Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month: Breaking the Stigma

Apr 29, 2025

May is Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month — a time to shed light on one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and navigates relationships. It impacts approximately 2.2% of Canadians and is often surrounded by myths and stigma — one of the most harmful being the belief that suicidal thoughts or behaviours are simply “cries for attention.”

The Human Side of BPD

Living with BPD isn’t just a clinical experience—it’s deeply human. It impacts the way a person thinks, feels, and navigates relationships. Beth, a Nova Scotian living with BPD shares her story to help others better understand the condition:

She shares:

“Living with BPD is like walking through the world without emotional skin. Every comment, glance, or silence cuts deeper than it should. Everything feels overwhelming. Everything feels personal. I once heard someone describe BPD as “chronic irrationality”—and that clicked with me. Because even when I know a thought does not make sense, my body still reacts as if it’s the absolute truth.”

Read Beth’s Story: A Look at Life Through BPD-Coloured Glasses

Causes

There isn’t one single cause of BPD, but research suggests BPD develops from a mix of genetics, brain function differences, and difficult early life experiences. A lot of the symptoms are tied to deep emotional pain, often stemming from trauma, neglect, or feeling invalidated growing up.

Borderline personality disorder carries many harmful stereotypes fuel stigma and can prevent individuals from seeking help. Let’s separate fact from fiction and break down four common myths surrounding BPD.

MYTH: Borderline Personality Disorder is a permanent condition that cannot be treated or improve.

FACT: Research shows that people with BPD can recover with effective treatment. Recent reports state that up to 88% of people with the disorder experience significant improvement over time.

MYTH: The term “Borderline Personality Disorder” is based on up-to-date research reflecting the true nature of the disorder.

FACT: The term “borderline” was developed in the early 1900’s when psychoanalysts realized that BPD did not fit into their oversimplified way of categorizing mental illness – either as neurotic or psychotic. BPD was thought to be on the “borderline”. There is growing advocacy to rename the disorder to better reflect its symptoms—proposals include ‘Emotional Regulation Disorder’ or ‘Emotional Processing Disorder.’”

MYTH: People with BPD have a flawed personality.

FACT: BPD is caused by a combination of environmental and neurobiological factors, not a personality flaw.

MYTH: People with Borderline Personality Disorder are attention seeking and manipulative.

FACT: The phrases “attention seeking” and “manipulative” imply that conscious and deliberate thought and planning is involved but most BPD behavior is not a deliberate attempt to manipulate people or get attention. It is an attempt to get needs met.

Source: The Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC

Treatment for BPD

BPD is treatable, and many people experience significant recovery over time. Effective treatment options include:

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy): Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the gold standard for BPD treatment. It helps individuals build skills to manage emotions, tolerate distress, and improve relationships. Other therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) can also be very helpful.
Medication: While there is no medication specifically approved for BPD, psychiatric medications can help manage specific symptoms such as mood swings, depression, anxiety, or impulsivity.
Support and Skills Training: Group therapy, peer support programs, and self-help tools can also play a powerful role in recovery by building emotional resilience and reducing feelings of isolation.

Why Awareness Matters

There’s still a lot of misinformation about BPD — including harmful myths that can prevent people from getting help. One of the most dangerous is the belief that BPD can’t be treated. But research shows up to 88% of people with BPD experience significant improvement with the right care.

Resources

Books on Borderline Personality Disorder

Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC, CMHA.ca, Project 375, the Linehan Institute, psychologytoday.com, Sashbear.org