My Life With Borderline Personality Disorder
By Katie Heaney
Borderline personality disorder, or BPD, is a form of mental illness marked by “an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior,” per the National Institute of Mental Health. People with BPD are often impulsive, and may suffer from relationship problems as a result of the disorder, says the NIMH. They may also experienceintense emotional highs and lows; an inclination toward self-harming behaviors like cutting, binge eating, and unsafe sex; difficulty controlling anger; and difficulty trusting others.
BPD is thought to affect about 1.6 percent of the population, though the actual rate may be higher, as BPD is often misdiagnosed, and can occur alongside other mental disorders. The cause of BPD is not yet clear, though there are thought to be genetic and environmental factors which may contribute. Medication is typically not used as the primary treatment for BPD, as the benefits are unclear. Instead, it is usually managed via techniques learned in behavioral therapy.
While borderline personality remains highly stigmatized and often misunderstood, recent cultural conversations around it have helped increase awareness of the disorder. The main character of the TV show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was recently given…
