BPD and Romantic Relationships: If You Really Loved Me

It is very telling how some of the comments disparaging this blog are undeniably textbook defensive responses from people suffering from BPD. Those comments engage in the straw man fallacy that stating fact regarding the symptoms and manifestations of the disorder are an attack on those with the disorder. No one here is accusing those with BPD of being "awful" or "monsters" or "evil," nor any other unfair label. Discussing the very real and often emotionally destructive side of BPD is not the same as vilifying those who have the disorder. My ex has BPD. She is the most amazing, brilliant woman I have ever known and she was the love of my life. However, when she would switch at the most seemingly benign triggers, it was like being tortured to death. I regret leaving her every single day, but I also know that if I had not left her, the physical and emotional effects of her behavior would have destroyed me.
Once again: stating the facts about the behavioral manifestations of BPD is not a personal attack on those suffering from the disorder. It is not fair or honest to make such accusations, even if they are components of a defense mechanism.

As someone that has BPD and Bipolar II, I am offended by this article. I don't mean to devalue your struggles but your story is generalising that all people with BPD and Bipolar II are not to be gotten in a relationship with.
Just so you know, there's varying degrees of both illnesses, for example, I can hold a job, hold my emotional state together whilst performing said job and behave like a normal member of the community. I won't lie, there are times when I drive my partner absolutely crazy and I am very thankful for the love that he has for me but I am constantly trying to better myself for a better quality of life. How dare you say "never get into a relationship with a BPD and Bipolar person". Maybe take a look at yourself first before making hurtful statements like that when you have no idea how a person feels inside. I can't believe you wouldn't even take someone's suicide attempt seriously. I'm absolutely speechless on that one.

Well, I have had quite a lot of experience with regard to borderline relationships, and what I get from this article, is that the writer should seek medical help, as I believe she is a BPD sufferer herself. Borderlines very rarely have injunctions against them, it is usually the other way around, and for usually no real reason at all. A borderline will typically never take any blame for anything, unless it's to get something else. A borderline will never agree to meds or to be even told they are borderline, unless again, it's to try to keep a relationship going or as part of a bigger plan.
How to avoid getting stuck in a BPD relationship:
Listen to those alarm bells, that's why we have them.
Listen to what the person says about her previous relationships, how many times the police have been involved especially.
Are they still able to keep it simple with ex's or are all of those ex's the worst people in the world.
A borderline can move on to the next relationship really easily and quickly, and will usually go for an easy target, someone that may have children or at least be family oriented, a kind and generous person. The will tend not to go for those types that have their lives in order and are living life to the full, this would be too much like hard work for them. This will be a short stop for a bit of fun, nothing more.
They want you to move in or to move in with you really quickly, and might even complain that they are scared to be alone.
These are just a few things to look out for, but the bottom line, listen to you gut.

Tell a person who self harms that if they slip up and use a coping mechanism you don't find healthy enough again, you'll stick them with an expensive hospital bill on top of all their other problems!

"It is important to establish some rules if you’re entering a relationship with someone with borderline personality disorder": Yes, but you will only need one simple rule, don't enter the relationship. Problem solved.

This is a very interesting post and the comments give a lot to think about. It's tough living with someone who's BPD.
I empathize with both sides, but I have to say that the pain of being on the receiving end of a BPD episode is incredibly painful. For those who say that shunning or leaving the BP is cruel, try our side if you can. Imagine that instead of insults and threats she has a baseball bat and takes one swing at your skull each time she wants to insult you. True, she can't control herself. True, he loves her. But it hurts like hell and doesn't stop. How much love does it take to repeatedly allow your head to be hit by the bat? And then to hear that its your fault? Man up. It shouldnt hurt. And for how long will you allow yourself to endure it? It hurts.

Did anyone here actually read this article before commenting on it? Seems most here are bashing this article as not being about BPD or giving the m a bad image however read the title. this article is about the authors dealings with an ex suffering from BPD. Its not an indictment of the problem but an interpretation. Further it was said that the author made these generalizing broad statements about all people with BPD are manipulative and stopped emotional growth in childhood. however, this isn't the case. the author clearly writes that these things CAN or MAY happen and to be prepared for that. This article is well written and laid out. It is not a research paper nor is it any type of diagnosis. It is an article explaining one side of a story and how it affected the author nothing more. And its a story that resonates with me as my experience in a relationship with a person who has BPD was very very similar. so although this article may not be the best written one from the author, in my opinion she knows what she is talking about.

I have BPD & I don't react this way so I think I'm right if I say this post is warped. BPD is an emotional disorder & the symptoms what she describes here feels like Borderline to me. There is always a reason that would trigger a BPD & in most cases the reason is caused by the other person & a couple unmet emotional needs. She is somehow to blame for how things turned out.
I can read pain & dissent from her words too & I hope she got over the breakup.

My wife clearly has BPD and the mental and emotional abuse is crippling and the silent treatment for other a month is absolute torture. She won't apologize because she's afraid I won't accept the apology so I have to go to her. If i try to discuss an issue that was never resolved she says "I don't want to fight, that was the past" even though it happened yesterday. She's always on FB flirting and doesn't even have her status of being married or pictures of us on her page. She blocks me when ever she gets mad and then later demands that I adder back as a friend. If a woman ever says anything nice to me like "you look great!" she accuses me of cheating. Every single time we have an argument she says she wants a divorce and that alone makes me feel not very loved. She's always texting other guys and I've seen some sexting going on and she says she was just kidding with them, but if I ever spoke to another female forget it, I'm a cheater and she wants a divorce and won't talk to me for weeks. She calls the police on me claiming domestic violence and I have to live in fear that I will be arrested and explain that she lying. Let me just say this and tell you what true Hell is like. In Hell it's all supposed to be bad so at least you know what to expect. but with people with BPD the true hell is their loving you and making you feel safe again, having the best sex and closeness and being your best friend and just feeling like the luckiest guy in the world and then one day out of the blue she flips out about something and tells you to get out, that she doesn't love you anymore, that she wants a divorce and she's going on a date with someone else. Takes away your property, keys, car, wallet and threatens to call the police if you don't leave now. And then you don't hear from her for weeks and I'm going nuts thinking I did something wrong and I have to make the first contact after a few weeks later and it takes a few days to go back and forth apologizing and trying to reason with her until she finally gives in and this all via text messaging because she refuses to talk on the phone or in person. I can't tell you how many times she's dumped me through text messaging and when she's all calm again she loves me more than anything and the cycle repeats itself. When I as her why she treats me this way she says it's because she loves me and that she hurt so she wants to hurt me. Now I've been diagnosed with PTSD because of this mental abuse. and the sad part is now we are fighting and it's been 3 weeks now and I miss her more than anything. The sad part is that would actually go back to her if I could just hold her again and b with her loving side even knowing the price I would have to pay later. Talk about how screwed up i am. She has me convinced that we are soulmates and to be honest we do have this unique connection and I've never felt this way about anyone. I need to run far away from all of this and get help or she's going to be the death of me.
One last thing. I'd rather my wife punch me in the face or stabbed me than to be mentally and emotionally abused like this. For those who have BPD you have no idea what this feels like to be on the receiving end so I'm sorry if this blog hurts your feelings because everything hurts your feelings. You have no idea what hurt feelings are until you've walked a day in my shoes.

I've been in a relationship with a woman now for over a year and a half and am realizing that she likely has BPD. She is the most wonderfully considerate person I have ever met, and I love her dearly. Yes, we have had our battles, I am no saint either, but being highly rational I have struggled intensly trying to understand the mood swings, abandonment fears, hurtful comments and sharp language. However, at the same time there is an understanding that we both want this relationship to succeed. We are both reading books, trying to communicate with each other and even named our moods, the monsters. We can joke, that the monsters were back, after a difficult fight. I do feel like my patience is wearing out faster than her ability to grow, but together we will survive focusing on true love. I am realizing that you can't change a BPD sufferer, you have to change your self and set an example for them follow. I am just not learning about the concepts of not engaging her anger but to deflect it, I am learning to set boundaries that I never could before to protect my right to be treated with respect. All of this is making me a better person while also showing her test by test that I will be by her side. When we are happy, the love is more special than you could ever imagine, and it's all worth it. I love my BPD GF and hopefully soon to be wife. What I am learning is not to take her to seriously, keep reminding her that we are both "normal" human beings and its ok to get angry or upset. But be mindful enough not to buy into our stories. We constantly bounce our crazy stories off each other and it really helps. In the end id say don't take BPD to seriously, stand by your partner but set firm boundaries to protect yourself and take care of yourself. So to all the girls out there looking for a true partner out there, just be honest with them about what you are feeling, and help them to grow as you do.

