Why This BPD Book Doesn’t Look Like ‘Typical’ BPD

In this episode of The BPD Bunch, Xannie and Carys chat with Katja about publishing her first book “Sorry, My Mental Illness Isn’t Sexy Enough for You”, going straight for the parts of BPD people never say out loud: shame, “unsexy” symptoms, misdiagnosis, self-sabotage, and why BPD can look totally different from person to person (quiet vs loud presentations, comorbidities, and stigma). If you’ve ever felt like “I don’t look like the BPD stereotype”… this one might feel like a hug. Here's a quote from co-cauthor Kay on why she wrote the book: "Sorry my mental illness isn’t sexy enough for you, started out as the title of a blog I wanted to write after witnessing first-hand the difficulties of having mental illness, lack of support and the prevalence of poor treatment. Naturally, I wanted to make a difference but being unwell, combined with my human nature of not being a starter finisher, it lived as an idea in my head for a while. Then came along came Katja with this amazing idea of launching our own mental health project using the name, which is the website we know and love today. If you had told me our little project would be as successful as it has been and that we would be publishing our first book because of it, I would have laughed, but here we are. I’m so incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity to achieve my wildest dream, and to achieve it with my best friend. Asking why I wrote the book is multifaceted, since the age of 14 I have been involved in Mental Health Activism with the purpose of reducing suffering in people who experience mental health difficulties. I raised awareness in a variety of projects and focused on bringing together people with lived experience and services to work together to improve mental health services. I wanted the book to share my story so that others do not feel alone, and so that I could provide understanding and hope, and to talk about ways people can have agency over their own recovery. Mental illness can sometimes be seen as a moral failing, especially the ‘unsexy ones’ that we spend our days challenging. I absolutely feel called to break down this dangerous concept that divides people and communities. I didn't write the book to be cathartic, but I think the process has provided relief in some ways – taking painful and difficult experiences and turning them into something that can help others." Read more of Kay's thoughts in the comments! UPLOAD SCHEDULE UPDATE: BPD Bunch brunch episodes will now standalone from the season, and will be uploaded the first Sunday of every month! 🌟 Love what we do? Your support fuels these important conversations on BPD and mental health. Consider joining our Patreon community to help us continue this valuable work and unlock exclusive content. Every contribution makes a difference! 🌈✨ 🔗 Support us on Patreon:   / thebpdbunch   ________ EPISODE TERMS: Schizotypal Personality Disorder - is a mental health condition characterized by odd or eccentric behavior, unusual beliefs or thoughts, and difficulty forming close relationships. People with this disorder may have magical thinking, such as believing they have special powers or can predict the future, and they often feel uncomfortable in social situations. Their way of thinking and behaving can be different from what is considered typical, which can make it hard for them to connect with others. ________ About Us: The BPD bunch is a YouTube talk show, featuring a panel of people who are in functional recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder. Each week we discuss BPD-related topics to help give you insights into the different ways BPD can be expressed in someone’s life. We also cover the different paths we followed on our recovery journeys to give you hope and direction for your own ❤️ Thank you for being on this journey of healing with us! ________ Disclaimer: Although several of our panelists work in the mental health field, we are all coming to you as people in functional recovery from BPD, and are not here to provide professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.