Neftys·Dec 25, 2023Member-onlyThe Hardships of Living With A Personality DisorderEver Heard of Borderline Personality Disorder? — Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition that profoundly affects those who live with it, I know it well, and I’ve lived with it for almost my whole life. Characterized by intense emotional experiences, BPD can often feel like an unending emotional rollercoaster. Individuals with this disorder…Invisible Illness6 min readInvisible Illness6 min read
Martine Nyx·Oct 12, 2023Member-onlyHow Trauma Bond Robs You of Your IdentityTrauma Bond and The Loss of Self in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) — Anxious attachment style (AAS) is one of the main features of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and one that has been linked to both neurological and psychological factors.¹ The term “favorite person” (FP) has been colloquially adopted to indicate a person on whom the Borderline patient develops an emotional dependence so…Mental Health6 min readMental Health6 min read
Kevin Redmayne·Aug 4, 2023Member-onlyThe Therapists Who Make Borderline Personality Disorder WorseAnd how to escape the minefield of poor mental health care and treatment — How do you treat an emotional burn victim on a cliff edge? That might be the question therapists ask when treating individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. Then again perhaps not. In truth, clinicians ‘don’t like borderline patients’ (Gunderson, 2009). In fact, a 2014, review of the literature indicates negative views…Psychology9 min readPsychology9 min read
Kevin Redmayne·May 7, 2023Member-onlyThe Alien Self, BPD, and Self-HarmWhy when caregivers bury their feelings inside of you, they bleed out via violence and self-harm — Up to 80% of individuals with BPD engage in self-harm (Oumaya, 2008). That includes cutting, burning, biting, head-banging and overdosing. Non-suicidal self-injury is in fact so common in BPD, it’s a diagnostic hallmark. When asked ‘why do you cut?’ a person with BPD may say it is to alleviate pain…Bpd10 min readBpd10 min read
Fleurine Tideman·May 2, 2023Member-onlyWhat Does It Feel Like To Have Borderline Personality Disorder?Too much, all the time — A friend once drunkenly asked me what it feels like to have BPD. She didn’t mean anything offensive by it; she was just genuinely curious. She couldn’t imagine how it felt. …Borderline Personality7 min readBorderline Personality7 min read
Fleurine Tideman·Dec 11, 2022Member-only7 Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms No One Seems to Be Talking AboutLet’s talk BPD — When it comes to Borderline Personality Disorder, we usually focus on the nine primary symptoms: fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, unstable self-image, impulsive behaviours, self-harm, mood swing, feelings of emptiness, extreme anger and loss of contact with reality. And while these symptoms are critical in correctly diagnosing BPD, it doesn’t…Borderline Personality6 min readBorderline Personality6 min read
Fleurine Tideman·Sep 7, 2022Member-only6 Ways I Try to Regulate My Emotions as Someone With BPDLearning to live with Borderline Personality Disorder — Being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder was both a relief and a disappointment. I was relieved to discover that something was actually wrong with me; I hadn’t been making it up or exaggerating. Other people felt this way too, and this therapist knew how to help me. …Bpd7 min readBpd7 min read
Fleurine Tideman·Aug 18, 2022Member-onlyWhat Would a BPD Character Look Like in a TV Show?Including potential plot lines — My biggest wish is that people could understand what it’s like to have Borderline Personality Disorder. Well, if I could have any wish, I guess I’d rather not have BPD myself, but it’s a close second. It’s so difficult to describe what it’s like to live with a personality disorder…Borderline Personality7 min readBorderline Personality7 min read
Fleurine Tideman·Apr 29, 2022Member-onlyHow I Got Diagnosed With Borderline Personality DisorderAnd what came next — *This article discusses depression, self-harm and disordered eating. If you struggle with these issues, visit BEAT or ReThink for advice, and considering not reading this if you will feel triggered.* I’ve been writing about my BPD for over two years now, and I speak openly about it with my friends…Mental Health7 min readMental Health7 min read
Fleurine Tideman·Feb 16, 2022Member-onlyDoes My Mental Illness Make Me the Toxic Friend?Maybe I’m the issue — We always want to think that we’re a good person, a good friend. …Mental Health5 min readMental Health5 min read