Author Archives: Kathy

More Literary BPD!

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Kathy

  The sexually voracious Kirsten Munk (1598-1658), consort of King Christian 4th of Denmark, was terrified that, first, her lover Otto Ludwig would leave her, and then that she would lose her beloved handmaiden Emilia. She was incapable of empathy and showed no … Continue reading →

Posted in BPD-Related, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Sarah Makes Up a Word

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Kathy

I don’t care much for Sarah Palin, but I love her new word “refudiate.” Jimmy Kimmel compares her to Don King — “She just makes words up!” “Refudiate” is an example of a portmanteau, a blend of two words to make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Diagnosing at a Distance

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Kathy

Borderline personality disorder is alive and well on the internet these days, what with the shenanigans of Mel Gibson and Lindsay Lohan. Googling Mel and borderline just now, I found lots of links, including a diagnostic blog entry on the Huffington … Continue reading →

Posted in BPD-Related | 10 Comments

Enough Already

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Kathy

I love To Kill a Mockingbird. I really do.  But am I the only one who’s heard enough? The 50th anniversary of the novel’s publication has spawned endless radio, TV, online, and magazine stories; in all of them, very, very sincere … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

It’s Bertha’s World. We’re Just Living in It.

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Kathy

I take communion every week to a lady named Bertha. Although she can’t always remember exactly how old she is, she consistently cites 1912 as the year of her birth. So I feel confident that she’s 97 years old, soon … Continue reading →

Posted in BPD-Related, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Pessimism 101

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Kathy

This time of year always reminds me of my mom’s negativity — a quality I now associate with her undiagnosed BPD. Every year, every single year, as the 4th of July approached, my mom would find an opportunity to sigh that “summer is … Continue reading →

Posted in BPD-Related | 2 Comments

Do People with BPD Lack Empathy?

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Kathy

The research is all over the place on this question. Though “lack of empathy” is a usual textbook symptom of BPD, some researchers believe that people with the disorder have a peculiar sensitivity to others’ emotional states. I don’t intend to … Continue reading →

Posted in BPD-Related, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Jane Austen and BPD

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Kathy

It’s true that after writing about my mom and researching borderline personality, I’m inclined to see the disorder lurking behind every frowning face. But I can’t go so far as to diagnose Mrs. Norris of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (which … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, BPD-Related, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Johnny Nash + Bob Dylan at the Eye Doctor’s

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Kathy

I got my new contacts today– with a sharp new prescription, and I had that experience I remember from long ago when I first got glasses (fifth grade) and then acquired stronger ones in subsequent years: you walk outside and can see … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Firing Squad

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Kathy

The system of lethal injection in Ohio is creepy enough. But shooting people? We just did that today in Utah, in 21st century America. What about the shooters — the state employees we pay to shoot a guy? Like the Ohio … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment