[quote=ThisWayOut;4505415]I hate that it's so easily and often used as a label, then it follows you... and some people do certainly use it against you, which sucks. I've been dismissed more than I care to count b/c of that one label. And most professionals don't see anything beyond it. It's really sad and pathetic on their end...
one of the biggest cop-outs I've heard from mental health professionals is the phrase "that's just your borderline speaking". BS. That phrase dismisses the validity and very real experience of the client and paints them into a box... it prevents both the clinician and the client from digging deeper to the root of whatever the client said or did that made the clinician say that. It writes off any hope in that area...

One of the Drs I work with explained BPD to me this way. Typically it stems from when a young child is not getting his/her needs met because of neglect, abuse or whatever. They learn that the way to get there needs met is through "acting out" (not his exact words). If they are hurt then the "caregiver" will seek medical attention or if the child acts "badly" the caregiver will give them attention even if it means negative. Since then when we have somebody with BPD I try to remember that most likely something horrible happened in their childhood to get them to this point. They try to get their needs met in the only way that worked for them in the past.So what they need is compassion not ridicule.

Maybe I am totally wrong?? If I am please tell me as I truly trying to understand it as well as other disorders