Informative Speech

Project. 01

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What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Informative Speech

Rachel Bryant

I have a friend. We will call her Jane. I have known Jane for about a year now. She goes to school around here; I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you know of her. It is a nice school and she thrives there in athletics. Jane is the goalie for her school’s soccer team and has even been recruited for college. She does well in her classes, and although she may not be the most popular girl in school, she is on good terms with most people. She is one of the funniest people I have ever met. Jane and I joke around a lot when we are together. I trust her with my secrets, my fears, and my emotions. I always know she is there for me when I need to talk. So why am I talking about Jane? When you first meet Jane you wouldn’t know, even after talking to her for hours, that Jane has Borderline Personality Disorder.

Personality disorders mainly affect a person's mood and behavior. They commonly suffer from anxiety, depression, and tend to be more antisocial. One of the most common kinds is Borderline Personality Disorder. Christina Katsakou describes it as “Individuals with BPD experience great difficulties in regulating their emotions, unstable relationship patterns, mood swings, feelings of emptiness and chaotic lifestyles” Katsakou also discusses that people who suffer BPD have little to no control of their emotions, and this can lead to them trying to block out these emotions they can not understand and that usually results in impulsive harmful behavior. Jane struggles day to day with dealing with how she feels; many days she can find it hard to understand herself and others. People with BPD tend to lack empathy or empathetic skills which can make it hard for them to develop meaningful relationships. With my friend Jane, she struggles to empathize with people. She tries her hardest but many times she really struggles. Keep in mind that they can’t help this- it is not in their control. People who suffer from this have a different brain, but are still people.

You are all probably wondering how this could happen to anyone. It all starts in early childhood. Debbie Miller wrote in her essay on child abuse and neglect that “Borderline personality disorder is a frequent diagnosis for children who are victims of abuse or neglect.” Many of these cases go unnoticed for a long time; making the effects much worse. Miller also states that this type of abuse can be physical, verbal, or emotional. Children that show symptoms of limited emotional range, lack anger management skills and empathy are most commonly diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Now, not every case of abuse ends in a diagnosis of BPD. Linda Gask stated in her medical journal on Borderline Personality Disorder that it is genetic “result from twin studies suggesting heritability of personality traits and personality disorders ranging from 30% to 60%”. and other article wrote that it affects 1 in 6% of our general population. While not common, it still affects many people’s lives with BPD and with not.

Jane has been in my life for a year now. We have seen each other grow as people. I remember Jane before her diagnosis and, yes, things have changed. Try and imagine watching your friend struggle with who they are. Try and imagine your friend fears what they feel because they don’t understand it. Try and imagine watching your friend think they are crazy only because the world told them they are. Jane didn’t have answers for what she had, and when you don’t have answers it makes you feel like an outcast. Jane isn’t her BPD- no one is their BPD. Borderline Personality Disorder doesn’t define a person it simply defines how their brain works. In the end of it all, Jane is still Jane. She is still a person like you and me. Jane is still my friend.