Comments on: Celebrities with Borderline Personality Disorder (possibly, not for sure)

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:09:40 +0000

I wish the idea that psychologists are car mechanics in better clothes were true. If it were, then you could go into therapy can come out all fixed. My experience is that this is not the case.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:01:25 +0000

For everyone who has been “diagnosed” with a specific illness, it is important to remember that doctors and therapists are simply classifying your symptoms, and possible patterns of behavior and applying them to the DSM-IV, which is their handbook for diagnosing and evaluating mental disorders. Once they make this “diagnosis,” they use it to submit to your insurance company the diagnostic code for the said illness…….THIS IS HOW THEY GET PAID!!!!

I am highly skeptical of therapists (due to my own personal marriage with a “borderline” therapist,) but regardless, psychology and therapy are NOT a medical science! There are no blood tests or difinitive lab tests that will determine your “disorder.” Remember, it is merely categorgizing your behavior, analyzing your patterns,and comparing that to their diagnostic manual!

These people are not “Gods!” They are merely car mechanics in nicer clothes!!

It’s the equivalence of buying a repair manual for your car. “This is what it’s doing,” (troubleshooting,), this is the possible problem (diagnosis,) and this is how you correct the problem (treatment.)

Psychology and therapy are mere speculation…….

Their reasoning and justification are circular, to say the least! JUNK SCIENCE!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:17:35 +0000

Oops, in my usual manner i have posted, gone away and ruminated and realised a serious error at the begining of my message, where it may seem as if i meant that schizophrenics are not objective and caring. That is simply a mistake in my use of grammar / sentence structure. Sorry :-/ I just meant to say go easy on yourself, Ressie. I also thought, or hoped it might help to add that accepting the diagnosis was the first step towards recovery for me.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:44:19 +0000

Ressie, You don’t sound “schizo” to me, you sound objective and caring. I believe it can help to see the diagnosis as a label for a set of symptoms made by a group of people with a certain type of logic that means they have to label you in order to be able to help you, which is something i am learning to be compassionate about, which helps with my self-esteem. A good therapist will treat you as an equal, encourage you to also be compassionate with yourself and will not put the diagnosis over as a judgement on who you are as a person. Try meeting them half-way, and if they are good at their job they will do the same. They are just people, richer but no better than anyone else, even if they think so, but we can let them off with that Calm communication works better than either outward or inward anger, and it is very difficult at first, everything is, but it does get easier. It is possible to learn to love oneself over time, even if it doesn’t feel like that right now, but each small step leads to another, give yourself time.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:39:22 +0000

@Chris,
I understand what you wen through. I was in a seven yr relationship with someone who was first diagnosed with severe depressive disorder and then narcissistic personality and finally with Borderline Personality Disorder. I understand his suffering and I feel your anger an resentment that shows so clearly in your post. I know sometimes their behavior does not seem as if they are suffering and as if they are selfish and I fell that any Borderline who is diagnosed and knowingly does not get treatment is selfish, especially if they are in a relationship with someone. I know my fiance loved me and still does, but he refuses treatment. We have a child on the way due in March and I have finally accepted the fact that we can never be together. He has done so many horrible things to me. Every time it gets real and we are about to make a step forward, he throws us two steps back with his erratic behavior and lies. I can never trust him. I was working and trying so hard to finish my degree and he was breaking up every two months and becoming suicidal. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. I know he has tons of guilt and self hate for what he put me through and I know he wants to get better but somehow everytime he is stable, he decides he doesn’t need therapy or meds anymore. He begins to blame all his problems on me and our relationship and there is nothing I can do about it. He would tell me I’m the one with the disorder even though I saw the same doctors as him and was never diagnosed with any thing other than depression from the stress of trying to save him from himself. I had to walk away from my best friend and soulmate because he continually hurt me. I learned that I cannot help him if he is unwilling to help himself. I need a support group too.

By: CHRIS

CHRIS — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:48:53 +0000

My situation is a bit different, but the characters are the same. I survived a 2-yr marriage to a BPD. To take this one step further, she was a THERAPIST by profession.

