Thread by @Drsafariboob

BPD - what is it? A handy guide:

Typically major symptom is emotional dysregulation - which means feeling emotions at 150%-200%. But paradoxically folk with BPD struggle to define the feeling they are feeling..

Also typical - complete lack of self worth. Worthlessness. But how?

It's trauma. Chronic trauma (typically childhood) combined with parents either absent or ill equipped to support their child. Sexual abuse is common. This can lead to a child developing a heightened sense of parent's emotions to avoid negative consequences - becoming an "empath".

Diagnosis is typically a long road - the industry avoids these patients and will go so far as to avoid mentioning traits in notes in an effort to shield the patient from said stigma - ultimately unhelpful. BPD folk like to 'woo' healthcare providers as another major symptom is...

Abandonment issues. Everybody leaves and the cycle feeds itself. Self isolating to avoid losing more people. No self worth so no reason to think you're worthy of support. This is why BPD has one of the highest suicide rates 12-15% suicide with the remainder contemplating it..

Other common traits:
- rage (if not outward then directed inward)
- substance abuse to manage symptoms
- dialectical (black and white) thinking
- unstable relationships
- impulsivity
- dissociation (zoning out)
- common comorbid eating disorder
- self harming behaviour

Other features:
- nuerodivirgent
- 4-6% of population affected
- commonly in women
- 75% identify as queer
- high tolerance to acute pain (especially self inflicted), very low tolerance to chronic pain
- dysregulation of pain (experienced as an emotion)
- chaotic inner dialogue

More:
- hyper fixation on "favourite persons" especially an inability to define self without others and frantic efforts to avoid losing them
- "splitting" behaviour ie. switching from worship to derision
- meltdowns in which mental processing is severely compromised

- known as the most painful mental illness
- exceptionally poorly understood by society and the mental health industry despite being more common than other well known mental illnesses
- social chameleons often viewed as manipulative (due to that abandonment fear)

- maladaptive behaviour ie. response to issues that creates further problems rather than addressing issues
- very likely common in self-identifying alcoholics
- unmanageable intrusive thoughts
- commonly hereditary and commonly due to mentally ill parenting

Severe empathy leads to higher frequency of these people in helping professions (if not disabled by it). Not considered a disability but an affliction that is a personal responsibility. Shortened life span and decrease in quality of life due to all of the above.

How to fix it: develop a sense of self, learn the criteria from the DSM-V and how it applies to you. Develop skills from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Attempt sobriety and manage comorbid conditions. Reach out for support services. Do art. Do LOTS of art.

Ultimately, be kind to yourself. Develop radical self acceptance & see that emotions are a construct of experience. Recognise neural networks are highly established & forging new ones takes time & reinforcement. Again RADICAL self acceptance. You're allowed 2 fuck up, repeatedly.

What helped me? Seeing others that had what I have. Recognising my empathy for them and realising I am equally worth that kindness. Cut out the people who can't or don't support you the way you need. Stop being there for them. You only liked them because you see yourself in them.

#BPD #DBT #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Borderline #Mentalhealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #Therapy #RadicalSelfAcceptance #Neurodivergent #ND #CRAZY

Media that could help - representation matters
- Girl Interrupted (movie)
- My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- You (both Netflix)
- Euphoria (HBO)
- TikTok (ridiculously helpful if you don't have access to therapy)

I forgot a super important one! BOUNDARIES. It's not that we don't have them more that we never developed them. Poor boundaries regarding everything, poor response when folk don't reciprocate. Getting better is about developing solid personal boundaries (around a stable self)

This is outside of the box but I believe we aren't far from BPD being brought underneath the #ActuallyAutistic umbrella. Are you #autistic? You've all embraced #ADHD, it's now time to include #BPD siblings in that mix. We are stronger together.

#Neurodivergent