BPD in books and movies

[Depression = 72% of members]

Can you think of any depictions of pwBPD in movies, literature etc.? People say Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, but I'm not convinced. I wondered about Scarlett O'Hara, but I haven't read the book or seen the movie in decades. 

There are plenty of psychos, schizophrenics, manic depressives, multiple personalities, pretty much everything but BPD!

Maybe the disorder is too nuanced? Takes too long for a reader or audience to appreciate the unstable identity?

I wonder if there were more examples then perhaps pwBPD would recognise themselves?

Just thinking out loud.

[NonnyMouse]

Can you think of any depictions of pwBPD in movies, literature etc.? People say Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, but I'm not convinced. I wondered about Scarlett O'Hara, but I haven't read the book or seen the movie in decades. 

There are plenty of psychos, schizophrenics, manic depressives, multiple personalities, pretty much everything but BPD!

Maybe the disorder is too nuanced? Takes too long for a reader or audience to appreciate the unstable identity?

I wonder if there were more examples then perhaps pwBPD would recognise themselves?

Just thinking out loud.

[RELATIONSHIP PROBLEM SOLVING]

RELATIONSHIP PROBLEM SOLVING This is a high level discussion board for solving ongoing, day-to-day relationship conflicts. Members are welcomed to express frustration but must seek constructive solutions to problems. This is not a place for relationship "stay" or "leave" discussions. Please read the specific guidelines for this group.

[Couper]

This is a link to a similar post I made last month and another member made a suggestion, as well:

https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=350358.0

[sshaligr]

can't seem to find that thread.  I think Girl, Interrupted is a pretty good depiction of BPD.

[mitten]

This is a link to a similar post I made last month and another member made a suggestion, as well:

https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=350358.0

Hi Couper. The link to your thread isn’t working for me. 

[Couper]

Sorry about that.  I don't know why. The link continues to work for me here.  Perhaps because it's in one of the lower forums where you have to be logged in to have access.  Below is a copy / paste of the post in question from the "Stump the Experts" section.  The second post in that thread was not mine so I should probably not repost someone else's words.  Perhaps they will come along and do so themselves:

---------------------------------------
I have enjoyed Star Trek: The Next Generation ever since it was a new show, but because of how t.v. used to be was never able to watch all of them.  A couple of years ago I rediscovered it on Netflix and could then start going through each episode one-by-one and in order.  I got about halfway through before getting distracted.

Star Trek has always been known for pushing the boundaries of uncomfortable topics.  This one really caught my attention and it was before having a term (BPD) for the goings-on within my household:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_the_People_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)

The description there really doesn't do it justice.  At the time I watched it I was like, "OMG, my wife is Alkar!".  In looking back on it and trying to determine if BPD was the basis for the plot, I'm still a little on the fence, but I almost have to believe it provided at least some of the inspiration for the storyline.

I'm not a huge t.v. watcher, but I can't think of another program that has come close to touching on the subject.  If there are others, what are they?

[Flossy]

"Blue Jasmine" with Cate Blanchett is the perfect depiction of the mature-age Borderline.

[NonnyMouse]

The link doesn't work for me either.

I am not sure why I wanted examples...I have a real-life one sitting in the living room right now! I was thinking maybe if we watched it together my uBPDw would say "That's exactly how I feel." Realization would then dawn, and the future would be all sunshine and butterflies. I can dream can't I?

[Cat Familiar]

 How about Blanche in Streetcar Named Desire?

[Couper]

I was thinking maybe if we watched it together my uBPDw would say "That's exactly how I feel." Realization would then dawn, and the future would be all sunshine and butterflies. I can dream can't I?

Sounds like a good storyline for a fictional movie!

[NonnyMouse]

That would be a great episode of Gogglebox!  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gogglebox

[NonnyMouse]

These are all great suggestions! And very useful to explaining BPD to family and friends (if/when necessary). Sadly I can't imagine my W saying "That's meeee!" while watching ASND!

[thankful person]

The link doesn't work for me either.