Needless to say, manipulation, and control were only parts of her aresenal. Luckily I got out,and my life is recovering. While I understand that the BPD is “suffering” inside, there has to be a recovery program or methods for people who have loved a BPD. The fact that she is a therapist and is aware that she is BPD, is completely socially, ethically, and morally wrong! How could one even begin to “report” her to the state without appearing as a “disgruntled” ex???

By: Ressie

Ressie — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:12:43 +0000

Susie & Pierrette,
I can identify completely with what you are saying. Which scares me to death.
I was diagnosed with BPD by a psychologist quite recently, and have not yet fully accepted it. When she told me, I got very angry (even though I didn’t show it – I rarely subject anyone else to my anger) and very sad – I don’t want to have a mental disorder!
The only thing I’ve ever heard about BPD (not much) are vague and negative things, and that BPDs are pretty much bad and crazy people. I felt like she was trying to make me fit into a diagnosis to make it easier for herself, and that she didn’t know me well enough to make such a statement. We’ve seen each other for a year, under pretty severe circumstances – I had a deep depression due to many external as well as internal factors – so we have seen each other for quite a while though.
Then I got angry with myself for being so messed up in the head.
Her statement almost sent me right back into my depression and I’m struggling not to got there again.
I felt and feel like it’s hopeless, this diagnosis has just made me hate myself more. My psychologist tells me that my “strong” and powerful (exactly like you described it Pierrette I also feel those unique and powerful feelings sometimes) part of me should try to help the weak and very hated part of me. But the problem is, I don’t want to. The strong me wants to just annihilate the weak part, and has no compassion whatsoever with it. I know this sounds schizo.. but that’s how it is.
I do have, on the other hand, an extreme compassion with other people, and I think my empathy is sometimes on the verge of abnormal, I would like you said Susie, help anyone else before myself even if it killed me. I want to even leave my boyfriend to protect him from my messed up head.
Right now, I don’t know how to relate to this diagnosis, and I’m very doubtful that therapy can help, as I can’t imagine wanting to help myself. I feel like I’m not done punishing myself. For what I don’t exactly know, but I just don’t feel like a good person and I am very very far from loving or even liking myself.
I don’t know what to do at this point.

By: Ana

Ana — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:20:57 +0000

I have BPD and my treatment only made me get worse. I quit two times and I know this is not good (and is also something very common), but it really was useless.

By: Stefanie Lesser

Stefanie Lesser — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:45:45 +0000

I have BPD also and I am in recovery. I feel the main thing is that is we want and need to be validated. We were not given that opportunity during childhood. Consequently as a result of that, we learn not to express our feelings throughout our lives and learn not to care about feelings, our needs or our wants. I agree we should not be as stigmatized as we are. People should take the time to listen to our stories and understand where we are coming from. Nonetheless if they did, they would also see the intelligence some of us have, the resilience, the resourcefulness, the talents, the extreme passion and empathy we do have. We truly are good people and just like any other obstacles in life, it can be overcome. Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze us they are supposed to help us discover who we are. I am currently a student at CSPP fresno going for my PHD in clinical psychology and one thing I have learned about myself throughout the past few years is the vast amount of courage I have to keep on trying and to never lose faith or hope.

By: Pierrette El khoury

Pierrette El khoury — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:21:42 +0000

I felt in secure when I read the comments . I might have a borderline personality . I always feel that I have a double personality .In fact sometimes I feel that I am very week , lonely, empty and anxious. I can’t handle looking at myself in the mirror because I will not recognize myself. In the other hand , when I am surrounded by friends and people who I might think that they love me , I feel relaxed and comfortable .In addition, sometimes I feel that I am special and a unique person who had alot of talents and so powerful . Furthermore, I am always confused , moody and depressed . I have aliment disorder and I think that I live in two words. In fact, I have my own world which I can dream , talk and be in the situations that i d like to be in . It s strange I know but almost all the time I try to be alone to act and live my own world. But, I have the normal world which is my normal life : I go to university , I have friends and I work as a teacher . Besides , I m always bored , i like to do things unusual and I like to cross the limit . Crossing the limits makes me feel that I am alive in a real world. There is many things that i didnt talk about . I d like to share things and ideas with some of you . Add me if ur interested . Thank you . btw am I normal ? does anyone feel what I feel ?