I totally agree with Alex. I have endured the chaotic relationship with a bpd. I let him move in and out for many years in the name of love. I always thought I could help him or make it better but I couldn't. I changed my entire life for him. He would be happy for a short time then return to his dependent non-connective self. He told me he would get help many times to get back in my life only to leave again at the drop of a hat. I will probably always love this man but never will I go back to the unstable life I was living. It is very painful to be in a relationship with a BPD.

So, I posted a note a couple of days ago and after a really ruff night of being judged, pocked and walking through a minefield of emotions, I wanted to say that dating a BPD is not for the faint of heat. At one point when she was downstairs I packed up a bunch of my belongings (we live together in her apartment). When she got back up I told her we had to talk, and I remembered to start with noticing her emotion. I said I am noticing a lot of tension in the room, do you want to talk about it, do you want me to just listen or give you some space. Her response was totally irrational and mean, but I was able to gleem (through prior peace notes and talks when she was calm) and listening to her that she needed me to just be with her through the storm. She was able to despite everything, sit next to me and compassionately, touch my arm. This is our signal that she is listening and really trying. The next morning we had a beautiful loving drive together to work and she sent a heart felt sorry and thank you for being there. My point is inch by inch we are finding tools to work with the BPD, knowing that we both really want each other. Know that when they are in a fit, nothing logical will come out of their mouths, try not to take it personally. However, with this said, you really have to know yourself and this is seriously not easy to put into practice.

You think that if you give them everything (like they were denied as children) then they will learn by example. That one day they will give to you like you have given to them . . . The trouble with this theory is that (too often) they are undeveloped (like an under 5 year old) and without healthy limits (and what I have found to sadly/difficultly) demand certain behavior (with a kind but firm hand) they will manipulate and try (like a child) to get away with murder! AND then blame YOU for it! ( Please understand that this is their coping mechanism . . . They are often unaware of this . . . The same as they are often unaware that they pick fights before you may go out without them or on a day that is important to you/shouldn't be about you . . . :( They don't know how to cope! They will do this subconsciously to return themselves to a 'comfortable'/familiar place . . . :/ Have pity and understanding for them and their feelings of sacredness/fear/being overwhelmed BUT learn (for their sake NOT to let it rule your life ot theirs . . . If you want to save your relationship you MUST sey healthy boundaries AND stick to them (however hard they might try to manipulate you into feeling bad for them and giving into their every whim [at your detriment

AND theirs! You love this person and do not want them to be in pain! You will do anything to 'fix' it for them! What you are however doing is reinforcing that they can do/want whatever they wish (even if they are constantly taking from you) . . . Thisis not healthy for you/them or your relationship :( YOU need to set boundaries SND stick to them! You need to teach them not only through example but through insistence of how/what is acceptable . . . This is hard (to put your foot down) when you know they are struggling and in pain however without this you will never get a 50/50, healthy relationship and unfortunately in the end it will fail and you will have to leave and they will suffer FAR more and you will have only reinforced their view that they are unlovable and everyone just leaves in the end . . . :(

All people can get help and rise above ANY challenges IF they want to AND COMMIT AND TRY! Somehow you have to find a way to encourage a BPD sufferer to do so. Only with them trying and you trying to understand will you be able to truly strive for a healthy relationship :) You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped . . . If they do then the sky is the limit :)

The original post is in NO way offensive nor putting down of people with BPD. In fact, the article is right on target. People suffering from BPD and any other type of emotional issues or mental health issues DO NEED BOUNDARIES. It is not OK to seek relationships when one is not in treatment and sadly, many people with disorders such as this REFUSE to recognize they have a problem or they lack the insight to understand what they are facing. This is unfair to everyone including the sufferer themselves. If this experience is this woman's experience, then how can anyone discount it? Instead, draw from it whether you are a non or a person with BPD. Take a self assessment of yourself, no matter what side you are on, and decide what it is you need to do to be healthy.

