This week my individual therapist was really down on the BPD label. More than usual, I mean. She has always been against mentioning it at all, and I must say I found (find) it quite annoying that I can’t even say it in therapy without her jumping all over it as a dangerous and self-damaging label.
I was somewhat proud of myself for speaking up this week and explaining that actually, I have found the label very helpful in that it gave me at least somewhat of a path to follow amidst a forest of mental health issues that I just never understood. Without knowing about BPD, I had so little knowledge of why I did the destructive things I was doing, or why certain triggers existed for me. And most importantly, by learning about BPD, I found this online community that actually understood everything I was going through – something I had NEVER experienced elsewhere.
Anyway, Ms. Therapist argued that even bringing up BPD at all = falling back on a lame excuse for the actual behaviour, which is the part that has to change. It also (she claimed) creates stigma, even in your own mind, that you are somehow different, deficient, flawed etc.
I see her point but at the end of the day, I think the label has been more positive than negative for me. What about for anyone else? Have you found BPD gave you an unhealthy sense of identity or bondage to the label? Or have you found it helpful in getting treatment and understanding yourself better?
Cat xxxxx
Half of a Soul - Life with BPD 