Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Susan Blinkhorn said when a loved one receives the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) it can be especially alienating. 

“There are still many damaging myths and stigmas associated with this disorder,” she said.

“It’s been misconstrued as a disease not able to be treated and there has been a good deal of blame placed on both patients and parents.”

In an attempt to deconstruct the myths around the disease, Dr Blinkhorn will work with not-for-profit organisation, National Education Alliance of Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD), to provide a free support service to families of sufferers in Orange over the next six weeks.

Starting this Saturday, the initiative aims to help families to understand the disorder; the impact of the disorder on their relative or themselves; and to teach skills to improve the quality of their lives.

“It’s a disease that has been underdiagnosed and people have been pessimistic about getting it treated,” Dr Blinkhorn said.

“There is now good evidence supporting a number of treatments and reducing the emotional misery associated with the disorder.”

The program provides carers with education and skills training drawn from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

According to NEABPD, results have been shown to reduce family members experience of burden, grief and depression and improve their experience of empowerment.

“Teaching skills to assist with managing emotions is one of the key aspects of the program,” Dr Blinkhorn said.  

“Emotional dysregulation is at the heart of the disorder.

“People with emotional dysregulation usually have greater sensitivity to information and more intense experiences of emotions and often they don’t have effective ways to deal with it.”

Co-developed by Harvard University educated professor Alan Fruzzetti, the free, six week program will commence in Orange on Saturday from 10 am–2:30 pm.

Register at www.bpdaustralia.com/family-connections or email bpdfamilyconnections@gmail.com.