Dear Stine H:

Unfortunately, we live in a world where almost every person (if not every single person), at one time or another, fits one or more of the diagnoses in the latest DSM-5, and so, every single individual is at times, mentally ill, according to this book. Some mental illnesses are such that the sufferer has no awareness of his/ her behavior, such as in a psychotic break. In most mental illnesses, there is awareness.

Regarding your diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. The DSM-5 Criteria – Revised June 2011, states regarding all personality disorders: “The essential features of a personality disorder are impairments in personality (self and interpersonal) functioning…the following criteria must be met:
A. Significant impairments in self (identity or self-direction) and interpersonal (empathy or intimacy) functioning.”-

What this means is that to be correctly diagnosed with a personality disorder, there must be impairments in interpersonal relationships”- this is not an optional element of the diagnosis.

In your last post you wrote: “I always keep my emotions in 110% check when I’m with people”- if this is true, if you “always” control your emotions in relationships, you are no longer fitting the BPD diagnosis.

anita