[silvercloud1989]

I recently read a few empirical articles on how people with Borderline Personality Disorder tend to also have lower functioning "working memory" (which means they struggle in managing large pieces of information at once; this can sometimes be mistaken for attentional difficulties or learning difficulties)

They also have a difficult ability to empathize.

I am always skeptical of things I read, and so I'm not saying that the above findings are actually true -- However, that being said, I do realize that they do apply to me (self-diagnosed BPD - will be going in for an assessment this Thurs). Since childhood (and even today), I've always been a very slow learner, and I've always had difficulty in being able to "feel" another person's emotions.

Does anyone else also have similar experiences? Or were your experiences exactly the opposite?


Thanks for helping me solve this little curiosity I've been having,

Silvercloud

[technigal]

I was exactly the opposite. I remembered things quickly and when I read something I can flip to the page to answer a question. I was an A student until getting to University where things were more of a challenge. My memory is bad right now but I think that is a side effect of one of my meds.

And I think I am too empathetic.

[Espresso]

I was always a good student, but my husband gets annoyed at me for forgetting stuff. I think I'm somewhat absent minded. I don't empathize very well. When I watch a movie, I sometimes get caught up in the story and experience intense levels of empathy with the characters. But with real people, I don't do so well.

[River11]

I've always been opposite to that, but I have found these past couple of years my ability to concentrate and take in large amounts of info seems negatively affected. Still quick to learn and remember small bits, though. And, yes, very - sometimes even too - empathetic.

[hawaii04]

Originally Posted by silvercloud1989

I recently read a few empirical articles on how people with Borderline Personality Disorder tend to also have lower functioning "working memory" (which means they struggle in managing large pieces of information at once; this can sometimes be mistaken for attentional difficulties or learning difficulties)

They also have a difficult ability to empathize.

I am always skeptical of things I read, and so I'm not saying that the above findings are actually true -- However, that being said, I do realize that they do apply to me (self-diagnosed BPD - will be going in for an assessment this Thurs). Since childhood (and even today), I've always been a very slow learner, and I've always had difficulty in being able to "feel" another person's emotions.

Does anyone else also have similar experiences? Or were your experiences exactly the opposite?


Thanks for helping me solve this little curiosity I've been having,

Silvercloud

I found this interesting. I have always had a tough time with learning, for me more of a memory and concentration factor I think resembling a lesser ability to retain information, especially given in larger portions and quickly. But I was also first diagnosed with ADHD prior to my BPD. I was always a caring person, but, yes, for me as well, the ability to truly empathize is unfortunately lacking and always has been.

[beloiseau]

I had difficulties as a young child, and still today, keeping my attention focused when I'm trying to study or learn. I did well in school though. I definitely do not have trouble empathizing... I am too empathetic and that can lead me down a troublesome thought path, thinking about other people's problems before my own and not invalidating my own experiences.

[UnderTheRose]

My empathy switches from an overabundance to nil.. depending on how i'm feeling.
As for the learning part, i was diagnosed with ADHD and have always had a hard time in school, feeling like everything was coming in at me at once, and not being able to efficiently separate the pieces I would just shut it all off together.

[Maranara]

I have a very bad short term memory, but it's mainly due to my work. I work a monotonous job that takes a lot of it away. I have, however, genuinely had issues with remembering names, place names and dates.

As for empathy, I usually have way too much. I can often put myself in someone's shoes and feel just like them. When I disappear from here, that's often why. It can be overwhelming. When, however, I am going through a period of almost no emotions myself (usually caused by an emotional crash), I won't feel any empathy during that time either.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Originally Posted by silvercloud1989

I recently read a few empirical articles on how people with Borderline Personality Disorder tend to also have lower functioning "working memory" (which means they struggle in managing large pieces of information at once; this can sometimes be mistaken for attentional difficulties or learning difficulties)

They also have a difficult ability to empathize.

I am always skeptical of things I read, and so I'm not saying that the above findings are actually true -- However, that being said, I do realize that they do apply to me (self-diagnosed BPD - will be going in for an assessment this Thurs). Since childhood (and even today), I've always been a very slow learner, and I've always had difficulty in being able to "feel" another person's emotions.

Does anyone else also have similar experiences? Or were your experiences exactly the opposite?


Thanks for helping me solve this little curiosity I've been having,

Silvercloud

I have read the opposite about learning. I have read that people with BPD are extremely intelligent, but if something doesn't interest them or they can't put it to practical use, then they basically don't learn it.

People always get so frustrated with me because I do have the capability to understand a lot more than the average person. But I just can't learn certain things: history, politics, language, computers, etc. No matter how hard I try, it goes in one ear and out the other

Memory...I'm not sure about. Sometimes my memory works, sometimes it doesn't. I can remember so specific things, but if you ask me what I did yesterday or this last week, I'll have no clue. I don't know if that's BPD or just me...lol.

And empathy...I don't believe that people with BPD lack empathy. I think they can only afford a certain amount of empathy because they are constantly dealing with their own emotions.

For myself, I am empathetic. But I can only put forth effort for 3 days. That's the max So when someone gets sick or injured, they have to take advantage of my energy for the first 3 days because after that I want nothing to do with them.

I have a pretty good memory and am actually very empathetic.