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Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is incredibly difficult for a mental healthcare professional to diagnose. One reason is that many aspects of the disorder can be considered good, like the confidence, drive, and positivity that comes with the upswings of the disorder. If you have a family member with BPD, you’ve been present for these. But, it can be hard for outsiders to know, is this person suffering from BPD or is she just…ambitious? Is she a dreamer? If we think of some of the most accomplished individuals who pulled off incredible feats, they must have sounded, at some point, to their peers, a little out of touch with reality. They were just creatives. BPD can also have other disorders wrapped up inside of it, like depression, anxiety, and even eating disorders. It can be hard for a psychologist to determine if a patient suffers from all of these issues, separately, or if they are symptoms of the blanket disorder BPD. If it’s difficult for a trained professional to identify the disorder, imagine how difficult it is for a mere civilian to see it. In fact, not only do mere civilians often overlook BPD—they can fall in love with it. Here is why loving someone with BPD can feel like an addiction.
Everything is a crisis
Because those with BPD can lack the protective emotional barrier others live with, every small mishap or setback can feel much more intense to them. So every problem is a crisis, and they present it as such to their loved ones. It truly feels like a crisis to them.
