Hi fellow basket cases (I say this lovingly and with compassion), 

Recently joined the sub after figuring out myself that I have BP-fucking-D at the tender age of 38. Yes, I've been a basket case my entire freaking life. i thought it was just depression and anxiety. I thought I was bad at dealing with stress. I thought I was socially awkward. I thought I was lazy because I could never find my center and commit to something like trying to become a doctor (like my dad) or a lawyer (like my sister).

Literally this week I'm learning for the first time about the stigmas around BPD. I myself didn't really know what they were. If you had asked me, I would've just thought BPD people all had blue hair one day and bleached blonde hair the next. 

I'm considering telling my close family members and maybe a few friends that I have BPD, so that they can understand me better, if at all. I'm thinking of sending them links to Med Circle videos and a few articles that kind of capture the hyper-emotional psychosis I've endured for my whole life. 

Is this something you guys have done? Would you recommend it or against it? Should I just tell my friends who I've hardly spoken to in over a year since my BPD started flaring up miserably that I have bad depression? Or that I'm spending all my time trying to find a new job? 

What have you found that helps others understand and be there for you? 

&amp;#x200B;

Yours truly, 

A fucking lifelong goddamn basket base