Lived Experience Forum

[NikNik]

Hi everyone!

If you missed this webinar, you can check it out here

Meet your panel:

 

[utopia]

Hi @NikNik. I love the idea of this topic. Having grown up with a dad with MI, I was always comfortable talking about certain things with my close friends.
As I got older and developed depression, I refused to be stigmatised by it. Why should I be.
To me it's the sane as having diabetes.
Just because it's classed as a MI - does not mean it should be treated any different from a physical illness.
And considering our brains control our bodies - why does there need to be a differentiation between Mental Health and physical health. It's all about being as healthy as we can.
There are specialists in cancer, diabetes & MI. But again - it's just about the health of our bodies.
I tell people I have depression. I tell people I have had PTSD through a workplace insident. I also tell them the facts about my MI. I educate those who are interested - in the realities of my MI. You cannot catch it. I am not violent. I can still parent and be ab active member of my community. There are just times, that I need to focus on my wellbeing first & times the stress becomes overwhelming. But I get through those tough times.
I'd like to say to people - there is no shame in MI.

[BlueBay]

Hi @NikNik

I love this topic.  I agree with what @utopia wrote.  I too have only recently started to tell people that i suffer from depression and anxiety.  And some i will tell that i was sexually abused as a child.  But I can't bring myself to tell people that i have BPD.  I think just the name BPD would scare people away.  It's mainly the regulation of emotions that are hard to control.  But for me saying I have BPD seems to be that i have a different personality, a different person from whom I am.  I don't know this is just my view.

I sometimes wish the name BPD would be changed, maybe to Emotional dysregulation. It doesn't sound as bad as borderline personality disorder.  So this is why i keep this one to myself.  I wish i could change and bring it out to the public so there is more awareness but i just struggle with the stigma.

Looking forward to tuesday night.

[utopia]

@BlueBay. Not sure if you watched the webpost on Healing Trauma last week. They have dosnloaded a copy of it.
Not sure if it might be too triggering or upsetting for you. But the two women on the panel are experts in dealing with trauma - especially early years or sexual trauma. These two ladies have also suffered from this and believe in recovery.
I think it was near the end that they were discussing with the Psychiatrist re: that too many people have the wrong diagnosis. They bekieve there should be a different label for those who suffered early childhood trauma. What these ladies said made so much sense to me. And I thought of you.
You might like to ask @NikNik for a written translation of that section only - or if you want to watch it - watch it with your son or hubby as a support.
I found the whole thing positive. But then, I didn't go through your childhood trauma - mine was different.

[NikNik]

Wow - For those who watched the webinar tonight - are you as inspired as I am?!

[Former-Member]

@NikNik

I am actually sad and upset. I haven't disclosed to many people yet and just don't feel strong enough to smash the stigma, but I can so much identify with all the lying and basically living 2 lives that I go through because I don't disclose.

[BlueBay]

Hey @NikNik

wish i saw it.  Can i ask a question? how do you reduce the stigma of Borderline Personality Disorder?

[Former-Member]

Inspired to do what NikNik? I still think its sad

[NikNik]

Hi @Former-Member

I'm sorry to hear that it's upset you. I think the best way to think about it though is that the panelists have been there, and are better for it today. I also think it's important to keep in mind - these panelists still have their not so great times aswell. 

So I hope you take a bit of hope away with you.

[NikNik]

I think it's sad too @Former-Member - but it was nice to hear some positive stories. Sometimes I wonder if positive stories ever exist. So I got a bit of sense of hope through it too.