Helen Durán
Often, [medical] professionals don't really understand [BPD] or how it affects those who suffer; often themselves so blinded by the stigma surrounding the disorder that they fail to see the person in front of them. I wanted to portray this [but] it is also about my own personal struggle to deal with not knowing who I really am and what's real, along with the constant feeling of not really being seen or understood. The feeling that you don't really exist in any reality.
Often, [medical] professionals don't really understand [BPD] or how it affects those who suffer; often themselves so blinded by the stigma surrounding the disorder that they fail to see the person in front of them. I wanted to portray this [but] it is also about my own personal struggle to deal with not knowing who I really am and what's real, along with the constant feeling of not really being seen or understood. The feeling that you don't really exist in any reality.
I have struggled with my mental health all of my adult life but wasn't diagnosed with BPD until mid 2013. I’m now 37 and married with 2 lovely girls. I use arts and crafts to express how I am feeling, to relax and also as a distraction technique to try to prevent strong feelings, thoughts or urges becoming too unbearable to tolerate.