Summary: <br> DURING THIS PODCAST TOPICS SUCH AS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, SELF HARM AND EXPERIENCES OF TREATMENT ARE DISCUSSED. IF THIS IS A TRIGGER OR MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AND DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN. <br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OTforBPD">OTforBPD</a> was an account on Instagram and Facebook that I came across through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/MH4OT/">MH4OT</a>. They were putting out some practical and detailed resources for practitioners about the often misunderstood diagnostic category of Borderline Personality Disorder. BPD is a diagnosis that even though I encountered people who have it through my career, I do not feel like I had a good grasp on the user experience of it. <br> <br> <br> <br> I messaged the page and managed to track down the owner, Laura, who explained that she had a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, was a qualified OT and her mission was to help not only support others with BPD but to help educate OT’s and other health practitioners about BPD.<br> <br> <br> <br> Borderline personality disorder (BPD), is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_illness">mental illness</a> characterized by a long-term pattern of unstable <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpersonal_relationship">relationships</a>, a distorted <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_self">sense of self</a>, and strong <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affect_(psychology)">emotional</a> reactions. There is often <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-harm">self-harm</a> and other dangerous behavior. People may also struggle with a feeling of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emptiness">emptiness</a>, fear of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandonment_(emotional)">abandonment</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociation_(psychology)">detachment from reality</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder#cite_note-NIH2016-4">[4]</a> Symptoms may be triggered by seemingly normal events. The behavior typically begins by early adulthood and occurs across a variety of situations.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse"> Substance abuse</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood)">depression</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_disorder">eating disorders</a> are commonly associated with BPD. Up to 10% of people affected die by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide">suicide</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder</a><br> <br> <br> <br> I’m super grateful that she agreed to come onto Occupied and share her invaluable experience of navigating the health care system as a person with BPD. Laura was so kind and genuine. There is a sense of vulnerability in her words but a feeling of strength in her words. <br> <br> <br> <br> Check out OTforBPD here:<br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OTforBPD/">https://www.facebook.com/OTforBPD/</a><br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5bCjqphH8m/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> View this post on Instagram </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5bCjqphH8m/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A post shared by Laura, Anya & Ozias (@otforbpd)</a> on Nov 28, 2019 at 12:27pm PST <br> <br>