By: susie

susie — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:47:38 +0000

My first diagnosis at 17 was “depression” the second diagnosis was “major depressive disorder” at 23, third diagnosis was “bipolar 2″ age 25,
It wasn’t until I had a fight wth my boyfriend, locked myself in my apartment with no food and 3 gigantic bottles of Jack daniels (I tried to drink myself to death, literally)it took 5 days for friends and family to realize I hadn’t left the house and I was in fact attempting suicide without actually doing it…my roomate eventually called 911 and I was admitted into the mental hospital where I was observed for 5 days.
I decided enough was enough and hired a private psychiatrist that had a good reputation. Borderline scared the shit out of me, but I have to say what a relief to finally have a diagnosis. I also have a learning disability, ADHD, and have suffered since childhood.
Also worth mentioning to your dr is little facts that you dont think matter, for me it was my bad coordination. I always spilled drinks on me, tripped over my feet, and was just a straight mess…this helped with the diagosis too. I am extremely dependent and distant all at the same time. I get very angry and for no valid reason…bottom line is…
The difference between a bipolar and a borderline is well a lot of things. Bipolar people rarely become enraged, whereas a borderline will flip out and throw a lamp
A borderline feels guilt often, whereas a bipolar rarely does.
A borderline has sporatic mood changes, they last second, minutes. Their main issue is with themselves. They have low self esteem and self worth. They put others before themselves, to an absolute fault. They will feed everyone else soup while they are starving. They are literally self LESS…we are good people, but there is a very fine line. We simply do not care about ourselves. I did not want to admit this illness to anyone, but the bottom line is it is me. I developed this throughout my life and it wasn’t until I literally was sick and tired (and willing to pay out of pocket, research good dr.) that I was able to be at peace. There is absolutey a light at the end of the tunnel. We are not psycho’s, psycho’s are psycho’s. We undestand what is real and what is not, we just don’t articulate the way everyone else does.

By: Jules

Jules — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:42:57 +0000

http://www.facebook.com/find-friends/#!/pages/Borderline-Personality-Disorder-The-BPD-Cafe/225847057440985

Come help this friendly support network thrive online. The BPD Cafe on facebook is spreading awareness because knowledge is power

By: Fiore

Fiore — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:12:46 +0000

I read most your comments and just wanted to say you’re all like really cool and smart.

Honest, I love my BPDed friend most of all

Peace! (…and randomness)

By: julian peers

julian peers — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:35:30 +0000

Bon,

you have inspired me to say a few things… firstly I think it is wonderful what you are trying to do! I’m fairly well into my difficult journey as a husband of a suspected BPD wife so I am still trying to confirm diagnosis on her behalf since she is so defensive (get’s triggered) about any mention of a condition as the un-diagnosed seem to be. Of course being no expert it has a been difficult and lonely experience (as not yet been able to tell friends and family memebers, only that “she is not very good at dealing with stress”). For me, I have coped so far until now when I have turned to the internet actually to find out why she does not want children although I know in my heart how difficult it would be. Of course this main issue had become the main trigger for many recurrent mode swings so I have bought myself time buy saying I’m not ready yet anyway. There seems to be another main forum out there which I have found to be a lot more negative with people posting comments about “the way to leave a BPD”, so sad. Even if my wife’s far too frequent and dissproportionate anger and rage and emotional swings are caused by something other than BPD, this site still gives hope to me and the many partners of BPDs as well as hope to the BPD sufferers that there are Husbands out there like you that had the strength of character to be able to make it work, set up this forum, write a book, break the stigma and improve diagnosis, bravo!

I am sure my wife would have had a similar reaction to many of the BPDs who post negative comments on your website about the celeb thing without realising that what you’re actually trying to do is help so many of them.

