The following blog posts are written by people with personal experience of personality disorders. By talking openly, our bloggers hope to increase understanding around mental health, break down stereotypes and take the taboo out of something that – like physical health – affects us all.

Personality disorders

A personality disorder can affect how a person copes with day-to-day life and manages relationships, as well as how they feel and behave.

People can also receive a personality disorder diagnosis alongside other mental health problems, e.g. anxiety and depression. Personality disorders can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist – not by a GP.

Personal stories about personality disorders

We have 102 stories on personality disorders

The biggest myth about people with BPD is that we are manipulative.

BPD can be very misunderstood

Natasha

2 months ago

I felt demonised for what I was going through, completely misunderstood and not trusted.

Unhelpful attitudes made me feel isolated

Jess

4 months ago

If there’s one thing that having BPD has taught me, it’s that having a mental illness does not stop you from living a fulfilling life.

BPD doesn't stop me from leading a fulfilling life

Sailee

5 months ago

"When struggling to explain myself to others, I was told that this was all a made up thing in my head and that I shouldn’t be trusted."

I worry how people will view me once they know I have EUPD

Jasmin

5 months ago

Having people to vent to, who will let you try to articulate your feelings, just for the benefit of talking it out, is so important.

Having people I can talk to about BPD is so important

Ally

6 months ago

I have a great career - recently I’ve been working as head of PR at a law firm and managing crisis publicity for a well-known celebrity.

See the Bigger Picture - Billie's Story

Billie

8 months ago

“BPD is not about being a ‘psychopath’ or a ‘crazy’ person. In my experience, it’s more about mood swings, poor control over emotions, and irrationality.”

Understanding BPD can end the fear and stigma around it

Punda

10 months ago

By not discussing BPD in the media, it erases people’s experiences and increases the isolation.

BPD belongs in everyday conversation

Laura

11 months ago

The words that describe what we live with do not define us. We are more than just a diagnosis.

I am so much more than my BPD diagnosis

Rachel

1 year ago

"The sooner the stigma is gone, the sooner people suffering will get the help they need."

I am not my mental health condition - I'm a person living with it

Chloe

1 year ago

It’s really tough to see people with your diagnosis described as manipulative, to see it suggested that we create chaos and crisis for those who love us.

I'm still shocked by the stigma that comes with my BPD diagnosis

Niamh

1 year ago

“A friend stopped talking to me, seeing me as someone damaged and dangerous.”

I have a mental illness, but don't judge me by a stereotype

Aida

1 year ago

My best friend makes life with BPD more manageable

Natalie

1 year ago

"My BPD doesn’t define me, it’s just a little segment that is part of me."

It's not an "excuse" - BPD is a challenge I face everyday

Vicky

1 year ago

I was too embarrassed tell anyone I had BPD. I was scared that I would be judged and abandoned by people.

BPD can be challenging and confusing

Clair

1 year ago

I decided to be more open with other people about my mental illness. It’s hard opening up to others, their reaction means everything!

Fear and shame stopped me from seeking help

Tara

1 year ago

Every single person on this planet is unique, and so is their experience with mental health

Some people are high-functioning, but that doesn’t invalidate their mental health

Dina

1 year ago

People with mental illness can feel like a burden. Encouraging, kind words can help them to relax and feel comfortable to talk. - Zoe

Conversations about mental health are reaching people and making a difference

Zoe

1 year ago

To support a colleague, listen & don't judge

Abi

1 year ago

I kept quiet about my BPD because I feared the reaction

Lorna

1 year ago

BPD is not ‘attention seeking’ but a crippling mental illness

adiaryfromnoone aka Jade

2 years ago

Picture of the blogger, Tracey

Even professionals stigmatise personality disorders

Tracey

2 years ago

Quotation from the blogger, Natasha

It feels like BPD is the black sheep of mental health

Natasha

2 years ago

Quotation from the blogger, Katherine

Employers found it difficult to see past my mental health problems

Katherine

2 years ago

Picture of blogger: Penny

People with mental illness are real people too

Penny

2 years ago

Picture of blogger: Louise

Friends didn't judge me for having BPD

Louise

2 years ago

People must make more of an effort to understand borderline personality disorder

3 years ago

I campaign to change mental health attitudes because no one should go through what I did

3 years ago

I was told my personality disorder would be judged by my colleagues

3 years ago

What are the right things to say when your partner has a mental illness?

7 mental health conversations from my relationship

3 years ago

The teachers in my corner made a huge difference

3 years ago

Eli blogs about her experiences with borderline personality disorder and the friends who supported her.

My mental health made me push people away, but the friends in my corner saved my life

3 years ago

Blogger Sophie

My husband helps my mental health problems with trust and kindness

3 years ago

Blogger Natalie Quote

Your attitude to mental illness can hurt people

3 years ago

Blogger Nicola

My university doesn't see that I'm not my BPD

3 years ago

I don't have a disordered personality, but a loving one

3 years ago

There are days when my OCD utterly cripples me. I am incredibly lucky to have the friends and family that I do. They are so supportive and encouraging of me.

