Unpacking the Stigma: Famous People With Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects almost 1.6% of adults in the United States. Individuals with BPD have unstable emotions and relationships, low self-esteem, impulsive behavior, and distorted self-image. Unfortunately, because of the lack of understanding of this condition, people living with BPD often face stigma and discrimination.
However, there are many famous people who have BPD but have managed to break the silence and speak out against the stigma. In this article, we explore some of these individuals and their stories.
Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall is a retired American football Wide Receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Marshall was diagnosed with BPD in 2011 after seeking medical help for his emotional turmoil. Following his diagnosis, Marshall became an advocate for mental health, especially BPD.
Marshall founded Project 375, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing resources for mental health issues. In an interview with the New York Times, he said, “There’s no shame in having a mental illness or seeking help. It’s more about taking that step forward and understanding that you may need some assistance, some advocacy in getting better, and that’s okay.”
Pete Davidson
Pete Davidson is an American comedian, actor, and writer best known for his performances on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Davidson has been open about his mental health struggles, including living with BPD.
In his interview with Marc Maron on ‘WTF,’ he spoke about the difficulties of dating with borderline personality disorder, saying, “We’re very extreme. We’re very compulsive. You put us in a weird situation, and we flip out.”
Davidson has also spoken about how he has sought help for his mental health issues and the importance of therapy.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian known for her roles in movies such as ‘Maleficent,’ ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith,’ and ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.’ Jolie has been candid about her mental health struggles, including her BPD diagnosis.
In an interview with the Telegraph in 2011, she said, “I had bouts of depression as a teenager, and it’s something that I’ve dealt with throughout my life. And I’ve been diagnosed with things, you know, like borderline personality disorder.”
Jolie has been an advocate for mental health awareness for many years and has used her platform to raise awareness about various mental illnesses, including BPD.
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried is an American actress known for her roles in movies such as ‘Mamma Mia!,’ ‘Les Miserables,’ and ‘Mean Girls.’ Seyfried has been candid about her mental health struggles and diagnosis of BPD.
In an interview with Allure, Seyfried spoke about seeking therapy to help manage her BPD symptoms, saying, “I had pretty bad health anxiety that came from the OCD and thought patterns. I just thought, ‘Okay, I have to go see a therapist.’ And that’s been helpful.”
Seyfried has also spoken about the importance of reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, saying that “It should be treated with the same objectivity as anything else, like diabetes. You don’t see the mental illness: It’s not a mass; it’s not a cyst. But it’s there. Why do you need to prove it? If you can treat it, you treat it.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects many people worldwide. It’s essential to reduce the stigma surrounding this condition, which is why it’s admirable that famous people like Brandon Marshall, Pete Davidson, Angelina Jolie, and Amanda Seyfried have spoken out about their experiences.
Their stories help create awareness about BPD and mental health, empowering others to seek help and support on their own journey. By breaking the silence and stigma, we can create a safe and welcoming environment for those living with BPD and other mental health conditions.
