Mental Health Awareness: Borderline Personality Disorder

Chapter 21

Trigger warning: The following content discusses mental health disorders—specifically BPD. Reading about it may be triggering. Viewer discretion is advised.

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PSA! Please read this before beginning the chapter. The advice of Daphne Clarke and Ivy Dewdrop is not medical and should not be taken as such. This article aims to raise awareness of mental illnesses that aren’t spoken about enough. If you or someone else you know is struggling with their mental health, please try your best to ask for help. You are loved and cared for, and your health is extremely important to us and those you are close with. Stay safe ♡

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Mental Health Awareness: Borderline Personality Disorder

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Introduction
Hey lovelies! I want to apologize for the lack of story again however I do not suffer from BPD and so I can't accurately depict it ❤ ️I wanted to introduce a mental health topic that needs more light to be shined on it. Our symptoms section of this article may be triggering and briefly lists self-harm, please be safe and know that you are loved <3

What is BPD? How does it affect people?
These are all things that are going to be covered in this month's Mental Health Awareness chapter! <3

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What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline personality disorder, also known as BPD, is a mental health condition characterized by a pattern of instability in moods, self-image, relationships, and behavior. Individuals with BPD often tend to show signs of impulsivity, having extreme emotions that shift rapidly or intense reactions to rejection or abandonment. All of this results in unstable relationships from paranoia, where a person may idealize someone one moment and devalue them the next.
There are several categories of personality disorders, organized into clusters. BPD is classified under Cluster B, which encompasses the more impulsive types of disorders. This group also includes narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders, to give you an idea.
Those with BPD struggle with their sense of self, making it hard to maintain consistent goals and identities. They may engage in self-harm and destructive behaviors, or have suicidal thoughts. While the condition can be extremely challenging, it highlights the importance of proper therapy treatments and medications, which help manage symptoms and aid patients in learning to regulate their emotions.

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Symptoms of BPD
There are many symptoms of BPD and no two experiences are the same. However, here I will list some of the most common ones.
Emotional Instability ~ this could include but is not limited to:
intense and fluctuating emotions that shift rapidly.
extreme reactions to perceived abandonment or rejection.
difficulty regulating anger, leading to outbursts of rage.
chronic feelings of emptiness or boredom.
Relationship Instability ~ this could include but is not limited to:
fear of abandonment and intense efforts to avoid it.
idealization and devaluation of partners, swinging between intense affection and anger.
difficulty maintaining stable and healthy relationships.
Impulsivity or Self Harm ~ this could include but is not limited to:
impulsive behaviors, such as reckless spending, substance abuse, or unsafe sex.
suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
self-harm, such as cutting, burning, or bruising.
cognitive Distortions ~ could include but is not limited to:
paranoia or suspiciousness.
distorted sense of self, leading to feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness.
black-and-white thinking, viewing people or situations as either all good or all bad.
Other Symptoms not listed but could include:
chronic feelings of anxiety or depression.
difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
sleep disturbances.
dissociation, feeling detached from oneself or reality.

Dear readers, it is imperative to note that not all experiences will be the same or fit into a certain box. Everyone experiences things differently and no two people’s BPD journey and symptoms will be the same.

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How Does BPD Affect People?
Many people who struggle with BPD will not be affected in the same way, however, the most common ways it affects people’s lives are listed here.
Borderline Personality Disorder will affect a person’s daily life, so this person may struggle with interpersonal relationships, trouble regulating impulsive behaviors, self-harm, difficulty maintaining jobs and relationships, as well as severe fluctuations in moods and feelings.
Many people with BPD struggle with intense mood swings, difficulty controlling severe emotions, fear of abandonment, and a distortion in self-image.
Intense Mood Swings ~ this could include rapid or extreme shifts in emotions, such as going from being happy to deep sadness or anger.
Difficulty Controlling Emotions ~ people with BPD may struggle to manage their emotions well, leading to sudden outbursts of anxiety, happiness, sadness, or anger.
Fear of Abandonment ~ A core indicator of BPD is the intense fear of abandonment, which can lead to clingy or controlling behaviors in relationships.
People suffering from BPD can also find romantic, familiar, or friend relationships a struggle to maintain due to difficulty with boundaries, misinterpreting others’ actions, or controlling behaviors.
BPD can lead people to impulsive and self-destructive behaviors such as self-harm, suicidal attempts or thoughts, and reckless behavior.
When suffering from BPD many people often experience struggles with financial stability and job instability.

