BPD AND CHURCH SUPPORT

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “BPD is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed mental health conditions. It’s so misdiagnosed, in fact, that there isn’t even an accurate prevalence rate for the condition. What we do have is an estimate of 2–6% of the population, which actually makes BPD very prevalent.”

“BPD is one of the most heavily stigmatized mental health conditions a person can experience. This rampant stigma has both tangible and emotional consequences that can worsen existing difficulties with BPD. In the form of judgments, blame, negative assumptions and discrimination, stigma can lead a person experiencing BPD to feel ashamed and hide their suffering.”

I was diagnosed with BPD in October 2015, something I shared with a couple of fellow leaders from my church, thinking they should be aware. But in later years I came to doubt the diagnosis, especially when I learned about Complex PTSD, a condition that shares some of the same symptoms of BPD—over-sensitivity, anger, fear of rejection, emotional dysregulation.

But I went along with the diagnosis given me. Despite my suspicions, I kept on with what was handed me officially. . . until October 23, 2021.

The following will be interesting to note:

  1. September 2021, I published a booklet on BPD to show church response that would be helpful. It can be downloaded for free.
  2. October 14, 2021, I wrote a blogpost on BPD and the church.
  3. October 23, 2021, a psychiatrist who I’d only had for a few months indicated I had probably been misdiagnosed. I wrote about it in this blogpost.
  4. December 7, 2021, I set the record straight.

And so, that booklet I wrote on BPD to show how the church could help, was not even written by a person with BPD. (It should be noted that the entries with the title ending in “A BPD Life were written by anonymous people, not connected with me).

I hope the booklet will continue to be helpful for churches that want to know how to deal with anger and over-the-top emotion in their members. I believe it will help church members have compassion for those who are too often feared and shunned.

marja