Topic Tuesday // BPD Awareness featuring SPECTRUM VIC // Tues 1 Oct, 7pm AEST

[cutiepiekitty]

@JulianSpectrum I was told that CPTSD and BPD were two different things, not interchangeable. I was told you can have one, the other, or both but they are different things.

[BlueBay]

Thsnks @Former-Member 

I just hate getting called “a sook” or ”she’s just too sensitive “ 

[JulianSpectrum]

@Determined Great to hear it resonated. I think it's important that we as clinicians don't miss the story of each person who is coming to see us and don't assume that everyone with the same diagnostic label is the same!

[Former-Member]

@Former-Member 

Im here but trying to figure out how to join in

[Teej]

Hi all 👋🏻. 

I have lived through having the labels of two personality disorders. BPD was by far the worst when it came to being admitted to hospital for sh or suicide attempts. I came to see my identity as having personality disorders and for a while became those. 

Currently I know which personality traits are the ones I have trouble with and can work on them. I have a different diagnosis now but the minute I walk through the hospital doors for mental health BPD is all that is written and it’s so unhelpful and has been harmful in the past. My counsellor constantly reminds me most people can tick at least one box of the criteria. 

[Former-Member]

Thanks so much for sharing how the label has affected you all Really appreciating the realness and authenticity across the discussion tonight.

In the interest of time, let's move toward Question Three!

One of the important tasks for allies of those living with Borderline Personality Disorder is dismantling stigma. One of the key aspects of this is how we communicate this condition to the broader community.

What are some ways you describe BPD to those who aren’t familiar with these concepts?

[Determined]

While I have an understanding of some of the things from childhood It has only been recently (as in early this year) that I have actually seen how this is actually trauma. 

Things that some people may nut understand but for someone who is (can I say fragile in a loving way) have been quite traumatic. I don't think my wife even understands the full impact of this. Or at least she has it all locked away so she does not have to address it 🙁

[Fracturedlight]

@JulianSpectrum I will try but once my trust is wained it's hard to get back through the wall. Although I think it's partly my fault as I have said in the past once I knew what I had that if something happened to me I wasn't entirely to blame the disorder was so I guess they are trying to protect me? It's taken me 15months to open up to people so now I just feel like I've made a mistake...lots in my head tonight...

[Judi9877]

For me, @JulianSpectrum  I prefer to identify and use c-ptsd than BPD because of the negative connotations surrounding BPD. I know I have trauma in my life going back to childhood and can identify some parts of my life where things seemed different and I’ve reacted accordingly. These things have impacted on the way my life has since gone and I believe that BPD causes people to think of me as being dysfunctional and bad. 

[Former-Member]

Welcome @Teej !! Yep the criteria certainly speaks to many aspects of the human condition regardless, thank you so much for sharing.