Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most painful mental health conditions. It is also one that is highly stigmatized.
So often, BPD is equated to narcissism or psychopathy, which simply isn’t true.
Founder and CEO of Releasing the Phoenix, Sage Nestler, MSW, lives with the disorder and is an advocate for those living with BPD. They are part of the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD).
The DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Text Revision) describes BPD as follows:
“A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.) 2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). (Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.)
5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness.
8. Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms” (American Psychiatric Association, 2024)
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2024). Borderline Personality Disorder. In American Psychiatric Association (pp. 1410–1419). essay, APA.
Sage Nestler, MSW, is in a unique position where they have seen borderline personality disorder (BPD) from all sides.
They live with the disorder, work in the mental health field, specialize in BPD, and constantly experience stigma surrounding the diagnosis. The stigma they have experienced has gone so far as to Sage being rejected or losing mental and physical healthcare, losing professional opportunities, and more, simply because they have BPD.
Sage works with the self-advocacy team within the advocacy committee at the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality. They frequently advocate for those living with the disorder, provide education for professionals, and support loved ones with ways they can care for someone in their life with BPD.
Sage is open to interviews, quotes, questions, and more regarding anything surrounding borderline personality disorder (BPD). Feel free to contact them below or through email: sage@releasingthephoenix.org.
We work on providing education for professionals surrounding BPD and how to provide compassionate care.
Articles on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
We bring an authentic approach to education on borderline personality disorder (BPD) for:
professionals
those living with BPD
loved ones looking for ways to support someone in their life with BPD
those who may be questioning if they have BPD
We are working on adding opportunities for education, advocacy, and self-advocacy, as well as providing continuing education credits for professionals on compassionate care for those with borderline personality disorder.