I am not sure why I wanted examples...I have a real-life one sitting in the living room right now! I was thinking maybe if we watched it together my uBPDw would say "That's exactly how I feel." Realization would then dawn, and the future would be all sunshine and butterflies. I can dream can't I?

My wife’s favourite film is girl interrupted, though she claims it’s not a good representation of bpd (she doesn’t like the “promiscuous” aspect.. she is totally in denial about still being affected by bpd tbh. I can totally relate to your point of wishing she would relate to something like that though. In the uk we have a tv program “Casualty”, which recently featured a storyline about a very jealous and controlling girlfriend who was threatening to self harm and became physically abusive towards her boyfriend who used to be so strong and confident and he started covering for her crazy behaviour. I was waiting with bated breath each week, soo holding my tongue on saying to my wife, “she reminds me of you…” I was waiting to see if there was a bpd diagnosis. But in the end it was found out that she was being abusive towards the boyfriend and I “think” she has left the show. I think this is a shame, I would have liked it to go down the bpd diagnosis route because it may have made my wife recognise some of her behaviour as she is 8 years since diagnosis and sees herself “cured” as she has stopped self-harming.

[lenfan]

Betty Draper on "MadMen" ?

[mitten]

Not a movie or a book, but a TV reality series... Anyone watch Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo?  Chief Stew, Hannah really shows traits of BPD, especially in Season 3. 

[ILMBPDC]

I recently read a book called A Piece of Normal by Maddie Dawson and I swear the sister in the book (Dana) is BPD (and likely the deceased mother as well). Dawson often has characters that are quirky but this one is just over the top into personality disorder land.  

[GaGrl]

Rachel Getting Married -- Anne Hathaway plays the sister of the bride, is possibly BPD.

[TigerDank1982]

Gloria Trillo (Tony's goomar) in The Sopranos was borderline.

[NonnyMouse]

Have just seen the first episode of Clickbait (no spoilers please!). At the start there is an argument between sisters-in-law. There's the stable one and the unstable one. And I'm hoping the unstable  one turns out to be BPD.

I'm watching this with my uBPDw, who has issues with her sister. And she says, "She's just like me." I casually ask which one she means. Of course, she thinks she is the stable one!

[NonnyMouse]

New song from Weezer:

[Chorus]
All my favorite songs are slow and sad
All my favorite people make me mad
Everything that feels so good is bad, bad, bad
All my favorite songs are slow and sad
I don't know what's wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
I don't know what's wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh)

[Verse 1]
I love parties, but I don't go
Then I feel bad when I stay home
'Cause I need a friend when I take a walk
I like spacin' out when somebody talks
I wanna be rich, but I feel guilty
I fall in love with everyone who hates me

[Chorus]
All my favorite songs are slow and sad
All my favorite people make me mad, so mad
Everything that feels so good is bad, bad, bad
All my favorite songs are slow and sad
I don't know what's wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
I don't know what's wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh)

[Verse 2]
Dreamy morning
Walkin' alone by myself
Thinkin' about life
And tryin' to find my way through hell
Sometimes I wish
I was on an island
But then I'd miss
The sound of sirens
[Chorus]
All my favorite songs are slow and sad
All my favorite people make me mad, so mad
Everything that feels so good is bad, bad, bad
All my favorite songs are slow and sad
I don't know what's wrong with me
I don't know what's wrong with me
I don't know what's wrong with me (Ooh, ooh, ooh)

[Outro]
Woah, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Woah, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh

Quite a few possible BPD references in there.

Apparently Mikey Welsh, the former Weezer bassist had BPD. He died of a heroin overdose in 2011.

[jmbl]

Have just seen the first episode of Clickbait (no spoilers please!). At the start there is an argument between sisters-in-law. There's the stable one and the unstable one. And I'm hoping the unstable  one turns out to be BPD.

I'm watching this with my uBPDw, who has issues with her sister. And she says, "She's just like me." I casually ask which one she means. Of course, she thinks she is the stable one!

Oooh, I would like to watch this. I have been wondering if it is any good!

The main character in Goodwill Hunting. My pwBPD identifies with him a lot, believes he has BPD. I don’t disagree…