“Compassion.” We all know the word and we know that—among other things—it’s a description of what Jesus showed the outcasts—those the world had rejected. The Bible tells about his unconditional love, the love he has for each of us, no matter who we are, no matter how good or bad we are. We would like […]
Read More...We are social creatures. Most people need friends. We need to know we are loved. When those are lacking, our mental health suffers. Many people living with BPD end up suffering from a deep and painful sense of being unwanted. This became the case for one person, though it had not always been like that. […]
Read More...I wrote the following in November 2015 during one of the most difficult periods in my life. It would lead to years of ongoing suffering. Today, thank God, my life is starting to turn around…or is it? When one suffers from bipolar disorder as well as features of borderline personality disorder—two major mental health problems […]
Read More...Stigma is like a dirty word to most of us. We would not think of stigmatizing people with mental health problems or people with other disabilities. We don’t want to harm them, but try to follow Jesus by treating them with kindness. We want to help them find healing. And yet, it’s in that very […]
Read More...As mentioned earlier, borderline personality (BPD) has greater stigma attached to it than any other mental illness. Those with the disorder are feared and avoided to such an extent that it’s been referred to as “the leprosy of mental illnesses”. We know too that in his day, Jesus did not avoid or fear the leper […]
Read More...When asked, most will say a person should be judged by what’s in their heart, not by their outward appearance. But that goes out the window when they see behaviour they find alarming. Behaviour they don’t understand. In my own case, I was hurt by things said to me or done to me. Without the […]
Read More...People with BPD are often treated like untouchables in our modern world. Medical professionals and counselors don’t want to deal with them. They are feared by the people around them—feared because they don’t know the kind of response to expect. But if we want to follow Christ’s ways, we must try and treat those who […]
Read More...Suppose someone said something or did something especially hurtful to the person with BPD. Such a sensitive person might not be able to help but react, often with the over-the-top anger (or emotional dysregulation) we’ve been talking about. That’s the feature of BPD that’s most alarming in the eyes of the people around us. And […]
Read More...Through life challenges and trauma, usually occurring in childhood, people with BPD develop a strong sensitivity. They’re easily hurt. One source suggests that it’s like going through life without skin–without the protective barrier that prevents pain receptors from being exposed. Someone with BPD is much more hurt by someone’s words and actions than a person […]
Read More...If you have a friend who tells you he has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (or BPD) you would think it must be a very ugly illness. That label itself might cause you to want to keep your distance. Truth is that no one in the medical profession thinks the disorder should go by […]
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