Dr. Helen just posted some information on Borderline Personality Disorder. I've dealt with borderlines in my life, and they wreak nothing but pain and suffering on those around them. A friend of mine was married to one, every other week she went from princess to monster and back again. I won't delve into my personal experiences, I'll just say that while they were horrible, I was fortunate enough not to marry or date one. That's one thing I disagree with Helen's post about: borderlines certainly are NOT good dating material. They are unstable and vicious, and any long term interaction with them is bound to end badly.

I'm no professional, but I think Borderlines are the most undiagnosed personality disorder in America today. In fact, many suspected borderlines are famous or even celebrated for their behavior, such as Madonna, Princess Diana Roseanne (dubious claims of being an incest victim, and of being a psychic who is "one hundred percent correct at all times", Omarosa of the Bachelor, etc.

Many reality shows have contestants with strong borderline traits. Like a car wreck, they're hard to ignore. They cause drama, hopefully (if you're a producer) increasing ratings. And many fashion magazines encourage women to act in borderline fashion. Is it any wonder the disorder is frequently undiagnosed? Borderline behavior is so commonplace that it is sometimes excused as normal, or (worse?) misdiagnosed as Bipolar.

The two best stories I've read online about Borderlines are My Trip to Oz and Back (a lesbian recounts her years with a borderline partner), and Thomas Scoville's tale of being married to a borderline, Borderlands. If reading those two stories hit close to home for you, GET OUT OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP NOW. Because offering a borderline help or emotional support often makes them worse, it is a tricky disorder to treat, and probably not possible for someone with an emotional investment in the person.