By: jodie

jodie — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:57:23 +0000

I found out 2 days ago that ive been diagnosed with BPD i must say as shocked as i was i was also relieved And felt like a big weight has been taken off my shoulders/ on the contary depending on my mood i feel like ive had a big weight put on my shoulders lol but hey guess thats just the disorder. knowledge is power.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:38:51 +0000

We all need to find daily space— free from the labels, free from the punishing thoughts— I suggest going and reading about Non-Violent Communication by Rosenburg. We can frame in a judgmental way or not. We can learn to stay compassionate— understand the feeling and get to the need. Non-Violent Communication is about being non-violent and safe inside our heads too.

By: Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and ADHD | ADD Simplified

Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and ADHD | ADD Simplified — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:24:21 +0000

[...] if he was not diagnosed. I have found no content linking Amy Winehouse to ADHD, but some that links her to BPD. Her life story has elements of both, I think. ADHD has been linked to substance abuse and the [...]

By: urdein

urdein — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:38:45 +0000

Possibly spanish singer Antonio Vega also. Look at his song “Lucha de Gigantes”

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:18:05 +0000

Not every alcoholic has BPD. What do you mean “wet your bed at 21″? Is that a joke or some sort of weird dig? I am not stigmatizing anyone. I actually try to lift the stigma.

By: Belinda Lee Davies

Belinda Lee Davies — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:24:26 +0000

BPD gets better as we learn to cope better with time.
My doctor says I have more or less recovered.

I do find it very unhelpful that people just lump any kind of disorderly behaviour or outbursts with BPD.

Any chronic alcoholic could have done any of those above things!

Has anyone ever thought about it?

But not every chronic alcoholic has BPD.

If exhibiting those behaviours automatically makes one Borderline, then we should just ban alcohol usage on weekends.

Yesh.

BPD is a serious problem. Stop stigmatising BPD patients further by making them out to be lunatics just because they have had outbursts and told you they are BPD. Give us a break. Am sure your mother has yelled at you too when you wet your bed at 21.

By: Christian Alexander Tietgen

Christian Alexander Tietgen — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:25:07 +0000

Great.

By: Rachael

Rachael — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:49:52 +0000

Seymour, I have to agree with Mersydo! The way you expressed those feelings…I thought I was the only one. Obviously not. Sometimes my husband can’t understand why I have so many “friends” but won’t go out. Those people don’t know me, all of me. He does and I have seen how he has supported me through the past 8 years. He has experienced my wrath and mood swings and I don’t know any friend that could handle that. But ask people who think they know me and I’m such a sweet, outgoing and caring person. Wow, if they saw the other stuff…

By: Mersydo

Mersydo — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:25:10 +0000

Seymour – excellently put. That’s exactly how it is for me. Lonely place – I’m essentially a chatty, gregarious person and I’ve had to keep the beast locked up. Don’t know who the natural me is anymore.

By: Janet From Another Planet

Janet From Another Planet — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 21:55:28 +0000

The extreme dysregulation of emotions can only be overcome with the development of insight over time along with learning how to be gentle with ones’ own self (i.e., self-mothering). Self-control must be the primary focus of the person with BPD in the beginning stages of healing. My therapist (for the last year, after 7+yrs with a string of psychiatric residents in a hospital-based program) told me that BPD is not necessarily a permanent state of being and is able to be healed. Many years with a best friend who served as a mother proxy who bestows consistent mother-love, unconditional positive regard, and objective evaluations of situations have also been instrumental in my healing. I still fight the feelings, but the rage has subsided as my insight has increased. I am so very lucky. Even though I write all this, I still think of myself as BPD in recovery and know very well that if I don’t keep mindful of it, I may return to a pattern of alienating people and losing friends. I am afraid to not think of myself as borderline, even though my therapist has said otherwise. I believe it wise to maintain this awareness.

By: Seymour Brighton

Seymour Brighton — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:17:57 +0000

I can regulate my behaviour FAIRLY well. But I minimize the risks of my social death by shutting myself away a lot of the time. Like one of those crazy hairy guys who pees in soda bottles because he can’t bear to leave his room.

And due to me being as controlled and restrained physically in public as I am, my inner world is a bloody nightmare. Also I have no friends. (I have “friends” but I don’t feel any rapport with them). Not sure why I felt like sharing.

