Down the Drain: A BPD Memoir

I recently read Julia Fox's autobiography, "Down the Drain". To be honest, I listened to the audiobook which was read by Julia herself. Before I proceed, I present the following disclaimer: I have never met the person mentioned herein and this is not meant to diagnose her. Spoiler alert, this is one of the best depictions of living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) since "I Hate You, Don't Leave Me". As a person who has worked in the mental health field for two decades, I immediately picked up on the fact that Julia Fox may have BPD. Later on she reveals that she was indeed diagnosed with the disorder after many years of suffering and turmoil. This seems to be a common theme among those who have BPD. Many people who have it suffer from mood swings, depression, anxiety, dissociation, self-harm, eating disorders, impulse control, substance use, unstable relationships, and are often times victims of crimes, plus many other symptoms and behaviors. In my opinion, the most stigmatized mental illness due to the fact that people who have BPD present in such a way that they push people away. This is pretty ironic considering the number one goal of people who have BPD is to forge relationships and not be abandoned.

The book is excellent and I highly recommend it as a way to gain perspective on how people who have BPD feel and why they do the things they do. Be forewarned, the book is graphic and discusses sexual assault, eating disorders, domestic violence, child neglect, substance use, overdose, death, sexual situations, and much more in great detail. Despite the stigma surrounding BPD and the belief some people have that it can't be treated, there is hope. DBT, CBT, medication, EMDR, etc. can all be quite helpful. I offer a training on this topic centered around recognizing BPD, and how to get along with/work with people who have it.