Introduction To My Blog Series: Living Successfully With Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder
I was 27 years old when I entered into the realization that there was something wrong with me and one of the original diagnosis was Borderline Personality Disorder, BPD.
I say something wrong with me because I was just not able to manage my life on my own and somehow knew there was something wrong with my mind.
Back then, not a lot was known about this horribly stigmatized disorder because BPD patients were considered impossible to treat or wrongly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
Along with BPD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS) were also added to my diagnostic mix.
ADHD was quickly debunked and over the past two decades most professionals leaned towards my having PTSD or a Dissociative Disorder – but something about these disorders never seemed to fit.
Add menopause to the mix and the confusion became even more confusing.
Anxiety
Here are past blogs I’ve written about my struggles with anxiety and what felt like PTSD or DDNOS:
- Managing Anxiety -The Space of No Mind
- Managing Anxiety and the Mind of Choice
- Anxiety – The Antithesis of Personal Connection
- Anxiety & Cannabidiol (CBD) & Exercise
- Trauma, Flashbacks and Dissociative Disorders
- AM I: In a Panic Attack or Trauma Response or Dissociation or Menopause? How Do I Tell The Difference?
My Struggles With Alcoholism
2018
- Mystic Order – Reiki Level 3A – 21 Day Cleanse – My Alcoholism Is Gone
- Spiritual Discipline – My Alcohol Addiction – My Story Now
- Personal Development – Still Alcohol Free
2019
- Is Too Much a Choice or Addiction?
- Personal Development – After 10 Months – This Wild Woman Is Drinking Again
- Personal Development – This Wild Woman Still Struggles With Alcohol
- Reiki Principle For Today – I Will Not Worry
2020
- One Year No Beer – 28-Day Alcohol Free Challenge
- Personal Development – A Wild Woman Redefined? Absolutely!
- Personal Development – Living Alcohol Free – Day 78
2021
2023
2024
2025
- Overthinking & The Joys Of Living My Twenty-Four Hour AA Program
- From Anxiety To Sobriety: My Life Journey From 52 – 56
- Am I Willing To Trust In God?
- The Distinct Languages of AA, DBT & CPT
Present Day
On February 9th, 2022, I had a thorough psychological assessment by a seasoned psychiatrist. At long last, at 52 years old, I was finally properly diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder.
This blog series called Owning and Unraveling Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder is my way of processing and understanding these complex personality disorders and how they manifest, interfere with and enhance my life.
Perhaps, as it has been said to me from friends who have family members with Borderline Personality Disorder, I can help dispel misconceptions and stigmas associated with these mental illnesses.
And hopefully I can shed some light and more personal information on what living with Histrionic Personality Disorder is like as I review each symptom and diagnostic criteria and how they show up (past or present) in my life.
With hope,
Stephanie, 🩵🌻
Physical Diseases – More Socially Accepted Than Mental Illnesses
I first want to say I do not mean to diminish the life changing journey anyone has to face when diagnosed with a serious physical disease, such as ALS, that tragically kills people.
When someone is diagnosed with a physical disease – most family and friends tend to surround those who are suffering with support and acceptance.
Someone with a serious physical disease has more social acceptance to talk freely about it – if they choose to.
Mental Illnesses’ Continuum Of Social Acceptability
Mental illness, as we all know, has a stigma.
Mental illness, as we all know, is the root cause for so many tragic deaths.
Yet, metal illness has its own continuum of what disorders are more socially acceptable to talk about than others.
Anxiety, Depression and PTSD are more socially acceptable to talk about than Personality Disorders.
Again, I do not want to diminish the life changing journey anyone has to face when diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression and/or PTSD.
However, compared to Anxiety, Depression or PTSD, start talking about Borderline Personality Disorder or Histrionic Personality Disorder and it is easy to start feeling like a social pariah.
Isolation Of Stigmatized Mental Illnesses
Imagine if I walked into work and openly told my coworkers I was just diagnosed with a life changing, serious physical disease like cancer – how do you think they would react?
Probably, most everyone would gather around me, asking how they could help.
Coworkers might share their personal stories of family and friends who had cancer and overcame it to inspire me.
The support would be overt and compassionate.
Photo Credit – abcounsellingipswich.com
Now, imagine if I walked into work and openly told my coworkers I was just diagnosed with two challenging and stigmatized personality disorders called Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder; two of four Cluster B Personality Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5).
The other two personality disorders are Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
In reality, prisons are filled with men and women who are undiagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
The film Monster is based on the real-life story of Aileen Wournos (Charlize Theron), a former prostitute who turns into a serial killer and is later diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. She killed seven men between 1989 and 1990.
So, how do you think my workplace would handle it if I was as forthcoming about my BPD & HPD diagnoses as compared to telling everyone I had cancer?
I’d say it would be more awkward than accepted.
My Goal
This blog series about living with BPD and HPD will hopefully help others see BPD and HPD with more accepting lenses.
While exploring Athens, I took this photo of street graffiti that visualizes (to me) what BPD and HPD feels like – it has beauty (flower), heart and an unusual head (mind).
S, 🌻
Quick Links To The Blogs In This Series Living Successfully With BPD & HPD:
Borderline Personality Disorder
Forget Everything I’ve Said – I’ve Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Introduction to Symptoms & Causes
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Strong Opinions & Identity Crisis
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Not PTSD – It’s Emotions – Borderline Style
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Empathic Abilities & Intentional Interventions
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Overlapping Symptoms & What Type Of & How BPD Am I?
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Starting EMDR – Creating New Pathways To Calm
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – The Pros and Cons of Medical THC & CBD
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Gratitude For A Wild & Crazy Life
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Behind My Mona Lisa Smile – What BPD Feels Like For Me
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – The Hulk Uses Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Coping With The Inner Critic
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Unstable & Fragile Identities
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Emotional Regulation Skills
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
Living With Borderline Personally Disorder – DBT – Skills Thermometer – A DBT Skills Anchor Chart
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Introduction & Symptoms & Diagnostic Criteria
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Shallow, Changeable Emotions
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Assumed Intimacy With Others
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Hypersensitivity To Criticism
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Manipulative Behaviour
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Sexually Provocative Behaviour
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – A Compulsive Desire For Attention
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Preoccupation With Appearance
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Suggestible & Easily Influenced
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