BPD is the kinda thing where if you push in one side of it, another side pops out somewhere else.

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:02:43 +0000

Behavior and emotional dysregulation are two separate things. I agree that anyone (borderlines included) has to be responsible and face the consequences of his/her behavior. The emotional dysregulation comes into play as to the “why” of the behavior. If the motivation can be quelled and removed, the behavior will also subside.

By: Lisa Sorensen

Lisa Sorensen — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:21:45 +0000

Hi @Katherine,
Borderline to borderline. Stop feeding your borderline and quit writing on pages. It just feeds your rage.
Love, not hate.
Choose it.
Lisa

By: Katherine

Katherine — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:51:53 +0000

You guys are completely full of it. I also have BDP. If you can seriously take such vague behavior and act like you-with your little remote controllers,your youtube drooling faces and fat, greasy, stubby tabloid flipping fingers-can make one accurate judgement about flat screen people you’re not only emotionally held back, you’re mentally behind anyone worth anything. If you do not know them, if they aren’t sitting in your chair, if you’re not opening up their psychiatric file, then that’s a ridiculous statement to make. Celebrities are portrayed to have pretty out of the norm lives, with pretty out of the norm access to pretty out of the norm things. Looks like you’re using some of your highly skilled projection techniques today. <3, love you guys. Its all in good fun, you know what I really want is to rip my brain out and beat it til death like all the rest of you. This pacifies that.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:54:47 +0000

I have been diagnosed with Borderline Emotionally unstable personality disorder.. I’ve learnt to see it as a gift and a curse, When im in a bad frame of my mind my whole world comes crashing in, A pain in my heart that feels like it’s been crushed, I can honestly say that unless you have it you really can’t understand how hard it can be, If life is bad then every day is a war ground in your mind. Dreaming about death all day and cutting yourself off from reality, I can turn all body senses off and drift into a state where it feels like I dont have a body and I am just a process of thoughts, I use my mind to entertain myself and go on adventures to escape reality. Thankfully I have learnt to control myself a bit more now, I have created safety nets in my mind that automatically kick in when I’m going down them deep dark lanes.

There are alot of bad sides to having this disorder but as I have learnt there is always good where there is bad, In relationships I have never cheated, I don’t lie to my partners, I treat them with so much love and respect, Because in truth Love is my cure, When I am with someone that truly loves and cares for me my problems all subside. The other positives is my creative imagination, I’ve learnt to control it and use it in a positive way, I write lyrics and they are the only thing that keeps me going, They are priceless to me. Every bad experience in life now is turned into content for my writing, So when I hit the wall I just think I will make it through this at some point and everything will be alright, I focus on the things that I want to do in the future of my life and what I know will make me happy. It’s not all bad, When I joined the British Infantry (Probably weren’t the best idea) My commanding officers told me I have a very high intelligence, As did the doctors.. They told me that in ten years time I would be a made man. Every job I have done in my life, Even if it was for only a few months, I have done amazing in. I seem to be able to put so much dedication into anything I want to do or become.

Here is a poem I wrote that I read often to remind myself that I can make it through the hard times.

I’m here to set your mind free
Release you through the bars
Eyes captured by the stars
Make peace with your own mind
Lose those imperfections
Think positive in the right directions
Sink those conflicting desires
Before your life expires
Don’t become your own worst enemy
Don’t pretend who you are
Learn from me

Listen to others and their trust will follow
You can swallow, Walk away eat your pride
Imagine the situation if you lied
And then that special person died
Love and generosity is my policy
Learn from me
Greed only breeds pain
In the end you feel the same
You bleed and scream, Cry their name
Give into the love you search
And you will find the love inside
Stay on that line become dignified
Anyone can become evil
It’s how you cope with situations
Being stubborn and decietful
Where’s your Integrity
Show some Willingness
You can take your time, Use your mind
Slowly Lose them habits
Let your mind follow

By: Kathy Ewing › Diagnosing at a Distance

Kathy Ewing › Diagnosing at a Distance — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:01:56 +0000

[...] commonly assert that Princess Diana, Joan Crawford, and Marilyn Monroe were BPD sufferers. Blogger Bon Dobbs speculates as well about Courtney Love, Amy Winehouse, and Britney Spears, among [...]

