Stigma and BPD
I find, personally, that if you scroll through the internet enough looking for information on BPD, you'll find that there is a lot of unfair stigma associated with BPD. It hurts. I want this to be a place to vent about stigma you've heard/seen/read about BPD, and we can work together to reinforce the facts about BPD (see linked Forum post) and come together as a community to help embrace BPD, while also remembering why stigma about BPD does not define us.
I invite you to share your own thoughts about the stigma associated, particular phrases you've heard that stigmatize BPD, as well as any personal anecdotes associated with stigma. I also invite you to read others' posts and comment with positivity, so we can all remember that we're valued, important, and we can beat that stigma.
Lee.
Really great topic to talk about, Lee, well done. :)
I think that not only for BPD there is stigma, I think that with every disease there is 'stigma in stigma' sometimes(like the mentally ill stigmatize those who are mentally ill too).
I have BPD and I know how much is hard to live even an hour with it, because everything changes so fast, like some thornado... And people can't handle that "thornado" that easily, when I take a look on my behavior from their eyes it really seems weird and confusing.
The thing is, that people label you if you tell them your diagnosis. And then they start to connect every single thing you do with your diagnosis, which is awful. And then, they label you as 'booo the crazy one' and they leave. And what are we the most scared about ? Being left. Exactly. That's why it's so hard to cope with stigma.
But happily, outside there are people who don't label you, who see that you are not your illness, that you beside that illness have your own hobbies, fantasies, desires and that's what's making you a human being. Not a diagnosis, like some of them do.
That's what I have to say about BPD stigma. Many people left me when they found out, so I don't really recommend telling it impusively to someone who you don't really know well. It can be harmful and it can hurt you bad, which can trigger you for a self-harm, like it always happens with us, BPD patients.
My inbox is always open for everyone who wants to talk about BPD, or for generally everyone.
Hugssss, alexlove
Such a stigma associated with BPD that I was surprised there even is a forum for us here - pleasantly surprised, but still.
I wish people could see that it's not "crazy" that makes us act the way we do, but extreme depth of emotion. I've never told anyone, besides my partner (who actually also has BPD) that I have it, because I'm afraid of the reaction. ...it feels like there are more resources out there for people whose loved ones have BPD than there are for people who actually suffer from it themselves!
The stigma that affects me the most in my life is the one that is still circulating around the medical community. That we are "difficult" patients, cannot recover, and are basically not worth helping. I have been turned away many times by various medical professionals just because I have BPD. Even one time, when I had a serious case of depression alongside it, the psychiatrist on call looked at me and basically said "oh, you have BPD, so your current suicidality has nothing to do with the fact that you are also suffering from depression!" Needless to say, I left, and I probably shouldn't have at the time...
I was thinking about this one night. At what point is it okay for the medical community to refuse help or treatment to someone with BPD? Why are the suicide attempts of those with BPD brushed off, even though the rate is so high, at 10%? Why do doctors and other healthcare professionals refuse to see this disorder as an illness?
Because of this, particularly in my corner of the world, I've been finding it extremely difficult to get any help, let alone the proper help. It frustrates me to no end, and sometimes, I just throw my hands up in the air and feel like a hopeless, worthless human being who is not viable.
Despite all my negative encounters though, which there are many, I have had a few positive ones which keep me somewhat hopeful. Not all professionals think this way. Granted, some of them may have BPD or another mental illness themselves. I just wish that there were more people like those two nurses and one psychiatrist. Not the other nurses and doctors, who just regard me as an adult with a temper-tantrum or something.
I've felt the same way regarding how people diagnose us in such a way when I was suspecting that I had depression. Now, I'm not sure if I have BPD, but it really seems so. Almost all of the symptoms match and I just became neutral again. 3 changes so far this week.
I have BPD and I'm highly stigmatized even with other mentally ill people. 
A quick look through the internet will show you so much negativity surrounding BPD.. calling us manipulative, selfish, childish, irresponsible, etc.
*Edited by Mentor for content*
Reading all that stuff can be so triggering. :( I've done it myself, but these days I'm more likely to seek info and help from other people with BPD.