Jade's comments are super accurate. My relationship with my BP has been blossoming since I have slowly learned to set boundaries. However, I am also reading tons and learning like every other important thing in life you have to have game plan and pre-rehearse or at least map out your communication strategy with a BP well in advance. This helps you stay in control of your own emotions and not get hooked by their questions, or attacks or irrational behavior. What I have learned is that you can't change them, they have to change their selves. It's your role to set an example that they can follow if they so choose. This will only make you a better person, standing firm, with love. Look at them as if they were your young child, never give in but show them love and that you will never leave them and want to understand them.
When you do get triggered, which you will because you are human, try and say "I am starting to feel myself get triggered and it's making it difficult for me to really hear what you are saying, which I very much want to do. I need to take a 15 minute pause or we need to change the tone of this conversation". They will of course object and get angry. Stand your ground and go take a break. Repeat the process over and over, each time showing them love, and a willingness to try and understand them. Don't defend, attack, retreat, don't apologize for what is not fair, shift the conversation back to their feelings, and emphasize as much as possible. Don't try and rationalize with them. They won't hear you. Just show love, that you wont leave them, however, expect that you are spoken to fairly, not criticized or put down.
All this is super hard, especially if you get angry and want to defend yourself. Just know that will never help especially with my BP. They can't listen to you when their triggered, however, you have a right to be treated fairly, etc.
Like working with a small child getting through their terrible 3s, stand firm, show love and that they can trust you wont leave them. But you will not accept to be treated unfairly, etc.
I am learning that you have to really talk to them about boundaries when they are happy and not triggered. They will be most receptive at this time and will make the process of reinforcing boundaries easier when you have to.

I read some of these comments and am in tears.
I am in love with a man who behaves exactly like most of the ways described in many of these comments. I have been trying to help him---in his moments of clarity he states how much he wants to change for himself, his son, and for our relationship. But in his moments of rage he basically has a "F everything" mindset.
I can't be sure he has BPD, because he has never been diagnosed. At age 16 he was diagnosed with depression after a suicide attempt, that he has since admitted was more about manipulating his parents than an actual want to end his life at that time. All I know is I would do anything to make this work because I love him with all that I am.
I am sensitive, but level headed and strong. Loving, nurturing, and forgiving. A "rational" and cold side of me has said many times "what the heck are you doing staying in this?" But the side of me who has known him for five years now and has seen him at his best so many many times, and who knows how amazing we can be together is head over heels in love with him.
I'm looking for support. I'm not quitting on him. Please if there is a place I can specifically go for support in this---chat rooms, forums, anything, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you to those who commented about their long term love relationships with BPD individuals. I will fight and love through anything I have to for him. You give me hope.

Had a ruff couple of nights with my BP. However, while on the road read an amazing book on tape that gave me lots of skills to practice with my BP. They really worked to help me not get hooked and get her through. "You can turn conflict into closeness" by Emil Harker. I highly highly recommend it. Guy does go one and one a bit when he can be more direct but if you can get through the book it really helps. I practiced the material in my car, which I am finding really helps. If you have a game plan going into any, difficult situation, and have rehearsed it enables you to keep your cool, and protect yourself while providing your BP with the love and assurance they need to get through their emotional fire storm.

What a mean and insensitive blog. 'You're dealing with a sick person?' Many people successfully manage their BPD symptoms and pages like this are not helpful for the whole stigma surrounding mental illness, as if life wasn't difficult enough for sufferers!

This is spot on and just touches on the surface of the crazy!
8 years trying to work a relationship with a borderline.. I've seen and learned a lot. They're never satisfied and are not good people. They take pleasure in causing others to suffer, through control. There should be a website to warn others about what's under the mask before it's too late.

Mental illness is just that! Illness. Sickness. Disorder. And it's horrible! I'm married to a man with severe BPD. Incredibly, low signs of this during courtship. Bits and pieces now come together, if I really reviewed this time in our life. As soon as the vows were sealed I suffered a crack rib, black and blue, restraining and tearing my clothes off. All because I wanted to go to bed and he didn't. This is a true case of Jeykll and Hyde. On the other end, he is sweet sensitive remorseful and walks in shame. A person with BPD emotions are extreme!! My husband would become sad, crying, won't eat, threaten suicide, have panic attacks. I feel as though I'm in charge of his feelings? After a day of extreme 67 phone calls and non stop texts, threaten to kill my family and friends...all because I wanted to spend time with girlfriends, one is getting married....after the rage and threats, he seems to lower into a fetal position and it's up to me to snap him out of it?! I have Stories! If I discuss leaving him, he either becomes enraged or extreme sadness and cries.
This is not about love. I love the man he is when kind generous helpful loving etc. he can be the life of a party, funny, witty, makes me laugh... I love that part of him. But the other man I cannot deal with. He is all of the traits of BPD and misdiagnosed for years. ADHD, toxic anger, bipolar, depression, anxiety.. You name it he's been it. To leave a man you married with BPD....... Walking on eggshells right now and trying to keep the peace while I plan my escape. My life with him would be on the best sellers book shelf. Love-Hate, Jeykll &Hyde... The Ultimate Price.......

