EUPD and me: living and working with personality disorder | Social Work Week 2021

Social work student Justine shares her personal experience of living with Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) and the stigma that surrounds this condition.
She will also share her experiences as an equality, diversity and inclusion practitioner and how this can be applied to working with personality disorder.
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Due to the nature and complexity of social work - content of some of the sessions may provide triggers for some people. Please be mindful of this and take whatever steps you need to look after yourself.
Any views, information or opinions expressed by third parties during Social Work Week are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Social Work England or its employees.

[@leahllewellyn-smith9365]

Thank you for posting this. I was diagnosed with EUPD last summer at 40. I have lived a rollercoaster of emotions since my early teens. (Several suicide attempts) As I’ve aged I’ve been treated for depression and anxiety but nothing really helps for long. I found some help through self taught Mindfulness meditation CBT but I’m still waiting for a referral for DBT. I have worked since I was 16 and I am able to function in society, albeit chaotically. I’ve learned to do this by not getting too close to people and hiding my emotions and internal turmoil. I have also been a heavy drug and alcohol user in the past as a coping mechanism. Today I try to make better choices and dont make decisions when I am in a highly emotional state but there are times I loose my way and act out self harm or sabotage. When I was younger I would also hit out at the people close to me and run away, As I got into my 30s I started to become more introverted and kept my friend groups small. I am an abuse survivor, so were my parents. I understand that link and choose not to have a family of my own so I can’t pass on the family trauma history. I know from a very young age I didn’t want to be a negative influence on my own children because I was unstable. Your presentation has given me a boost of confidence that I am able to get and stay well with the right structure and treatment and I’m not a hopeless case. Again. Thank you ❤️

[@beckyproctor51]

BPD/EUPD is surprisingly common for a diagnosis we rarely talk about publicly. I work in a residential treatment center for adults with mood and anxiety disorders, and a lot of our residents are learning to live with this condition. I know this may sound cheesy, but you are not alone in this fight! BPD/EUPD sufferers live with so much shame and often think they are "bad people" when they are just misunderstood. There is a growing community of people with and without this disorder who are waiting to embrace you with open arms. It takes work, kind of like physical therapy, and recovery isn't always linear. But I've seen it happen right before my eyes; life can be more than a continuous cycle of fear and shame, and you don't have to live every day held hostage by your emotions.

[@diggerfox7194]

Hope your ok. I was diagnosed last year to. And i know how you feel I've had a crazy life at times. I wouldn't wish it on anybody

[@connorfindlay-priest3704]

Just after my recent diagnosis, this has been the most reassuring/helpful resource i've come across. Thank you

[@lorisharpe6592]

Thank you for sharing your story, I'm a newly graduated SW, here in West Australia and the info you have provided is so helpful. A lot for me to reflect on.

[@vitaz3713]

Thanks a lot for making this so helpful presentation. I had some struggles working with my first consumer with EUPD recently and your presentation answered a lot of my confusion. Also provided some guidelines for doing my job. Thank you!

[@amandagalbraith8334]

I think you are an amazing person and I suffer with EUPD and you have given me a glimmer of hope and shown so much understanding xxx

[@karenmarialayne]

NQSW in London. This was an excellent presentation. I will definitely share this with my team and University cohort. Thank you so much

[@ruthhepworth9304]

Thank you 😊 for your help I was diagnosed with EUPD last year in August xxxx

[@SocialWorkMatters]

Very impressive presentation giving an informative insight into EUPD!

[@lookingupwithwonder]

This is so helpful both personally and professionally. Thanks for sharing.

[@raindropsonroses3919]

Thank you for this :) I am studying to be a mental health nurse and I want to understand EUPD better so that I can help

[@kasperhills1551]

Very well said and put together

[@imasketcher8005]

I once read that my PTSD left untreated from childhood would've developed into cptsd which then in turn developed further into permanent personality disorder eupd. I've never heard or read that again since and often wonder if it is true, it seemed to make perfect sense though.