The concept of emotional suffering when it comes to borderline personality disorder (BPD), is often explained using an analogy of a burning building.
When people are feeling their worse—engaging in self-injury or other self-sabotaging activity, making suicide attempts, jumping out of moving cars, causing harm to others, using illegal drugs or alcohol to dull emotional pain, texting an ex-boyfriend hundreds of times in the space of just an hour or two—they are in the basement trying to get to safety while avoiding the flames.
Getting Help for BPD
The first step requires asking for help and that can be absolutely terrifying for someone who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The second? Accessing evidenced-based care from a therapist or other mental health professional who isn't going to increase the overwhelming sense of shame that often accompanies a mental health diagnosis.
I speak with wonderful people every single day who are ready to make this first step in helping themselves or someone they love. If you're alone and have access to few resources, there really are ways that you can help yourself starting today.
Are you ready to get out of the fire that is consuming your life? Are you ready to create a life worth living?
You can do this. I promise. You can email me at amanda@hopeforbpd.com.
Interested in learning more? Please take a moment to check out:
• Can You Diagnose Yourself with BPD? Pros and Cons of Self-Diagnosis
• 101 Coping Statements for Self-Harming Behaviors