(Warning for mention of suicide)

Where I am, it's definitely overdiagnosed but it's also not treated like a real diagnosis if that makes sense? I was talking to my psychiatrist awhile back and joking that every woman I know who's been through the mental health care system has been diagnosed with BPD at least once, and it's true! If you're a mentally ill woman, at least here, you're going to have it on your file at least once, especially if you overlap with some of the symptoms or challenge the doctors.

But often these woman aren't told they have BPD, or if they are it's basically almost used as a threat, ie, you challenged us therefore you have BPD. Many of the same professionals I've met seem really scornful about BPD and the incredible amount of dysfunction and pain it can create, not to mention the real danger of suicide. And so it's not really treated like a real diagnosis, just something to call mentally ill woman acting erratically or that doctors don't like, and those of us who really have it are completely dismissed a lot of the time.

Anyway, I really do have BPD, at least my diagnosis has been confirmed by numerous doctors, I have all the symptoms, and I definitely think that I have it given the criteria. I feel like I've been brushed off a lot because of it though, (I have other comorbid disorders too) and so it was surprising to me to read my files and see stuff like severe BPD and high suicide risk because I've always been kind of brushed off and treated like I need to just toughen up and get over it! I've even had well-meaning professionals tell me NOT to have it put on my file (not like I had a choice) because I'd be treated poorly because of it.

I'm sure this has a lot to do with where I live since I'm not american, but I think BPD is both overdiagnosed and possibly underdiagnosed as a seriously and legitimate disorder, not just an insult for your female clients!