Finally, my response!! Thought provoking questions, requires and interesting thought provoking answer. Ultimately, No, but possibly a false Yes in some situations.

We are NOT our disorder, and I would disagree, our personality is NOT our essence. The "essence" of who we are is that core belief that we all have, our values.. ie. If you believe that deep down you are really a kind, helpful, caring, loving individual that is you "or essence" at your core.

Unfortunately, our personality can be influenced by external factors, in our case BPD.. We could also say... ANY emotion influences our personality. Are you angry 100% of the time? Are you sad 100% of the time? Do people see your bpd 100% of the time? My guess would be the answer is NO! Their factors that influence your personality, but you still hold true to your core beliefs, that essence which is you.

While our BPD is with us 100% of the time, and we could say this about any emotion, people don't see our bpd 100% of the time. Their more likely to see bursts of uncontrolled negative energy. When you're in a bpd episode it's like a mask that covers your essence. People aren't seeing the "real" you. What their seeing is just a mask which hides who you really are at your core.

Our BPD episodes usually involves others, and when the episode is over and that mask is removed, sometimes all they remember is that mask, and they forget and no longer see that "real" you. All they see is the mask of bpd. So to them, you "MAY" be your disorder but it's false because it was just a mask..

So.. It would be part of or personality, but it is NOT who we are at our core.