I was first diagnosed with BPD around ten years ago when I was in my final year of university. For a long time, I had been experiencing intense emotions, rapidly-shifting moods and high levels of distress, including struggling with suicidal ideation and self-harm. 

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Getting a BPD diagnosis meant I could finally begin to make sense of what was happening inside my mind. On the other hand, the stigma made me feel silenced and ashamed. At times, I was treated like I wasn't worthy of help and that I should already know how to cope. 

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I felt frightened, confused and disconnected. ​I turned to what I've always done to help me make sense of myself, others and the world, and to try to find my way through pain: writing. 

 

I started a blog which was a place for me to explore words and see which ones felt 'right' for my experiences. I also connected with others which helped ease my isolation.

 

Over time, writing helped me feel safe enough to speak about my experiences aloud and across more contexts. This is still a work in progress.

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Many moons ago, I won a Mind Media Award for my blog. After that, I became an author of two books. 

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If you're curious about my life with this diagnosis, I recommend reading my blog, my book or listening to some of the podcasts I've been on.​
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