Its very name means those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can face criticism and families can also be stigmatised. The word ‘borderline’ tends to make many think there is not really anything wrong with someone diagnosed with BPD and an individual’s ‘personality’ is often judged by others. In fact, the ‘borderline’ aspect refers to the disorder being on the borderline of psychosis and neurosis and the causes of BPD are not yet fully understood. For those facing life with the mental disorder the road to recovery can be paved with criticism and others not taking the condition seriously. BPD sufferers often self-harm, engage in impulsive “self-sabotaging” behaviour, suffer relationship problems and can be at risk of suicide in extreme cases.
A new support group for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula families aims to battle the stigma and offer help to families who are affected by BPD. Anne Reeve, the founder of National Education Alliance BPD in Australia, says it may be preferable to call the mental disorder “emotional dysregulation” since BPD is an inability to regulate emotions. NEA BPD is a US based organization and Ms Reeves says the group are world leaders in research, education and specialist programs around BPD. “Families suffer from no direction in Australia.
First published in the Western Port News – September 1, 2015 – Neil Walker, Morning Peninsula News
