Quote:
Originally Posted by Secretum
This is a repost from the BPD forum. I want to reach as many people as possible with this idea, and get feedback from people across the MI community, not just those with BPD.
Regardless of whether or not I am borderline, I have realized something from my therapist thinking I might be and my research.
"Manipulative"
"Lying"
"Self-centered"
"Immature"
"Unable to handle challenges others can (i.e. weak)"
"Poorly behaved"
"Personality disordered"
Okay, so nearly everyone with BPD has terrible self-esteem and hates themselves. To the point where they are suicidal sometimes. And then we stick a label on them that people think means all the above.
Is that going to help them heal, or is that going to make them worse?
Hmmm, let's see. I don't think I know the answer to that one... 
It's a public health crisis. A major one. I wonder what the suicide rate among borderline people looks like in the days and weeks following diagnosis. I was just told that I *might* be borderline a few days ago, and it made me feel so worthless and suicidal.
We need to change this. This is wrong and disgusting. Just wrong! Making people that already hate themselves feel even worse is a horrible thing for our culture to condone. It's a horrible thing for us as a community of people with MI (any and all forms of MI) to allow to happen. We need to rally around our borderline brothers and sisters, who had no choice in having the illness they have, and support them.
How many more people need to die before we realize that you can't make sick people better by demonizing them?!
Anyone agree? What can we do about this? |
I am not sure that anything can be done. The whole mental "health" so called care system needs a complete redo, overhaul if you will. It seems designed to make all mentally ill people feel worse about themselves and to resign themselves to being ill and on all those horrible meds for the rest of your life!
I was once diagnosed with bpd, my behavior did follow almost all the guidelines for the diagnosis. It was horrible. Now that I am somewhat "cured" and back to just plain old depression, I can look back and recall what a life altering damning diagnosis it was. Plus everyone told me that no therapist wants a bpd patient and there is not cure or medication that will help. I am proof that you can be greatly improved after a bpd diagnosis. In my opinion, most mental health diagnoses are life changing and negative, almost like a death sentence. Maybe I am too dramatic but things just seem to be that way when you do get an official label.