Vegasskydiver -
People with BPD can be high functioning. When occupied at work they can excel.
It is usually during the private times that they regress. When the pressure is off, is when they often go into meltdown. It is almost like they can control some aspects of the disease. They are usually highly intelligent and talented. One poster here had a BPD husband who was a well-know and respected physician. He treated people with BPD but never recognized it in himself. Interesting, right?
Dave, I will need to go back and read your original post. Have no doubt they can be cruel and evil. Most BPD sufferers have additional psychiatric issues like depression, schizo-affective disorder, OCD, PTSD and on and on, and they self-soothe by abusing drugs and/or alcohol. It comes as a package... . which just complicates everything even more.
My son is alcoholic, has BPD with schizo-affective disorder, OCD, and PTSD. When he was in the throes of alcoholism and BPD he used to tell me that he was so evil inside, that I could not possibly understand what he was capable of. THAT is scarey! In fact, at one time, I thought he was possessed by the devil.
I am not kidding.
Yes please do have a look at it - would love your opinion.
I'm so happy my ex didn't use drugs or drink. Matter of fact she didn't drink at all. However, get this. One night we were out for diner, after we sat down she said to me, "Hun, would you mind if I had a margarita?". I looked at her with a puzzled look on my face and said, "of course not? Order what ever the hell you want!". Just another example of the things that make you go hmmmm?