EIN 33-3915912

Make each day count by putting
your health first.

Healing starts here.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health
condition characterized by intense emotions, unstable relationships,
and a deeply rooted fear of abandonment. People with BPD often
experience overwhelming feelings and may struggle with their sense
of self, leading to emotional ups and downs that can feel difficult to
manage. BPD is often misunderstood. It’s not about being “too
dramatic” or “manipulative,” it’s about living with a brain wired for
intense sensitivity to emotions and relationships. This doesn’t make
someone “bad” or “broken,” it means they experience the world
deeply.

Understanding BPD

1.6%

of the
population
has BPD

approximately 70%

of people with BPD
will make at least
one suicide
attempt in their
lifetimes

between 8 and 10%

of people with BPD
will complete
suicide

SYMPTOMS OF BORDERLINE

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Your mental health matters. Know when to seek help.

Extreme emotional
swings

Unstable
relationships

Intense fear of
abandonment

1

4

7

Paranoia or
dissociation

Explosive anger

Chronic feelings of
emptiness

2

5

8

Impulsive behaviors

Self-harm or suicidal
thoughts

Unclear or shifting

self-image

3

6

9

Chronic feelings of emptiness:

A persistent sense of feeling
“empty” or disconnected.

Paranoia or dissociation:

Moments of feeling detached
from reality, especially during
times of stress.

Explosive anger:

Having a hard time controlling
your temper, often over small
triggers.

Unstable relationships:

Shifting between idealizing
someone and suddenly feeling
disappointed or angry with them
(also called “splitting”).

Intense fear of abandonment:
Going to great lengths to avoid
real or imagined rejection

Extreme emotional swings:
Feeling intense emotions that
can shift rapidly, from deep
sadness to anger to anxiety.

Unclear or shifting self-image:
Struggling with identity, feeling
unsure of who you are or how
you see yourself.

Impulsive behaviors:
Engaging in risky actions,
such as reckless driving,
spending sprees, or
substance use.

Self-harm or suicidal thoughts:
Experiencing intense emotional
pain that can lead to self-injury
or thoughts of suicide.

Treatments for BPD

Medication

DBT was specifically
designed to help people
manage intense emotions.
DBT empowers individuals
to handle emotional
surges without destructive
behavior, making it a life-
changing tool for many.

DBT teaches skills in four
key areas: Mindfulness,
Distress Tolerance, Emotion
Regulation, and
Interpersonal
Effectiveness.

Dialectical Behavior
Therapy (DBT)

While there’s no
specific medication to
“cure” BPD, some
medications may be
prescribed to treat co-
occurring symptoms,
like:

Mood stabilizers,
Antidepressants, and
Antipsychotics.
Medication works best
when paired with
therapy.

Healing doesn’t
happen in isolation.
Support from trusted
friends, family, and
mental health
communities plays a
huge role in recovery.
Many people with BPD
also find comfort in:
Peer support groups,
Creative outlets, and
Crisis planning.

WE BELIEVE IN

A Free Mental
Health Journal
For You

Subscribe to get a free mental health journal
with a daily planner, weekly progress reports, an
affirmations page, worksheets for distress and
crisis management, coloring pages, and many
more!

How am I feeling this morning?

To Do List

Brush teeth and wash face

Open a window and get
fresh air

Eat something

Move my body or take a
walk

Sensory Soothing

Breathing Exercises

4-7-8 Breathing

Square Breathing

Belly Breathing

Sight

Touch

Sound

Taste

Smell

Fulfill work related tasks

Time off screens

Write to my journal

Emotional Regulation Skills

Creative Expression

Opposite Action

Radical Acceptance

Name It To Tame It

Journaling

Drawing or Coloring

Movement

Meditate for 10 minutes

What coping skill can I use to soothe myself?

Grounding Techniques

Connection and Comfort

5-4-3-2-1 Method

Temperature Change

Weighted Comfort

Reach Out

Safe Person List

Affirmations

Drink water

What emotion am I feeling right now?

How intense is my emotion on a scale of 1-10?

10 being the most intense.

I Need Help

Disclaimer

Beyond the Borderline is a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
through education, advocacy, and community support. However, we are not a crisis center and do not provide emergency
mental health services.

If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. For
urgent situations, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

Your mental health matters, and you deserve support. Remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or anyone you know is
experiencing a mental
health crisis, call or text 988,
or chat at 988lifeline.org

Crisis Text Line

Text "HOME" to 741741 to
connect with a trained crisis
counselor available 24/7.
https://www.crisistextline.org/

Trans Lifeline's Hotline

A peer support phone service
by trans people for trans and
questioning peers.

Hours are 10 AM – 6 PM Pacific.

Call (877) 565-8860
https://translifeline.org/hotline/

CA Youth Crisis Line

A California emergency
response system for youth
(ages 12-24) that operates
24/7.

