064 – A Lived Experience of Borderline Personality Disorder

1 February, 2020 1:50:00

DURING THIS PODCAST TOPICS SUCH AS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, SELF HARM AND EXPERIENCES OF TREATMENT ARE DISCUSSED. IF THIS IS A TRIGGER OR MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AND DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN. 

OTforBPD was an account on Instagram and Facebook that I came across through MH4OT. They were putting out some practical and detailed resources for practitioners about the often misunderstood diagnostic category of Borderline Personality Disorder. BPD is a diagnosis that even though I encountered people who have it through my career, I do not feel like I had a good grasp on the user experience of it.

I messaged the page and managed to track down the owner, Laura, who explained that she had a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, was a qualified OT and her mission was to help not only support others with BPD but to help educate OT’s and other health practitioners about BPD.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD), is a mental illness characterized by a long-term pattern of unstable relationships, a distorted sense of self, and strong emotional reactions. There is often self-harm and other dangerous behavior. People may also struggle with a feeling of emptiness, fear of abandonment, and detachment from reality.[4] Symptoms may be triggered by seemingly normal events. The behavior typically begins by early adulthood and occurs across a variety of situations. Substance abuse, depression, and eating disorders are commonly associated with BPD. Up to 10% of people affected die by suicide.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder

I’m super grateful that she agreed to come onto Occupied and share her invaluable experience of navigating the health care system as a person with BPD. Laura was so kind and genuine. There is a sense of vulnerability in her words but a feeling of strength in her words.

Check out OTforBPD here:

https://www.facebook.com/OTforBPD/

Reasources Laura recommends:

https://themighty.com
https://www.spectrumbpd.com.au
https://bpdfoundation.org.au

Gunderson, J. G., & Hoffman, Perry D. (2005). Understanding and treating borderline personality disorder : a guide for professionals and families (1st ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
 
Sampson, M. J., McCubbin, Remy A, & Tyrer, Peter J. (2006). Personality disorders and community mental health teams : a practitioner’s guide. Chichester: John Wiley.

Keep occupied

Brock
brock.cook@me.com
@brockcookOT