Laura, there is a book called "stop walking on egg shells" that is really helpful.
I am totally new at this, but gleaming that it's more about changing ourselves and setting an example of love, steadfastness balanced with firmness for protecting our needs and values, etc. I too will go to the ends of the earth for the one I love. But am learning that means telling them at times I need to take a 15- 20 min break from them so I can settle down.
My BP has become a absolute dream come true, and forcing me to be a better more resolute confident person. We are both stretching and growing, learning to trust each other. Very cool.

Your bf was right about medication, there is none for BPD.

I just wasted 9 years of my life with a BPD . I was so crushed when he left me this time, more so then all the other times. I had changed my life so much to fit his that I didn't know who I was any more. He was manipulative and hurtful when he was split I was the worse woman in the world. I gave him everything because I loved him. He would give me tiny pieces of affection that kept me in this relationship. I ended up in counseling this time which was a blessing. I have learned that all his exits had nothing to do with me. He is sick and I have to except that and never look back. He recycled me so many times I am ashamed to say the number. He tried to come back this time but I am stronger now with the the help of therapy. I will not go back to that life nor will I ever date another with any of these bpd signs. Yes it is a mental illness but I believe they are aware of what they are doing much of the time. I have no sympathy for him and I pray that some day the anger I feel for him will go away and be replaced with forgiveness. We planned a future together and when he walked I am now stuck with the debt of those plans. People feel sorry for him because he has to start over again. Nobody is feeling sorry for me while I clean up the mess he left behind. Yes it was a waste of my life to be with this man that I loved with all my heart and he could never love back. Wish I knew about BPD years ago. He returned to his bar stool and will never admit to his problem.

Unfortunately, individuals with BPD are usually unaware of what they are doing. Unless they have been to therapy, college, or to see a psychiatrist, they will view their behavior as 'normal'.. that is because it IS normal for them. What they do not understand is why others aren't as emotionally 'involved' as they are. These moments of outlash are sometimes a cry that means, "show me you love me and care just as deeply".. which their (splitting- viewing you as all good or all bad) behavior makes the exact opposite happen in relationships, making their symptoms worse. If you enter a relationship with someone with bpd, awareness needs to come FIRST! If it is something you cannot deal with, LEAVE. You will make the situation a lot worse for the sufferer as well as yourself. If you do not understand bdp, the relationship will be an emotional struggle and do extreme mental damage for both parties. Individuals with mental illness are hard to understand and deal with but they are certainly still human and deserving of love ;) -take care!

I feel I just wasted 3 years of my life. My bdp gf just broke off me again for the 6 time in 3 years. This time it was the worst. She doesn't want the commitment anymore. A year ago she asked to move in but I hesitated because I knew she was going to have family moving in for a few months (6) and I didn't want to start our coliving like that, to wait until they got establish and leave and then we can continue our plans. But no, she took it like I abandoned her and since we have been on/off for almost 6 months now. Mind you, 3 weeks ago everything was great. Also a situation happened that she was changing jobs and she asked me not to say anything. We work together and in a conversation with a coworker, her closest friend, I mentioned she was leaving, innocently, OMG, she erupted like a volcano. Mind you she had already formally resigned but it was the fact that I said it, and for her I betrayed her trust. Imagine 2 weeks later she cancelled the resignation and stayed. Crazy. The defensive mechanics of projection was so true. She disappeared, the silence was driving crazy but when I contacted her, she blamed me as the one insecure, anxious, desperate person. She had moments of rage, highly no trust, her insecurities are unreal, she always thought I was lying or that there was a alternate motive, always negative, behind an action either from me or others was something to harm her. She always just to tell me that I love pain because she couldn't belief that I put up with her. She goes from silent to rage. Loving and hate. Like a switch on the wall. One day she is hugging her son the next day she is smacking him for something. I truly love this woman, and I have endure and stay to try to help and hoping that with my love for her would make a difference but it seemed the more I tried to more she shot me down. Going on a month with seeing her. My heart is broken but like many have said, can't help someone that doesn't want to get help. We had a future planned, wedding date etc but all out the window. Very disappointed.

