Some people may think that the first step in recovery from borderline personality disorder (BPD) is picking up the phone or sending an e-mail and asking for help but it really begins long before that.
The first step is usually months (and sometimes years) in the making. It's the "getting ready" phase.
Getting ready might involve receiving the diagnosis, joining an online support group, picking up a book to learn more, or taking a wait-and-see approach to make certain that they can't do this on their own. In a sense, part of the work has already begun.
But then there comes the time to make a decision.
People don't call me when they are feeling good about their lives. I get calls and e-mails from family members and those diagnosed with BPD or who engage in self-harm when they are in crisis and are wondering where they should even begin to seek treatment. The calls I get are from people who have given up on life and are tired of feeling suicidal, desperate, and hopeless.
While getting help and support for recovery is probably the most difficult thing you'll ever do, it isn't impossible. People can and do recover from BPD.