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:47:34 +0000

Wilma,

It is completely natural to focus on your own anxiety, fear, sadness and depression when you’re dealing with someone who is suffering, especially if that someone is one for whom you care deeply. I think your son probably has some social anxiety and shame himself – the feeling of feeling broken inside. I have often seen this described as feeling “dead inside”. At this point you can do what you can do from this point forward. You can also try to repair the painful reactions that you, at the time didn’t understand were so painful to him. You can (honestly) tell him “I was unaware of how my words and actions might have hurt you…” and let him know that you can strive to make things more accepting and less painful for all. Grieving for what might have been is helpful, yet once it is done, it is time to move forward. I suggest you read my book (your situation is basically why I wrote it) and/or get some training in DBT-FST or another set of skills that can help you move forward with your son. Being ashamed of doing what comes naturally gets you nowhere except into learned helplessness. I am here to absolve you of past transgressions and to encourage you to face/do the heavy lifting required to encourage your son’s recovery. You can do hard things!

Bon

By: Wilma

Wilma — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:31:35 +0000

I just started searching on BPD because my 19 year old son was just diagnsed yesterday. I feel so guilty because he told me a few years ago that he thought he may have ADHD. I did take him to a psychologist a couple of times, but he did not want to go back. I am prone to panic attacks, and know that feeling all too well. I now grieve for my son after reading some of the articles and the symptoms which go along with this disorder. I feel helpless to help him, and ashamed that I have focused on my anxiety and depression while he was suffering from worse, and I thought it was normal adolescent hormonal behavior. I now know why he could not hold a job for longer than three weeks, and has now dropped out of school, which I thought he enjoyed. He spends so much time alone on the computer, and every girl he wants to meet, is on the internet. I could never understand why he did not date someone he could actually see and take out to dinner and a movie. I feel so ashamed that I could not see my only child suffering. Someone please help me to understand how to cope and help him to forgive me. It broke my heart when he told me yesterday “See Mom, I told you something was wrong.” Any comments or thoughts will be appreciated.

By: shiloh

shiloh — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:02:26 +0000

All this is interesting in regards to who is BPD and who isn’t, but in regards to children, I personally do not feel it is fair to label a child with ANY personality disorder. Developmentally still forming and their environment variables all are critical and in transition.

Also as someone who was rather severely sexually abused, I had PTSD which can ‘cover’ or mimic other disorders. I think one must be extremely cautious in online diagnosis. It doesn’t serve the person at home sitting with out of control feelings and despair. It just paints an incomplete, sweeping picture which may or may not be true.

Sexual abuse does not equate BPD, although they can be co-existing issues. But probably it goes w/out saying that someone sexually abused will most always have some amount of PTSD. So I would say anyone who has been sexually abused rather than doing an armchair diagnosis should first see a professional in that field before jumping to conclusions.

This being said, this seems to be a great sight and helpful as well. Thanks from one who has a BPD mother and sociopathic father.

FWIW: I think Mike Tyson and OJ. in addition to steroid abuse, may well be sociopaths first and foremost. Now that is my sweeping, incomplete armchair diagnosis. LOL

By: Celebrities With Borderline Personality Disorder « VOLTE_face Magazine Online

Sat, 29 May 2010 15:57:30 +0000

[...] CONTINUE READING ONLINE -> [...]

By: getwitdaprogram

getwitdaprogram — Sun, 16 May 2010 05:36:01 +0000

I have suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder for three decades now. While some of the symptoms are “mellowing” due to age, (I am 46), I still feel all of the symptoms to some degree; I have just lost a lot of the “Drama Queen” aspect. Burnt out from it all, I am!! The identity confusion, emotional dysregulation, chronic loneliness, fear of abandonment, and severe emotional sensitivity are still present. I have been in therapy for 23 years, (many therapists, some HARMFUL), and here I am still struggling to feel like a PERSON. Very, very sad to have to deal with that throughout my life. I often wonder, other than with death, will this ever be over? Can I ever have hope and peace? This illness has always, always felt like a long, lingering death or dying process. A totally soul murdering disorder. (Which has it’s origins in one’s soul having been destroyed in the first place at a VERY early age.)

