The Positive Side of BPD

I disagree, normal is a relative term. What is "normal" in my mind is totally different in someone else. Our personality (BPD included), is beautiful. When you work on your BPD and learn how to control your emotions, THAT'S when you can embrace all the different spectrums of yourself. For example, I know that I view the world totally different than most. This allows me to problem solve in different ways, and be more accepting of other people.

I think the point of this thread is that your BPD doesn't have to define you. You don't have to be this constantly unstable person. There's beauty in flaws, and some of the most beautiful people can come from the ugliest places.

You can embrace your flaws, and turn them into assets. Just my thoughts.

* wow, somebody took their optimistic pills today...........

Hahaha! We don't experience things as they are, we experience them as we are.

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Some of us are too dense to even realize we are experiencing them at all...........

According to your definition, I was "normal" for over 20 years because I could cope on a daily basis and could deal with my BPD. No one can cope all the time. I don't care who you are, and BPD is not all bad. It's only bad when it's totally out of control. BPD gives us certain traits and abilities that are strong points to any personality. Empathy, intelligence, and creativity are not to be sneezed at. We are all struggling with our BPD. We wouldn't be here if we weren't, but we are always changing, life is constantly in flux, and we as BPD's tend to look at the negative. It isn't all negative and it is important for us to realize this. I guess we need to agree to disagree on this point. Your opinion may change over time.

I will say this sincerely. There are certain things about BPD that I don't like and that control me and that I need to get under control, but BPD is who I am. I've had traits as long as I can remember, and it is who I am and wouldn't wish my BPD away for the world. I would be a totally different person without it.

This was intended to be an optimistic thread, to show that even though BPD is hard that it is who we are and that it's not all bad. I'm sorry that some people can't see that side of it.

u have "Empathy, intelligence, and creativity" BESIDES having BPD. but yeah lets agree to disagree. oh and it wasnt my intention to "ruin" thread. i was just explaining my view on it.

I like apple juice.

I have those things because of the BPD. I have no question about that. I have lived with BPD for over 40 years and all of my thoughts, feelings, and perceptions were and are still being shaped by my BPD. One cannot exist without the other. I am not my diagnosis as many people like to say, but BPD shapes my thinking, influences my decisions, and makes me who I am and I'd be a different person without it. My feelings and emotions are a large part of "me", who I really am, and even though they may be dysfunctional a good part of the time, it's me...it's who I am.

Also, the stuff about the increased intelligence, empathy, and creative ability has been expounded in a number of studies and books as positives of BPD....it's not just from me.

I have to disagree, if I didn't have BPD, my levels of empathy and creativity would be much lower. My BPD has given me life experiences which have enhanced my empathy and creativity. If I didn't have BPD I wouldn't have had those experiences.

I think the meaning of this thread is to attempt to see the positives in the traits that BPD gives us that we feel are negative. For instance, instead of feeling negative that my BPD causes me to take on the emotions of everyone around me see it as a positive that I can take them on and so understand people around me more and help them more. People have always said they can't pull the wool over my eyes with their emotions. So my BPD means that I can understand others and know how to help them.

The immense anger and rage I feel at anything that I feel is unjust. Instead of seeing it as a negative, I should see it as a positive that I am so passionate about other human beings and their welfare.

I didn't see anywhere where anyone said that you ruined the thread. I just feel bad that you can't see the positives of BPD, and the positives inside of yourself.

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And I'd like to apologize. I tend to feel personally attacked very easily. That isn't at all what I meant. Part of my own BPD nightmare. BPD has truly been a nightmare. It is all I know and can associate. If there is anything good or positive in me, BPD must be part of the equation, because it is want I am and have always been.

i happen to think it makes me highly productive. Sleep is over rated. i can easily extract an extra day or two out of each week simply because when im manic i dont sleep nor do i need too!

This is a tricky one. I have tons of empathy and I don't have BPD. I don't think the levels of empathy have anything to do with being a NON, or having BPD. I think you have high levels of empathy because you are a good person. Everyone is different. Some NONs have higher levels of empathy than others. I also believe that some people that have BPD have higher levels of empathy than others that have BPD.

Not to slam on any NONs here, but I do agree with the creativity part.

We will have to agree to disagree on this. I think my empathy stems from my ability to relate so well to emotional turbulence since I deal with it almost daily. I wouldn't have this without BPD

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This! I love those times!

However, apart from this, I also feel that although I could list a lot of things I like about myself, I have never considered them to be part of my BPD. Perhaps that is because I'm new to the diagnosis! But for me it's very episodic - I spend a while feeling terrible and I hide away and don't really do anything useful, whereas when I'm doing well, that is when my positive qualities really come out, and I believe I would have those qualities even if I didn't also have the bad times.

I don't know. I do like the idea of making it a positive thing though

I have been reading everyone's answers and people saying they are creative. I am one of the least creative people I know, then I got to thinking. I knit, sew, trying to teach myself crochet, so maybe I am creative Right now I am working on a baby quilt, and knitting a hat for my friend's daughter with a matching hat for her American Girl doll.

I would say that the instant love feeling is the worst, because you know when you step away there is bound to be a episode of self loathing.

But on the other hand being obsessive has helped with my studies in a way.

Bottom line in my eyes . . . we're all beautiful people with imperfections. Whether we're Non or BPD or something else or not . . . we all have our underlying qualities ~ some stronger than others. For each of us it makes us what we are just being US. It is certainly interesting, however to see how we view our individual qualities relative to BPD, if indeed they are. Who really knows? I think it's great to be able to perceive a positive connection to the BPD though.