I went out with my wife for 8 months and it was the best time of my life. In that time I received more affection and love than I received in a long time. I knew that she had BPD but it didn't matter because I felt we were meant for each other. After we married the marriage totally went down hill. The affection is now almost non existent. We don't even sit together anymore to watch a show on TV. She told me that her parents have been married for 50 years and that is what married couples do. That what you see on TV isn't reality.
What I tend to struggle with is she never joined her finances with mine. She has credit cards 'in her name only' that I don't know about and don't know what she spends her money on. She only gets a disability check and works a part time job but I feel that couples pool there money together even if its 5 cents.
Now she doesn't even do my laundry. I work a full time job plus a part time job to handle all of the expenses. Her check goes towards her credit card bills and her car payment. What I could write could turn into a book.
I truly don't want to end my marriage but somedays I feel like I may not have a choice. I have two kids that live with me from my first marriage and she's having an effect on them as well. Nothing is good enough. She calls them slobs and they are to some extent but they are teenagers. There is no such thing about "picking your battles" with them. Somedays I feel like I am doing them a disservice by staying in this relationship. I was married for 22 years in my first and would hate to see another fail.

I have bpd and bipolar disorder and I don't think I'm a bad person if anything I use my emotions way to much and love way to hard and I try not to but it just happens. I'm in counseling and on medication I just found out today I didn't know what was wrong with me this whole time it feels good to know but it's also sad because I just wanna be normal and have a normal relationship.but I don't think I'm not a good person Kimberly I think you need to look in the mirror because no one is perfect.

I really wish you people would stop saying things like with a bpd!! We are people and we do have feelings!! Here's a bpd episode for u guys to gossip about my bpd self wants to punch all of u in the face!! Your not doctors and your not perfect!! Stop giving advice just because u know or been with a person!! That has bpd!! You know nothing about what goes on in are heads or what we go threw and I'm not sick I'm different and I will learn how to deal and live A healthy life with bpd because once again... Iam a human ND I do have feelings!!

Its this kind of support and attitude that hinders recovery.
We don't choose to feel this way.
Nor would anyone choose to if we had the choice.
With people like this, I have no faith left in humanity.

Just broke it off with a BPD, so sweet and loving and then totally crazy mean, raging out of control out of no where, expecting others to be strong and they are so week they can't even make the effort to get help. They can control their emotions until they have you and then you will pay dearly with your money, emotions, and body. If they say they can't control it then they are just being the biggest liars that are true to their sick brains. I'm holding but the more I read and hear the more it's time to send him to prison since I have the means to do so, everyone will be much better off.

Brandy sounds just like all the BPDs, always whining and complaining and blaming everyone else., tooooo sad

Ajah, Brandu, you are right that it isn't fair being gossiped about and disparaged. But people who have to put up with rages and bad treatment, whether it's from bpd or not, end up being filled with anger and resentment too. It's like you said, we're only human. We have emotions and we get angry and hurt and exhausted. We complain to others who sympathize and offer support. It's what humans do.
I'm married to a man with bpd and he is the meaning of life for me. I can't imagine life without him, even though he becomes extremely cruel and abusive in his rage. I know he can't control his anger and he feels guilty later. I am trying my best to help him learn to trust me and learn to calm down. Now that I'm studying bpd, I understand him more and it's made me realize he does love me and isn't using me. But he does need to stop raging and act like an adult and stop being afraid to apologize. Blaming and refusing to apologize are his downfalls, everything else about him I absolutely love to death. I know he is my soulmate and I plan to make this work forever.
BPDs out there, As much as it might hurt your feelings to read it, you really will end up scaring people who love you away, if you can't learn to apologize. If you know you hurt someone you need to apologize, even if what happened is not your fault and the other person started the fight. This is how neurotypical relationships stay alive. Apologies don't mean you're wrong or weak, they mean you acknowledge that someone is hurting, that you recognize their pain exists. That means a lot to people. That makes people feel better and making someone feel better strengthens bonds between people.