Just a quick note: I have read extensively on BPD. Britney does not have it; she is Bi-Polar. Lyndsay has it, no doubt. Marilyn, ditto. Barbara Hutton is a classic example of the disorder. Really, I could go on and on with the list of famous people that I know have this disorder. I read about them, hear their words, see their actions and I see myself at various times in my life. Bingo!

By: Jan Smisek

Jan Smisek — Mon, 10 May 2010 08:28:38 +0000

I am a clinical psychologist in Czech Republic working with adictions. I have googled “Amy Winehouse” and “borderline” because I wanted to know if any body else thinks the same thing I do. Yes, I gues, she is borderline.
I like her voice and wish her grow.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:46:24 +0000

I have a cousin with borderline. Unless you spend a great deal of time with a person you cannot diagnose borderline; just because a person gets angry often, cuts herself, has an eating disorder, etc. does not make him or her borderline. It was nine months before I learned my cousin has the disorder. She holds full-time employment beautifully and is loved by many. But her disappearing for days and hours at a time are what make people call her “eccentric.” What they (and I) didn’t realize is that she has to get away because being around her for longer periods of time opens her up to others learning of the awful disorder that plagues her. Borderline is like no other illness; the rest (bipolar, etc) are CAKE WALKS compared to borderline. If someone you love has it, you KNOW IT! And you’ve probably been at least verbally attacked by that person and then immediately idolized. It’s a NASTY disorder that leaves trails of victims!

By: Borderline Personality « Psychiatry in the Mainstream

Borderline Personality « Psychiatry in the Mainstream — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:04:05 +0000

[...] Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Uma Thurman in My Super Ex-Girlfriend to name a few. Even celebrities themselves have been associated with the disorder- Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Lyndsey Lohan, Amy [...]

By: olenea77

olenea77 — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:36:24 +0000

Some people said Tyson should be on the list, but I think Tyson is more of Narcisstic dissorder

By: Calen Curtis

Calen Curtis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:47:04 +0000

New topic of discussion…. What of disorders among historical celebs? Hasn’t Shakesphere sexuality been questioned? Or what of Edgar Alan Poe’s writing, very dark and delusional maybe? Hell, look at Van Gogh…. Creativity, Genius these descriptives are often related to the crazy celebs no matter the generation… I honestly think that the media plays a major part in our view of these “BPD Celebs” if the media would have been as persistent, as aggressive as they are now to the historical figures we may not have had the art and literature we have today… If Miltons Paradise Lost would have been written in 2009 it wouldn’t have been considered the last great epic, hell it may not have even NYT best seller list because our global society as a whole is to lazy and ignorant to read something like that…. Anyway i’m a 23 year old kid from mississippi who doesnt know a damn thing about anything but growing pine tree farms, lazt right?

By: Celebrities With Borderline Personality Disorder « ilovespliit DOT com (coming soon!) = Mental Health + Activism + Personal Growth

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:36:42 +0000

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By: mark

mark — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:31:00 +0000

bon bon,

should i reallly buy your book?

anyways, I’m curious what it is about BPD that usually makes us such under achievers. I mean the lists of historical figures and celebrated geniuses with bipolar is about 20 ft long. Is it the confusion with long term goals? I have, I guess like everyone else, the desire to be extraordinary. But I sabatoge myself at every corner. I get great oppertunities and then mess them up. Is this common?

thanks

markus

By: paul

paul — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:55:34 +0000

Tyson for sure. I have borderline traits now(would have been BPD at a younger age) and Tyson is for me classic. I recognise so much of myself in him and him in me it is bizarre. Others have thought i was bipolar too but only becasue that is better known.

