Having a real hard time deciding whether it’s worth seeking help knowing that I’ll be slapped with this lifelong label that might actually affect my life going forward and affect how people see me. I don’t really see any other options, I’m really not okay, and therapy is seen as the holy grail for dealing with mental health issues, for obviously justified reasons.

But I know how hostile the mental health field, medical professionals in general and insurance companies can be towards people with bpd. I’m scared about being invalidated, iatrogenic effects, forcibly medicated or institutionalized, or possibly worse. 

People, no matter how educated, can only help but see you through their own lens of experiences and biases. I’m worried about spilling my guts to a complete stranger who could easily twist me up in their head and come to damaging conclusions about me. I’ve avoided therapy my whole life because of these fears. And it’s not like I need a therapist to study bpd/dbt etc, but I’ll admit even with all of the reading I do I am struggling.

I am having a really hard time deciding if it’s worth the danger I’d be putting myself in to seek help, but I also just don’t see any alternatives. I feel on the verge of having to commit myself on a regular basis- which I imagine would probably be worse than just seeking therapy, but I feel like once I open Pandora’s box on this that’s it, I can never go back. 

I could really use some perspective on this. Have any of you felt damaged by therapy/labels/stigma etc or do you think no matter what getting help is the right choice?