To say that Amber Heard is not representative of the BPD community

[MoreStigma]

Waking up to dozens of armchair psychologists on social media gleefully announcing that A.H's recent BPD diagnosis explains her abuse of Johnny Depp.

I have BPD. I have never hit my partners, current or past. I have never caused anybody to lose a finger. I have never shit on an exs bed, or encouraged my friends to do so. I'm not a nasty person and I don't belittle people. I'm nothing like A.H.

Nobody is talking about the histrionic personality disorder she has been diagnosed with, just the BPD. Apparently the BPD is the reason for all of this and that's case closed.

So now an already stigmatised condition is going to be even more stigmatised, and those of us with BPD that stems from childhood trauma are going to be further demonised for just existing.

Lovely.

We do not claim A.H and she is not representative of the BPD community.

I have no opinion on the topic BUT I have to point out “not board certified” is a ridiculous criticism and the lawyers were embarrassing marking a big deal of that.
Less than 4% of psychologists in the USA are board certified, it’s not standard or a requirement. The psychologist is qualified, licensed, and very experienced. To be casting doubt on her qualification is horrible.

This is her website: currypsychology.com/therapist/dr-shannon-curry/

@Newrunner29 Dr Curry gave depps lawyers the diagnosis after one 15 minute zoom call. PRE- meeting heard. It's in the transcripts.

I'll disagree here because I find that women are often declared faultless in cases like this when the unpalatable truth is that both parties bear the weight of different responsibilities.

I agree I think it's important to make a clear distinction between a diagnosis, and then where the responsibility lies for that person's behaviour. You can have BPD and be abusive; you can have BPD and not be abusive. You can also end up damaging people because of a personality disorder or your psychopathology in the same way that a wounded dog will tend to attack those who approach it. It doesn't excuse inexcusable behaviour, but it does explain it.

A-fucking-Men OP.
That woman's is vile and I feel this is a way to get her off the hook. I have friends with BPD and they'd never do anything that AH has done.

Having looked up Borderline Personality Disorder a lot of it does seem to ring true for Amber, especially the intense fear of abandonment and inappropriate, intense anger and difficulty controling anger.

I get that not all people with BPD act this way, but it doesn’t seem unusual.

I agree. There's tapes of her abusing JD and people still try and paint her as the victim. She isn't an abuser because of her mental disorder, she's just an abuser.

Why would Depp's paid-for psychiatrist make up a diagnosis of BPD to 'get her off the hook'?

It's to dispute AHs claim of PTSD following the relationship, not to "get her off the hook".

What a strange thread. Are you saying that some of the potential symptoms of BPD are not that which have been outlined in the trial? Violence, aggression, attention seeking etc? I think you'd have to be quite naive to think that every single person experiences every single symptom of every single illness. BPD manifests in a number of ways and in AH's case, she abuses partners and those closest to her - I need not remind you that JD is not the only partner she has abused and if my memory serves me correctly, she has once been caught in a lie where she claimed to have been raped but actually told someone else's story?

It's difficult to decipher whether JD is an abuser because unfortunately, AH has told so many lies that it is now difficult to separate the lies from the truth and that is a real shame.

What is unquestionable however is that AH is an abuser, in her relationship with JD, in her earlier relationships and almost certainly will be in her later relationships.

Also echo a PPs comment about Dr Curry not be certified, the people that are using this as an argument really are embarrassing themselves with their ignorance.

Wonder what Johnny Depp’s diagnosis would be.

Amber Heard may or may not have BPD. I’m not sure a diagnosis by a psychiatrist hired by her ex husband is necessarily going to be particularly trustworthy, however.

Have you read anything about Dr Curry? She's hardly a person they've dragged off the streets 😂 she's a well respected professional in her circle, sits on advisory boards and conducts related research in top academic institutions

She's hardly a person they've dragged off the streets 😂 she's a well respected professional in her circle, sits on advisory boards and conducts related research in top academic institutions

I don't know why that would negate the PP points. She's the choice of/has a relationship with Amber's ex husband. No one would find that an ideal set up for a neutral diagnosis I don't think.

What relationship? He employed her as an expert witness in a trial, that happens in practically every trial. It's embarrassing what a limited understanding of court cases the general public have

What relationship? He employed her as an expert witness in a trial

he knew her.

