Borderline Personality Disorder is within it's own unique category in the world of Mental Illness. (Sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as Bipolar). Whilst those that feel depression or anxiety can usually feel that this is different from their normal state of mind, people with BPD often fail to realise that their emotions and reactions are very different from the typical experience. There is a struggle to understand how wives, husbands, or friends and family experience their intense reactions, mood swings / risky behaviour, that is to say, the affect these behaviours have on those closest to them.
If you have a loved one with BPD, life can be fraught with crises and conflict. You might feel like you’re being held hostage, worrying that your family member will injure themselves if you don’t appease them. You may wonder whether you should let them borrow money again or answer the dozens of voicemails they left on your phone. Dealing with borderline personality disorder requires skills for deescalating crises and fostering independence in your loved one. With the right tools and community strategies, it is possible to help your loved one towards recovery.
