I don't exhibit outward signs either. In fact I come across as calm, confident and congenial. When I've told people they were shocked and in denial, but afterward have avoided me like the plague without real unwarranted reason (unless we count the stigma and stereotype of this disorder as a 'reason'). Definitely do not be cavalier in telling people you have this..

You know, I don't feel that Linehan admitting she has BPD has helped, tbh. She is known well in the mental health community yet an obscurity in the mainstream. It is the mainstream perceptions that carry the heaviest stigma...Although that is not to say that the mental health system isn't rampant with it either...

I can deny labels. Although learning more about BPD from unbiased sources has helped me significantly. I find that to deny the 'label', for me personally, is my personal acceptance of the stigmatization. If I can have an effect by being a personal example I will.

(And just for the record the DSM-V will possibly be changing the label of this disorder, which I think will help A LOT.)