There are many myths and misunderstandings concerning Borderline Personality Disorder(BPD). Below is a table showing the some of the common myths about BPD as told by Borderlines accompanied by the truths. Hopefully, this will help clear up some of the confusion.
| THE MYTHS | THE TRUTH |
|---|---|
| BPD means that a person "almost" has or has half a personality disorder. | The term "Borderline" came about over 60 years ago and is a disorder in it's own right. The psychoanalysts who first diagnosed this disorder theorised that this disorder lay on the border between psychosis (e.g. illnesses such as schizophrenia) and neuroris (e.g. illnesses such as depression). |
| BPD is impossible to treat. | BPD is difficult to treat but not impossible. Treatment involves challenging deep rooted beliefs, characteristics and behaviours. With proper treatment Borderline Personality Disorder can be correctly managed. |
| Borderlines over dramatise situations; and are timewasters, attention seeking and manipulative. | The phrases "attention seeking" and "manipulative" imply that conscious and deliberate though and planning is involved but the so called manipulative behaviour seen in Borderlines is more often than not unconscious and not deliberate, it is a built in way/automated response of getting what they want |
| People diagnosed with BPD are a danger to others. | People with BPD along with those people with psychaitric diagnoses are more likely to be a danger to themselves than to others. Borderlines are often self-destructive but mostly they do not harm others. People often hear the words Personality Disorder and think of psychopaths which is a different thing. |
| Borderlines are promiscuous and have bad relationships. | Borderlines have very intense relationships and may end up in damaging or unstable relationships. Some borderlines do engage in reckless and impulsive relationships but it is unfair to generalise. |
| Borderlines spend their time in and out of hospitals. | Most borderlines will spend very little time in hospital and it is only used for crisis or respite care. Hospitals are not seen as a helpful place for borderlines to be and community treatment or therapeutic communities are the preferred treatment choice. |
| Borderlines live chaotic lives, are low functioning sitting around all day at home, and are a drain on society. | Many borderlines live quiet lives rarely accessing mental health services, have a stable relationship and/or have a family, and are bright intelligent people who are holding down a respectable job or are in further/higher education. |
| Borderlines are time wasters. | 8. Borderlines experience intense emotions and real distress that interferes with basic tasks and everyday living which requires outside help. |
| All Borderlines are female and in their early 20s. | The majority of people diagnosed with BPD are female but that does not mean that there are few males with BPD out there they just don't access help and get diagnosed. It is commonly diagnosed in early adulthood when a person's personality is fully developed but there are many older people with BPD as it is a long lasting condition. |
| And the common one Borderlines are insane, nutters, maniacs ,whatever you want to call it, who are a risk to society and should be locked up. | There is much confusion about Personality Disorders. There are many Personality Disorders which affect lots of people yet these people live normal lives. However there are also severe Personality Disorders commonly seen in criminals and many people think all people with Personality Disorders are criminals and a danger to society. Borderlines are not criminals or a danger to society, they are not psychopaths. |
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© 2003 Living On The Border (CCH)