Hello everyone

I've recently been diagnosed with BPD. I'm honestly a little shocked. I had been getting through life with the common "I suffer from depression and anxiety" thing at school and work for a long time, and although I knew that these conditions didn't explain everything I was struggling with, I didn't really expect a BPD diagnosis either. BPD diagnosis does explain my problems with dissociation, recurring suicidal urges, the lack of emotionally connected long lasting relationships, and a very intense, unbearable feeling of loneliness and despair. But I've always had the impression that BPD was more "serious" than whatever I was suffering with (maybe the media just being dramatic!?). For example I never really had major problems getting through school or at work and I generally seem to get along with people (I do have some difficulty being close to people and I have a track record of terrible relationships though) and avoid conflicts. Maybe I've just not been taking myself seriously enough? I also suffer from nightmares and (though infrequent) flashbacks, but as far as I'm aware they're not under the label of BPD so I wonder what that's about.

Anyhow, I'm here to connect with others with BPD, as I don't know anyone else with it in my life I would be interested to know how and when you found out you had BPD and how you felt when you were initially diagnosed?

Many thanks