Sometimes I Act Crazy
Living with Borderline Personality Disorder
Chapter One
Borderline Basics
There is in every one of us, even those who seem to be most
moderate, a type of desire that is terrible, wild, and lawless.
-Plato, The Republic
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), the most common personality
disorder seen in clinical settings, is excruciatingly painful to live
with-both for the sufferer and those closest to him. Yet despite the prevalence
of BPD, it may be the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed
mental illness. This chapter provides a broad discussion of the disorder-from
biological, genetic, and environmental causes, to the most current
DSM diagnostic criteria, to the various forms of psychotherapeutic and
medical treatments. The obstacles to properly diagnosing BPD, such as its
stigma within the mental health profession and the vagaries of insurance
coverage, also are examined. A "BPD Checklist" gives the reader a chance
to detect BPD's early warning signs in himself and others.
Diana
In many ways Diana was a typical girl: she loved to play with her dolls and
like her friends d ... read full excerpt from Sometimes I Act Crazy: Living with Borderline Personality Disorder ebook
