I also try to remember that almost all persons dx'd with BPD were terribly abused (often sexually) or neglected beyond belief for long periods of time when they were very, very young children; many are cutters, high-risk takers, not happy folks---very wounded. Some are wounded beyond help, but others are helped. It is tragic what happens to people, and that's why I feel for them; but I also have to remember not to allow my boundaries to be manipulated, not to be pulled in so much by my empathic side, as to lose my own identity, so to speak. It's hard for me because I was abused also (not BPD), and I didn't know how to use boundaries and say "no"....so I was, unknown to me at the time, used and manipulated when I thought I was just helping (rescuing) a person. So, I think this discussion about BPD and other related disorders can be very helpful to enlighten people to beware of the possible dangers in dealing with those with certain MH issues. I know it helped me to know these things.
Just expressing myself....so interesting!