Nice comment Lady!! it's hard to rise above the whole thing and take the time to understand when it means we have to be strong and suck it up while they can be weak and break. I would love to hang in there but just imagining what I would have to deal with on a daily basis when they do not understand that they need help is to much for me to handle. I have to hang my head and walk away, never seen anything like it before in my life. I know it's real, I know it like I know my name but it's to much drama, to much anger and most of all it comes out of no where, one minute everything is great and within the next 10 minutes you go through a fear that leaves you traumatized and wondering if your in the twilight zone for weeks. The one question that continually goes through my brain is "why would anyone put themselves in through this?" No matter how much you love them and they love you, how could you deal with so much conflict?

For six years now I've been in a relationship with a man who I strongly suspect has bpd. When things are good with him, they are really great, but when it's bad, it's really bad. No physical abuse, just verbal, and the terrible moodiness, suicide threats, and occasionally during really heated arguments, banging his head against a wall. The suicide threats terrify me. He struggles with keeping jobs, and is on meds for depression and anxiety. I've been helping him financially much as I can, but now I'm to the point where I'm starting to resent him. I tried so hard to help him, thinking if only I loved and supported him enough, that he would get better. That he would be happy. But it never lasts. I'm tired, but I feel guilty for wanting to leave. Amy advice?

When I broke up with my ex in February of this year, I knew something was seriously amiss. He acted so loving at first (and romantic, thoughtful) but then began to change. I would consider myself an insightful, intelligent guy but honestly, I could have handled it better. I was ill-prepared for what was to come. He broke up with me and, whenever we got back together, I had some 'abandonment' issues of my own I had to face. But as his emotional outbursts began to take front and center, I was totally ill-equipped to handle them. He had moments where he would get stressed about something and just ignore me (and everyone else) for awhile. If I brought up problems in the relationship, he would lash out at me and never address them and it felt as if he were punishing me by giving me the cold shoulder for awhile. He began telling me he wanted the old me back who was so confident, but I felt as if I was walking on eggshells throughout the last few months of the relationship that that was impossible. I became co-dependent, electing to sacrifice my own happiness for his own. I knew in my head that this was not ideal but felt it was a temporary thing I had to do in order for him to grow out of some problems. That never happened. His angry outbursts intensified (and over what most people would call very trivial things). He would deflect any sort of perceived criticisms onto me. He would always be acutely aware of all of the nice things I do for him but it was a bottomless pit. I need a good bit of contact (texts, phone calls, face time) in a relationship and told him what he was doing was not enough. He balked at that and would not change. To the contrary, it always felt as if he was either strongly connected to me or completely pushing me to the side. One day he completely ignored me (after I texted him, and after multiple days of acting distant) and it was my breaking point. I wanted to think about it overnight so I told him I wasn't in the mood to talk. He obsessively wanted to know what my problem was (suddenly I had his full attention) so I gave him a general explanation. The next night I tried to call him and he cancelled the call and texted 'Not in the mood to talk; goodnight'. Obviously this was done out of spite so I told him it was important. I told him on the phone I wasn't happy so he went off on a tirade saying how stressed he has been and that I should just break up with him (said that very angrily). So I did that. I was wanting him to empathize with me for once and talk through our communication problem but he failed again so I was done. It always felt as if he had zero empathy, but I believe his acute emotional feelings prevented him from being able to empathize. We've been on and off again the past few months with unsuccessful results and it feels as if he's only getting worse. The emotional outbursts are intensifying. The last we spoke I referred him to some BPD resources but I doubt that was well received. I'm pretty sure we love each other alot but the relationship was too toxic so I had to move on. The addicted feeling I got from our initial connection (and periodic reconnection throughout the relationship) still makes it difficult for me to move on but I am getting there. My biggest lesson from this was to make sure I 'hold the line' and not let someone be a bottomless pit. He turned into that for me and there was a severe imbalance in the relationship, even though he would state the opposite. I would say I have a healthy ego and a great deal of confidence, but I'm what is traditionally known as a hopeless romantic. So I become vulnerable to someone with BPD symptoms. I'm working on fixing that.

