Lived Experience Forum

[kellee]

It completely made sense by the time I arrived home.

[puzzlingdino]

I haven’t yet had many instances of people being aware that I have BPD, which means I can’t really relate to the undoubtedly frustrating experience of the BPD diagnosis being seen ahead/instead of the individual. But I do find the ‘seeing’ aspect of the theme really relevant and important in a personal way. I struggle quite a lot with feelings of being invalidated or not being ‘heard’, so for the support and treatment I receive to be effective, it needs to ensure I feel ‘seen’ and understood in more than just a superficial way, otherwise it is difficult for me to engage with supports and get the help I need.

[TideisTurning]

Next question: What’s happening for BPD Awareness week? How can I get involved? @BPDSurvivor @Alex_Spectrum 

[AT67]

If it's not off-track, I'd like to ask a question from a slightly different side of "See the person": I'm curious as to what leads people to seek treatment? Does there have to be a rock-bottom moment? In my case, the person I love doesn't seem to see herself or the harm that happens in so many forms of relationships in her life; whenever a 'breakthrough' seems close, there is such self-loathing that she loses sight of the person she is (and loses hope); but always very quickly then switches to attack mode (declaring there is no problem).

[BPDSurvivor]

To be honest @puzzlingdino , I don't find many people know what BPD is! Some people think confuse it for bipolar. I wouldn't know what BPD was either if I didn't have it 🙂

[kellee]

Dealing with people is a trigger with me also, but not all people.

[Alex_Spectrum]

@puzzlingdino that sounds tough to feel like you are being invalidated or not heard. I think you make a great point about feeling seen and understood. I see this as being so important for any therapy to work. It's very hard to feel connected to someone who you don't feel is really trying to understand you. 

[kellee]

Thank you.

[BPDSurvivor]

I hear you @AT67 .

Bottom line, change takes time. 

The cycle of change model helps us understand change:

(Sorry, not the best picture)

Change can be scary. At any point, a person might jump off the cycle of change.

Perhaps it's about helping your loved one to stay on that cycle?

Have a little google and you'll be able to find definitions of each stage.

All the best.

[BPDSurvivor]

What’s happening for BPD Awareness week? How can I get involved?

Here are some links the community can access to have a look and see how they get get involved for BPD Awareness Week:

bpdawareness.com.au/events-activities/

https://twitter.com/BPDAwarenessWK

https://www.instagram.com/bpdawarenessweek/

There is also a Facebook page you can search for BPD Awareness Week.