I’m sorry if you struggle with BPD and have no outlet, I hope by reading these symptoms you have found that you are not alone. Stay safe my loves <3

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Coping With BPD
Coping with, or learning to live with Borderline Personality Disorder, is a long and difficult process for many. However, it’s important to note that it’s not impossible.
Usually, patients diagnosed with BPD will need to undergo therapy, learn to take care of themselves, and build a good support system around them. Although I can’t replace the advice of medical professionals, I can provide certain self-care tips to help manage everyday life.
Practice Mindfulness: This can apply to many aspects of life, but with the irregular emotional range and impulsivity of individuals with BPD, it comes in very handy. Mindfulness can be anything from meditation to yoga, or just simple deep breathing. Anything comfortable for you!
Identify Triggers: Triggers vary from person to person, but identifying your triggers will help with a better understanding of yourself. This means learning about what makes you feel angry, or what makes you feel impulsive. By doing this, you’ll learn to prevent bad mood swings and take control of your emotions easier.
Practice Self-Reflection: For reflection, the strategy I most recommend is journaling. But again, this kind of thing goes up to preference. You could talk to friends or family instead—or even aloud to yourself! Being able to reflect on your feelings externally is more beneficial than you know, and may assist when it comes to recognising negative thought patterns.
Find Positive Distractors: If you tend to struggle with self-harm, discovering hobbies and using up the energy you get in those moments can prevent it. In most cases, you’ll be experiencing an urge and excess adrenaline, so take that adrenaline, and put it into something else. Dance, run, sing, swim. Remove yourself from the dangerous situation and get fresh air. It will help, trust me!
Most of all, find support and understanding from people around you. BPD isn’t something you need to fight alone. There are amazing treatment plans and strategies professionals can provide, so don’t be afraid to ask for help :)

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Misconceptions of BPD In Media
In cases such as this one, Ivy and I don’t have personal experiences to share. That’s why I've opted to touch more on the topic of BPD in the media, and how our perceptions of this mental disorder may have been influenced by what we see online.
First of all... what comes to mind when you think of borderline personality disorder? For me, it’s films where I get to experience it for myself, the most notable being Girl, Interrupted. However, when using these various films and movies as examples, representation can sometimes be disappointingly inaccurate.
One of the most common misconceptions I’ve heard is that only “overdramatic” women have BPD, and this is all we observe in the media. Furthermore, those with this mental health condition are often characterised as highly manipulative, attention-seeking, dangerous, and untreatable. These portrayals not only oversimply BPD but reinforce harmful stereotypes, making it more difficult for individuals with this disorder to be taken seriously or seek help.
Beyond Girl, Interrupted, characters with BPD-like traits are usually written as villains or unstable love interests, their mental illness only being used as a justification for their erratic or unstable behaviour. This can be seen with many other personality disorders as well, especially when it comes to those with ASPD being viewed as serial killers or heartless villains.
In reality, BPD is a complex and deeply personal disorder that is presented differently in certain individuals. Many of those people aren’t manipulative or dangerous but rather struggle with intense emotions, fear of abandonment, and difficulties in their relationships.

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Resources
There are some resources I found that can help people struggling with BDP. Please just remember you aren’t alone and there are people trained and ready to help you! Stay safe my loves! <3
https://behavioraltech.org/resources/find-a-therapist/
https://dbt-lbc.org/index.php(Click on “consumers” and then find a certified therapist or program)
https://dbtproviders.com
Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center - Contact at - 888-694-2273
https://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.org/list-of-recommended-bpd-resources/[7].

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Conclusion
With that, dear readers, we’ve reached the end of this chapter! Hopefully, you’ll be able to flip to the next page of this magazine with some newfound knowledge on borderline personality disorder. To end off, I’ll leave you with a quote:
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it" - NELSON MANDELA.
Whatever you’re going through, remember that asking for help takes courage. Putting in the effort to get better takes courage. You are not your sorrows—instead, they’re what make you stronger. Remember to take care of yourselves. Until next time <3

Written by Ivy Dewdrop and Daphne Clarke.
Edited by Marietta Oizys.
Proofread by Hazel Antler.