I can not believe what I'm reading here.. People suffering from BPD being called bad people? Maybe you should actually read about BPD before posting your ridicilous comments.
My girlfriend of five years just got diagnosed with BPD, and let me tell you, she is the most wonderful, caring and loving person in the world. Yes, it can be bloody hard sometimes with her constant mood-swings. But, after the diagnosis and all the info I've read, I know that she simply can not control her mood. It's not like she can just "snap out of it" like the average person can. Please, see beyond the disorder. People with BPD DO NOT WANT TO act in that way. And Cynthia, they do not lie when they say they can't control it. Please, educate yourself.

So yeah, my fiancé has bpd and it's a Rollar coaster. I love her so freaking much but her insecurities are endless at times. She just flipped out on me last night for something lame. We both are divorced and I'm a highly loyal man. I have 2 kids, 8 and 5 and she has one boy age 8. My daughter suffers from severe anxiety that doesn't allow her to talk outside of home and only to certain people. She choose to speak to Oksana on the day she met her. My fiance is amazing and loving but she has these issues. I got us into therapy and try to get us into the right direction. She said she woukd take he dbt classes recommended by our therapist but no she hasn't yet. The Walking On Eggshells book is helpful to anyone reading this. I hate to label these problems as anything but it's like getting so sad to watch now. I feel like im watching her fall off a cliff at times and my hand is out and she just chooses not to grab it. I call them demons in her head. And I know they are. I'm a good guy, good dad but she is affecting my daughter now. My daughter loved her and Oksana with her drinking also which is a problem at times just keeps creating these crappy moments. My daughter pretty much went from loving her to now pretty much hating her. I see thr line from many here saying "I could write a book" and I hear yuh with that statement. Some of the crap Oksana has pulled is down right horriable. I have giving her ultimatums recently as we live together and I can't see this shit anymore. I keep feeling like I'm trying to be so supportive and loving and no I'm not perfect at all but I wake up everyday making an effort to trying to be. I think that's the best thing we as humans can do for ourselves....to just try and be the best we can be. I was struggling more about 5 weeks ago with handling this. But like I said now I feel more like I'm just watching her fall into a hole she dug herself and I just see it as sad. She knows she has these issues but she's not really serious about trying to fight them off. Somedays I think about the future and I see a great one with her but I also don't know. I feel like im in limbo a bit right now. You can't put dog poop under a rug and think its out of the way, out of mind. I feel bad and sorry for her as I know her mind suffers badly but it's like snap out of it I want to say. I don't fight with her anymore. I try not to at least. She doesn't make it easy. It's the black and white thay grabs her brain thay I hate of it. Anyway, thanks for listening. Good luck to everyone.

I read this article because I am trying to cope and understand. After reading this article, I think my bf shows many signs of this illness. He lies about the simplest things, spends unnecessary amounts of money, calls and text me all day and gets nervous when I don't answer. He gets nervous from things the average person wouldn't care about, gets paranoid easily, he even got so upset that he bodyslammed me because I fell asleep on the sofa instead of in bed next to him. My back still aches months later. He also throws things when he's upset, tell me I don't care about him when I show other people attention, and has threatened suicide if I leave. His actions have had a negative impact on my emotions. He is the most charming and caring man ever but when no warning something I say or do could be a trigger for him to have a raging moment. I feel like I'm in a abusive relationship with a man that is suicidal and possibly homicidal. I don't know how to get out before he harms me further. I'm not the sunshine I used to be. I'm now withdrawn due to shame and embarrassment of my situation. I don't know how to tell my friends and family that I'm going through this.

I can see both sides of the story. It must be extremely difficult, if not nigh on impossible, to be in a relationship with someone who constantly pushes you away and is abusive etc. People with BPD do have to take responsibility too. However, I am concerned in general about the way people with personality disorders are portrayed, in such a negative light. As someone who possibly has BPD I can tell you that emotions can be so overwhelming that they literally take over you like a tidal wave. People don't choose to have emotions so intense that they don't know what to do with them. So let's stop demonising people in that position, who are essentially suffering and struggling. Also, portraying people in a negative light reinforces the problem. There is a way to phrase the difficulties posed by having a personality disorder, and its impact on others, without condemning people or making matters worse. Calling them ‘sick people’, for example, is not particularly helpful.