooted in Trauma

A focus on the traumatic origins of an often stigmatized psychiatric diagnosis is inspiring new treatments.

 I have borderline personality disorder. Here are 6 things I wish people understood.

Over the past eight years, despite several doctors diagnosing me with borderline personality disorder, I resisted identifying with the disease. I latched on to other diagnoses with lesser stigmas — bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder. This summer, I finally looked up a list of symptoms. It was so in line with my experience that I finally had to concede: I have borderline personality disorder.

 We need to treat borderline personality disorder for what it really is – a response to trauma

We have come a long way since the days of viewing mental illness as a sign of weakness, but we are lagging behind in our attitude towards BPD. At least part of this stems from the way we frame the condition, and from the name itself. Rather than as a personality disorder, BPD is better thought of as a complex response to trauma. It’s time we changed its name.

Articles of Interest

'Splitting' is a defence mechanism where we see things in black in white, to protect ourselves from getting hurt — but it could be doing more harm than good

Typically a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder, ‘splitting’ is when a person is unable to hold opposing thoughts or feelings; quite literally seeing everything in black and white. But though it's commonly associated with BPD, splitting can be seen in other individuals to a lesser extent.

An illness in the shadows: life with borderline personality disorder

BPD is one of the mental illnesses we still know least about, but now there is hope of a treatment.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A psychiatrist explains its relationship to depression.

Borderline Personality Disorder: No Man Is an Island

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most damaging mental illnesses. By itself, this severe mental illness accounts for up to 10 percent of patients in psychiatric care and 20 percent of those who have to be hospitalized. The defining characteristic of BPD is a pervasive instability in the patient’s life, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships.

BPD is linked to higher rates of suicide, so why is the stigma still stopping so many from getting the help they need?

Those with BPD are 50 times more likely to die by suicide.

Experts Discuss Borderline Personality Disorder

So people with borderline personality disorder tend to view things in extremes, such as in all good or all bad. Their opinions of other people can change very quickly. An individual who might seem a friend one day may be considered an enemy or a traitor the next.

The Alarming Trend of Teens Self-Diagnosing BPD on TikTok

Early diagnosis is key, but by a psychiatric professional.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

People with the disorder are said to have a thin emotional skin and often behave like 2-year-olds, throwing tantrums when some innocent word, gesture, facial expression or action by others sets off an emotional storm they cannot control. The attacks can be brutal, pushing away those they care most about. Then, when the storm subsides, they typically revert to being “sweet and wonderful,” as one family member put it.

Welcome to a New Blog About Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

BPD is perhaps the most misunderstood and stigmatized of all psychiatric disorders, making it a timely and important focus for a Psychology Today blog. This curiously named diagnosis seems to contain "an adjective in search of a noun," as one psychiatric article famously noted.

What is borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that severely impacts a person’s ability to manage their emotions. This loss of emotional control can increase impulsivity, affect how a person feels about themselves, and negatively impact their relationships with others. Effective treatments are available that can help people manage the symptoms of borderline personality disorder.

Why cooperation is hard for people with borderline personality disorder

Social lives are delicate things. We’ve all had situations where friendships and relationships have been dented and broken, and we’re reasonably skilled at repairing the damage. This ability to keep our social ties from snapping relies on being able to read other people, and on knowing a thing or two about what’s normal in human society.

Resources

13 Facts Everyone Should Know About Borderline Personality Disorder

The truth about this condition may surprise you.

Life After BPD

Life after Borderline Personality Disorder; making a life worth living through love, laughter, positivity and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

Talking About BPD

I share my life with BPD, and everything I've learnt over the years through my blog, book, YouTube channel, writing for magazines and more. My intention is to make people with this diagnosis feel seen, valued and less alone, as well as to give a little hope about the future.

SAMHSA

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition in which a person has long-term patterns of unstable or explosive emotions. These inner experiences often result in impulsive actions, self-image issues, and chaotic relationships with other people.

StatPearls

Borderline personality disorder is multifactorial in etiology. There is a genetic predisposition. Twin studies show over 50% heritability (greater than that for major depression).