I mean, why would anyone find a diagnosis from a doctor of their ex husbands choosing to be a preferable approach? When there are many other options out there.

The statements that ah lawyer was referring to wasn't written by the witness but lawyers if that's what u r referring to. In her testimony she stated she had video/witness to come to conclusions as well as seeing her for I think 10 hours and done extensive testing. She clearly meet her as she gave her a muffin so no idea where u are getting 15 mins zoom call from

What a strange thread. Are you saying that some of the potential symptoms of BPD are not that which have been outlined in the trial?

Strange, really?

Anyway no. That's not what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is, having BPD doesn't mean somebody is going to abuse their spouse and Amber's alleged BPD isn't the reason she has been abusive towards people.

You can be a shitty person and not have BPD. BPD doesn't make you a shitty person as is implied by alot of people in general.

I spent 10 minutes scrolling through social media this morning and came across multiple posts from people very gleefully announcing that:

• They could tell she had BPD from how abusive she has been.

• The BPD diagnosis explains her being abusive

^ just two examples among many.

Such statements and attitudes are harmful and having BPD given as the reason somebody is abusive is completely out of order.

The stigma stinks. There are so many of us that don't behave in an abusive way, yet are assumed to, because of the stigma.

Her BPD is being trumpeted as the reason she has been abusive and that's not on.

@ApertureGLaDOS my fault for not reading the full thread in its entirety. I assumed it was her psychiatrist giving the diagnosis not JDs.
Next time I'll RTFT

@MissCrowley I can understand the mix up. This case is already really confusing.

I agree with OP as it should happen about the vilification of mental health disorders and if anything, I'm not sure why more anger isn't directed at JD's legal team. They will be very aware the stigma certain personality disorders/ mental health conditions still hold and I can only assume they are taking the angle that a) it can't be PTSD because it's actually 2 personality disorders and b) because she has those personality disorders it's almost 'pre-destined' that she would be abusive. I think it's disgusting that they are trying to use personality disorders to discredit her and exploiting that stigma to make their case.

But you're just going to ignore the fact it's a therapist engaged by her ex-husband to dispute the claim they're relationship caused her to develop PTSD?

Yanbu to be angry that many people stereotype people with ND or MH issues based on their knowledge of one person. For example not all people with autism lack empathy.

AH will have an expert come up with a diagnosis for Depp too.

I’m sure she is. She’s also hired by Johnny Depp 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not entirely sure to what degree it matters whether Amber Heard has BPD or not. The trial isn’t to determine whether she’s an abuser, it’s to determine whether he is. She may indeed be an abuser, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t also one.

Coincidentally substance misuse is also recognised as a symptom of BPD and its Johnny with the substance misuse issues. It would be interesting to see that raised in cross examination.

If a woman has previous trauma and has problems with interpersonal relationships = BPD

If a man has previous trauma and engages in self harming behaviours in the shape of drug and alcohol abuse = ???

It is a bit of a misogynistic diagnosis to throw about, and it is thrown about.

Anyway, I don't know whether she has BPD or not but it's so offensive to see (not necessarily here, but on other social media) that the diagnosis is the reason for the abuse.

I asked my OH today whether he thinks I'm in any way abusive or intimidating, he said categorically not. He added that the only woman he has ever felt intimidated by, was his ex, who hit him and did not have BPD.

I, a woman with BPD, am less of a risk to my partner and children than his ex who had no mental health issues.

Similarly with my ex, he abused me and he didn't have BPD.

Some will have you believe, because they believe, that you should run for the hills if somebody you're dating has BPD (now that is something I have seen on mumsnet!) and it's such a cruel generalisation.

This vilification of Amber that has suddenly gone down the BPD route is perpetuating the alienation of the thousands of us, pretty nice people, with BPD.

Hate her behaviour, dislike her as a person, just please don't claim its because of that condition.

Autism, schizophrenia etc are also massively stigmatised and that has to stop too.

Judge people on an individual basis, not on a diagnosis.

Well of course his legal team would hire someone to dispute that. That's just common sense from their side.

Well of course it's obvious why. But it's bizarre to be angry at someone causing stigma because their ex's therapist has diagnosed them with it!