Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a broad condition with the power to affect every aspect of a person’s life including their mood, behaviour, and relationships. It also impacts the way a person feels and thinks about themselves and others around them. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation when it comes to understanding borderline personality disorder (BPD), which can be extremely dangerous for people who live with it, and for people that are surrounded by them. Dina Farid shares with us misconceptions and myths around BPD, in an effort to create understanding, raise awareness, break stigmas that surround the diagnosis, and encourage people to reach out for the help they need.
One of the most prominent misconceptions around BPD is that those who live with the disorder lack a certain level of sensitivity and consideration. Many people refer to people with BPD as secondary psychopaths which insinuates that they have a complete disregard for humanity. Yet, this could not be further from the truth. Often, people living with BPD have the opposite experience, in that their feelings are immense, and their empathy levels are much higher than others, making it more difficult to control and funnel. For people living with BPD, most of the time find themselves suspecting that others might be upset by witnessing changes in their facial expression or body language. In turn, they can be deeply affected and can sometimes misinterpret that change in someone else's mood by taking it personally. That then can lead to defensiveness. People living with BDP are so empathetic that they take on the emotion of the person in front of them, as if it were their own.
People with BPD are dangerous. They pose a threat to the people around them. It is true that people with BPD can sometimes show signs of irritability or anger. Through diagnosis, the main symptoms reported stem around having a bad temper, a short fuse, constant anger, and can even get into physical confrontations. Yet, just like anyone who is not diagnosed with BPD, these symptoms don’t pose any major threat to other people to the point of danger or avoidance. In fact, people with BPD are more likely to hurt themselves than anyone else, considering the high suicide rates that come with the disorder.
Another misconception surrounding BPD is that recovery is impossible, and that if you have BPD you are doomed to have this disorder, and that all your relationships will be burdened. That is also a common but completely untrue myth. In fact, with particular kinds of therapy modalities, people living with BPD can lead a tremendous life, and benefit from the beautiful aspects of the diagnoses - in it being, having high emotional availability, sensitivity, empathy, and caring deeply for the people in their lives. People who have BPD can fully recover from the diagnosis and learn how to regulate their emotions in a way that allows them to heal entirely from their experiences and recover from their sorrow, and deep feelings. It is doable.
Everyday people with BPD benefit from mental health services, and come to lead a beautiful and fulfilling life. If you or a loved one are living with BPD, connect with a professional today who can guide you on your mental wellness journey.