Call or text (800) 843-5200

Info: https://calyouth.org/cycl/

The Warm Line

The Warm Line by CalHOPE
is a peer crisis line, operating
24/7. Reach out by call, text,
or live chat at
https://www.calhope.org/

English (833) 317-HOPE
(4673)

Spanish (833) 642-7696

The Trevor Project

A 24/7 helpline for LQBTQ+
young adults.

Call: (866) 488-7386

Text "START" to 678-678
https://www.thetrevorproject.
org/get-help/

Join Our Community

PLEASE EMAIL
BEYONDTHEBORDERLINE@AOL.COM TO
SIGNUP FOR EVENTS, VOLUNTEER, OR
DONATE.

MORE INFO ON NEXT PAGE

You don’t have to navigate BPD alone. At Beyond the Borderline, we offer safe, compassionate spaces where people with
Borderline Personality Disorder and those who support them can connect, share, and heal together. We believe in the power of
community. Our support groups provide a judgment-free zone where experiences are validated, and healing is encouraged. We
currently offer the following groups:

SUPPORT GROUPS

BPD Peer Support Group

For Individuals diagnosed
with or exploring the
possibility of having BPD. It is
a confidential, empathetic
space to share experiences,
discuss coping strategies,
and offer mutual support.

Friends & Family Support
Group

For loved ones, partners,
family members, and
friends of those with BPD.

We focus on education
about BPD, open
discussions about
challenges, and tools for
offering support while
maintaining boundaries.

Creative Expression Circle

For anyone impacted by BPD
who finds healing through
creativity. We give a space to
share art, poetry, music, and
writing as a way to process
emotions. No artistic
experience required, just a
desire to express yourself.

How Our Groups Work

-Virtual Meetings: All groups meet online, making them accessible to anyone, anywhere.

-Confidentiality: What’s shared in the group stays in the group, building a foundation of trust.

-Frequency: Weekly or bi-weekly sessions, with schedules available soon.

Interested?

Be a part of our newsletter, and we’ll let you know when groups start. You are not your diagnosis and you are never alone.

Be a part of breaking the stigma. At Beyond the Borderline, volunteers are the heart of our mission, helping us build a community
of understanding, support, and hope for those affected by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Whether you have lived
experience with BPD, are a mental health advocate, or simply want to make a positive impact, there’s a place for you here.

How to Get Involved

Contact us at beyondtheborderline@aol.com and we will send you an interview form!

Every voice matters. Every effort counts.

WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

Peer Support
Facilitator

-Lead or co-lead
virtual support
groups for
individuals with
BPD or their loved
ones.

-Training provided,
lived experience
with BPD or mental
health advocacy
preferred.

Content Creator

-Help write blogs,
create social media
posts, or design
graphics that
educate and inspire.

-Perfect for creatives
passionate about
mental health
awareness.

Event
Coordinator

-Assist in planning
online events,
workshops, and
fundraisers.

-Help spread the
word and bring
our community
together.

Outreach
Ambassador

-Connect with
mental health
organizations,
schools, and
communities to
share our mission.

-Build
partnerships to
expand our
impact.

Every donation brings us one step closer to breaking the stigma surrounding
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). At Beyond the Borderline, we are
dedicated to providing education, fostering support, and empowering those
affected by BPD, but we can’t do it alone. Your contribution directly fuels our
efforts to create safe spaces, offer resources, and spread awareness about this
often misunderstood condition.

Where Your Donation Goes

-Expand Support Groups: Offering free, accessible peer groups for individuals
with BPD and their loved ones.

-Create Educational Resources: Developing compassionate, stigma-breaking
content about BPD for our website, workshops, and social media platforms.

-Host Community Events: Organizing virtual events, panels, and creative
expression circles to foster healing and connection.

-Provide Crisis Resources: Ensuring people know where to turn when they need
urgent mental health support.

Every dollar makes a difference, no matter the size of your gift.

Hello, my name is Kristin and I’m the founder of Beyond the Borderline, but
more than that, I’m someone who knows firsthand what it means to live
with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). My journey with BPD has been
anything but easy. Like many others, I’ve faced the overwhelming emotions,
the fear of abandonment, and the struggle to find a stable sense of self. But
I’ve also discovered something powerful along the way, resilience. For a long
time, I felt defined by my diagnosis, trapped by the stigma that so often
surrounds BPD. People misunderstood me, and at times, I misunderstood
myself. But through therapy, support, and self-discovery, I learned that BPD
doesn’t have to be a life sentence of pain, it can be a path to growth, healing,
and transformation.

That’s why I created Beyond the Borderline. I wanted a space where others
like me could feel seen and heard, a place where we move beyond the
stigma and embrace the full complexity of what it means to live with BPD.
This nonprofit is not just about raising awareness, it’s about building a
compassionate community, offering hope, and showing that healing is
possible.

To anyone battling their own diagnosis: You are more than your BPD. You
are worthy of love, understanding, and a future filled with possibility.

Welcome to Beyond the Borderline. Let’s break the stigma together.

Founder,
Kristin Kan