POLL: The Mystery of Borderline Personality Disorder - John Cloud (Time Magazine)

[Major_Dad]

Calming effect of sex seems temporary, I've noticed the next day my uBPDw has an even greater rage propensity.

My T told me this has something to do with prolactin levels, but forget the exact explanation.

Oh so true!

I think that the reason is more related to the "closeness" that it engenders with the BPD. Which naturally triggers fear of abandonment and associated need to rage and alienate the partner that tried so hard to satisfy.  ?

[Major_Dad]

It seems like there was relevant clinical information, infused with sensationalist crap ... at least that's my opinion.

The critique:

Really, the disorder doctors FEAR most is ridiculous.  To have given some real, verifiable stats on treatment protocols and outcomes might have been more useful and real.

And, to say it's the "disease of our time" -  what the heck?

Because there is a name, a set of criteria, and a grouping of treatments, in no way means BPD is a socially constructed condition.

There's no evidence that I know of that bpd is on the rise, and hasn't existed at current prevelance rates forever.  Again, because there is a name and more awareness doesn't mean it exists more now than in the past.  One only needs to look at history to see evidence of pd behavior that was rampant.  That part is misleading, imo.

Otherwise, useful!

m.

I agree fully with the fear notion. Most T's I have come in contact with avoid BPD's like the plague, only taking a small number at a time. This is due to high maintenance, fear of reprisal etc.

Changes in social mores and laws have contributed to the impact of women HF BPD's imo. In the past, extended family involvement and domination of males in marriage and the legal system forced HFW's to bury their rage and cope. Now, the break-up of the family and a system that was put in place to help battered women and mothers to survive is cunningly exploited by BPD's to trap and punish Non's for their own projected transgressions.

[tammy]

My brother who is Bipolar sent me the article because my daughter is diagnosed as BPD. My brother is 50 and has spent his entire life struggling to come to terms with his disease; he was forced by the judicial system to attend AA... he was an active member in NAMI even traveling to Washington a few times to represent his state. Finally in the last couple years has stabilized; he accepts that he abuses alcohol when he's not medicated properly but not that he is an alcoholic... he knows he was overmedicated for years and only takes what is appropriate now... yes, his actions, his drunk driving, his manic episodes all affected our lives. My poor mother suffered greatly but the main thing is that all of this could have been avoided had he been properly diagnosed a loooong time ago. I think the focus needs to be diagnosing and proper treatment for the BPD not focusing on how much they disrupt the lives of those around them That's a whole other topic really. As with any disease the people who surround the individual suffers ; the family of an autistic child, the parents of a cancer patient... whatever... but to focus on the family and non-diagnosed's suffering doesn't promote a cure or a course of therapy... that's what this site is for... let science address  the disease and support groups address the casualties.