When my OCD is bad, my friends and family are incredible

4 years ago

“Mental health problems are a difficult journey. Nobody should be discounted or stereotyped because of them."

Everyone should have support when going through a mental health problem

4 years ago

People make so many judgements about borderline personality disorder

4 years ago

My family didn't understand my personality disorder

4 years ago

Too many still don't believe mental illness is real

4 years ago

Dissociative identity disorder is still so poorly understood

4 years ago

I'm fully aware that I have a mental health problem. I can't change that – but you CAN change your attitude.

No one chooses mental illness, so stop judging

4 years ago

I've lost count of the myths I've heard around personality disorders

4 years ago

If young people understood mental health, they wouldn't discriminate

4 years ago

I couldn’t help thinking that if I had a physical condition this wouldn’t have been an issue. For the first time, I felt the full force of the stigma of mental health problems.

We must accommodate people with mental illness better

4 years ago

Borderline personality disorder still carries a huge stigma

4 years ago

Relationships are crucial in creating stigma - and ending it

4 years ago

I am not my borderline personality disorder

4 years ago

I have no time for stigma or discrimination against mental illness!

Claire

4 years ago

I have BPD: I'm ill, not a bad person

4 years ago

What having borderline personality disorder really means

4 years ago

How talking helped me manage my condition and feel accepted

Ali

4 years ago

How a small act of kindness ended my day on a positive

5 years ago

Speaking up is hard, but I want to give others hope

5 years ago

How stigma towards myself almost stopped me from achieving my dream

5 years ago

My name is Leanne and I have borderline personality disorder

5 years ago

Living with a personality disorder, one day at a time

5 years ago

I don't need my illness to be understood - just to be accepted

5 years ago

The only way to end stigma around Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder is to talk about it

5 years ago

Eating disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder shouldn’t still be controversial subjects

5 years ago

Let's start talking about mental health - Take 5 To Blog

5 years ago

Nobody should be ashamed to talk about mental health - Take 5 To Blog

5 years ago

Borderline Personality Disorder and other conditions have had a huge impact on my life - Take 5 To Blog

5 years ago

My hope for the future is that stigma around mental health will be eradicated - Take 5 To Blog

5 years ago

A few kind words can mean the world to someone with a mental illness - Take 5 To Blog

5 years ago

Take 5 To Blog - Support from Family

5 years ago

Take 5 To Blog - Support from Friends

5 years ago

It can be hard to open up about mental health issues but I am showing people that I am not afraid anymore

5 years ago

Mental health stigma means people often cope in silence

5 years ago

Talking on the page: Expressing my Borderline Personality Disorder in writing is improving my mental wellbeing

6 years ago

My loved ones are helping me to recover: coping with bipolar disorder and BPD

6 years ago

I'm still a human being with hopes and dreams, with the belief that it's all possible still

6 years ago

Bipolar Disorder and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder: I’m so glad I got help because I know I’m on the right track

6 years ago

It's time to change the stigma associated with mental health

6 years ago

Living with borderline personality disorder

6 years ago

Bipolar disorder: I couldn’t get through it without these friends and conversations

6 years ago

Living with borderline personality disorder: having my Wolfpack supporting me really helps

6 years ago

Being diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder

6 years ago

Borderline Personality Disorder: a conversation with a stranger drastically improved my mood

6 years ago

Talking about mental health with the Growing Voices project

6 years ago

The BPD diagnosis does not stop me being human

6 years ago

Who can I talk to about my mental health?

7 years ago

For years, I hid my struggles with borderline personality disorder and bulimia

7 years ago

Naomi Bentley talks about her experience of mental illness

7 years ago

If you love someone with a mental health problem, you can say a lot with a star wars lunchbox

7 years ago

"The doctor says I’m suffering with anxiety and depression"

7 years ago

Agoraphobia: "Well that’s ridiculous, just get a grip..."

7 years ago

I am not ashamed to say I have borderline personality disorder.

7 years ago

I hope that, in the future, I’ll be able to talk about my mental health openly with friends, family, colleagues and employers.

It takes so much effort to hide my mental health problems

7 years ago

Borderline Personality Disorder and relationships

7 years ago

Understanding borderline personality disorder: how I taught my teacher

7 years ago

Borderline personality disorder and institutionalised discrimination

8 years ago

Personality disorder: discrimination by diagnosis

8 years ago

The power of words: speaking about mental illness for good or for bad

8 years ago

You never stop needing your mum

8 years ago

Stigma turned inward

9 years ago

Crown prosecution service consultation

11 years ago

A Depressive is for Life

11 years ago

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before...No Actually Don't‚ Just Tell Someone Else Who Hasn't

11 years ago

My BDP diagnosis and my friends reaction

11 years ago

Coming out: Marion's story

12 years ago

How a small act of kindness ended my day on a positive

October 21, 2015

It's late evening and there is a restlessness that started earlier in my head but now occupies every atom in my body, I can't settle, sit with myself, I can't find any peace. I've retreated to my bedroom. I text the cave troll who lives in the next room AKA my 15 year old daughter.

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