David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Are ?Borderlines? Really Just Emotional Vampires?
Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association
August 26, 2009
I have a Google alert set up for ?borderline personality disorder? and other keywords surrounding the diagnosis so that I can keep up with what?s being published on the Internet as well as traditional media. From time-to-time, something will pop up that will make me cringe. Today?s cringe-worthy declaration from a blog? Those diagnosed with BPD are ?emotional vampires.?
Alas, vilifying persons with mental illness is nothing new. A natural reaction to things that are novel or even just different is fear. It?s easier and certainly less complicated to laugh at someone on the street who is talking to someone who isn?t there. But what happens when someone in (or out) our lives has been diagnosed with BPD and they really do seem to behave like an emotional vampire?
First of all, witnessing or being confronted with the behaviors of someone with BPD can be confusing, frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes even scary. If you are scared, you can safely assume that the person who is ?acting out? is also terrified by their reactions to what is happening around them. The result of this overwhelming emotional chaos may be expressed externally by yelling, blaming, and physically harming others or internally through self-injury (such as cutting or burning), crippling feelings of guilt or shame, or, ultimately, suicide.
It?s important to remember that someone with BPD isn?t making a conscious choice to make life hell-on-earth for you or anyone else. Simply put, their life is full of suffering and until they are able to receive effective, compassionate treatment, it will continue to be a painful existence?day-after-day and year-after-year.
Labels do nothing to help educate or create environments where healing can occur. While BPD is highly treatable, misinformation and out-dated myths often take the place of the kindness, forgiveness, and mercy needed to help support someone diagnosed with the disorder.
Remember: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association
August 26, 2009
I have a Google alert set up for ?borderline personality disorder? and other keywords surrounding the diagnosis so that I can keep up with what?s being published on the Internet as well as traditional media. From time-to-time, something will pop up that will make me cringe. Today?s cringe-worthy declaration from a blog? Those diagnosed with BPD are ?emotional vampires.?
Alas, vilifying persons with mental illness is nothing new. A natural reaction to things that are novel or even just different is fear. It?s easier and certainly less complicated to laugh at someone on the street who is talking to someone who isn?t there. But what happens when someone in (or out) our lives has been diagnosed with BPD and they really do seem to behave like an emotional vampire?
First of all, witnessing or being confronted with the behaviors of someone with BPD can be confusing, frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes even scary. If you are scared, you can safely assume that the person who is ?acting out? is also terrified by their reactions to what is happening around them. The result of this overwhelming emotional chaos may be expressed externally by yelling, blaming, and physically harming others or internally through self-injury (such as cutting or burning), crippling feelings of guilt or shame, or, ultimately, suicide.
It?s important to remember that someone with BPD isn?t making a conscious choice to make life hell-on-earth for you or anyone else. Simply put, their life is full of suffering and until they are able to receive effective, compassionate treatment, it will continue to be a painful existence?day-after-day and year-after-year.
Labels do nothing to help educate or create environments where healing can occur. While BPD is highly treatable, misinformation and out-dated myths often take the place of the kindness, forgiveness, and mercy needed to help support someone diagnosed with the disorder.
Remember: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
