Hey all, thanks for the replies & encouragement!! Much appreciated.

Confusedinomicon, yes, I agree about the stigma. Why do you think that is? Is it because treatment for borderline involves more time and energy (psychotherapy-based) versus bipolar, which is often primarily about getting the dosing of psych meds right?

I have read that there is a good deal of bias and prejudice against borderline patients. Also, I've read there is a push in the psych community to have the name of this disorder changed, presumably to attempt to cut down on some of the stigma attached to it, and also, to better describe the condition, with names such as Emotional Regulation Disorder being proposed.

I'm still in the process of looking for a reputable doctor/ clinic to treat me. I truly have come to understand that mental illness can be one of the more difficult things to conquer in life, with access to quality care (insurance wise and geographically speaking) being a major issue, with so much stigma out there (even in places one would least expect it) attached to BPD affecting patients in many different ways, and brain science, one of the cornerstones for improving our understanding of the disorder and developing effective treatments, still in its infancy.