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:38:44 +0000

Thanks for the advice and for buying my book. I do get a lot of traffic from the celebrity discussion. I am always hopeful that I can help at least one person through that avenue – actually I have helped one that I know of. Perhaps it is best to not post the celeb stuff, but if it helps one person – cool. I posted some stuff on Megan Fox based on her own words. I don’t do much of the celebrity posting. Most of what I do is more support-oriented (at least I hope so).

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and for the comment. I think you’ll enjoy the book. I wonder how it will compare to the 3 others you bought?

By: A borderline ;-)

A borderline ;-) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:25:18 +0000

Bon,
I did not realize this was your site until I thoroughly read through the postings.
I actually bought your book today from Amazon, before I even knew you had a site (I stumbled across your site looking for more info on BPD on Internet, until my books from Amazon arrive I am looking for more info on the web ).
I am trying to say that posting about celebrity borderlines is not necessarity to generate traffic to your site, because if someone is really interested in the issue, they are likely to do the reserach, go to Amazon and see you book, and your book has pretty good reviews. There about 20 – 25 books on Amazon on the topic; I bought four, and your is one of them And if someone is not intersted, it’s unlikely they are ever going to type “borderline” in the text field of google…
It is certainly very pleasant to realize that there are many people affected by the disorder, including those people we sometimes look at with admiration. But Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana are probably more solid examples to stick to, IMHO
P.S. I hope your book will be helpful!

By: A borderline ;-)

A borderline ;-) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:12:35 +0000

Any of the famous people listed on this page may very well have the borderline personality disorder.

However, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition, better known as the DSM-IV, the manual published by the American Psychiatric Association, lists nine criteria, and five of those nine must be present for someone to be diagnosed with the BPD. In addition, there are three more characteristics that are very distinct for the BPD and differentiate it from all other psychological diagnoses.

The people on the list above exhibit symptoms that may be indicative of a whole range of psichiatric/psychological problems; we would not know, because to account for all the five symptoms and specifically for the ones that clearly distinguish BPD from other disorders, one would actually need to hear from those people first hand if they have these kinds of feelings and sufferings; those symptoms are not define from behavior, they are defined from how the person feels inside.
Among those distinguishing BPD from other disorders are a sharp, almost unbearable fear of real or imagined abandonment, extereme emotional sensitivity (One researcher (Marsha Linehan) said, “People with BPD are like people with third degree burns over 90% of their bodies. Lacking emotional skin, they feel agony at the slightest touch or movement.”). There is a whole range of other symptoms that can only be revealed if a person themselves admits that they have them.

While it is soothing to think that I am not the only cookoo out there, the people listed above as suspects of BPD may actually be ill with something completely different

By: breakthehabit

breakthehabit — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:37:13 +0000

Eminem should be on this list.

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:13:59 +0000

Thanks for the plug! And BTW, Tom Cruise is creepy.

By: Not fed up at all

Not fed up at all — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:58:56 +0000

To anyone, who hasn’t read Bon Dobb’s book, I HIGHLY recommend this book, i have just read the first 50 pages and it is one of the best reads on BPD/mental illness that, I have ever read. For the first time, the person with BPD is looked upon as someone with a major form of mental illness not, a personality disorder. The people I know, with BPD have very similar symptoms, to me and I have Bipolar disorder. His book goes beyond the diagnosis and gets one to see that, BPD is just that, a “diagnosis” not an identity…I would recommend this book to “anyone” all mental illness is relative, therefore, anyone could benefit from this very informative book. I like the introduction stating that the book will help you deal with people who, demonstrate Borderline traits but, don’t necessarily meet the full criteria of BPD…I also strongly encourage everyone, to visit this site in its entirety and not to just view the Hollywood, aspect of it…

On the lighter side. I think all of Hollywood is utterly “insane”
I mean how about Tom Cruise???…Geeeezus that guy!..what a CREEP!…lol..

By: Bon Dobbs

Bon Dobbs — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:35:17 +0000

No problem. I deleted your angry comments and some of my responses. “Bon chance!” – haha. I’d love to sell millions too – lol. I have sold hundreds and have gotten some very positive responses. It’s nice to help someone now and then.

Stay in touch!