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 think there’s a lack of understanding of the expert witness role here.

Whilst Depp’s legal team instructed Dr Curry, her responsibilities are ultimately to assist the court. She will receive payment whatever the outcome of the case. Whilst it’s possible for there to be bias depending on what side instructs you, if there’s clear evidence of this, an expert could themselves find themselves with a custodial sentence and their professional reputation trashed. It’s really not something many professionals would risk.

Dr Curry met with Heard for many hours for interview and conducted many psychometric tests. She would also have had access to all Heard’s medical and therapy records before even meeting her, so it is perfectly possible that she had a provisional opinion that Heard had a personality disorder before they met (& btw Histrionic Personality Disorder is a formal diagnosis, not a ‘made up thing’). Personality Disorders are also sometimes referred to as ‘Complex Trauma’ in the UK, as most people with these symptoms / attributes have abusive / traumatic histories.

I don’t agree with much of what Dr Curry said, but I think she did a very good job as an expert witness.

@beachcitygirl

Histrionic Personality Disorder is in the DSM 5.

Are you a mental health professional?

Women are also perpetrators of abuse.

Of course not. But bear in mind she was diagnosed after her relationship with Johnny ended, therefore she wasn’t on medication or having therapy with BPD in mind. From what I can tell, she was self-medicating with alcohol.

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!

Oh I completely understand you now! I thought you meant you couldn't understand why the legal team have asked for her to evaluate AH, sorry I've seen many comments on other forums/medias saying that and misunderstood your comment.

Women are also perpetrators of abuse.

This is fundamental for people to acknowledge. It's not just women who are victims. Men can be also.

Mental health conditions and autism are never an excuse for bad behaviour, end of. My dd has autism and bpd I've never allowed her to use them as a reason for being bad

You're right, they're not excuses for bad behaviour.

They're also not exclusively the reason for bad behaviour, in those who have the conditions.

I find the anti-psychiatry crowd to be unwilling to listen to any other opinions. They’re after an echo chamber.
There certainly is a problem with the psychiatric approach, especially to women and some other minorities. Black men, for example, are disproportionately diagnosed with psychotic disorders. I do not believe anyone would ruin their own career - a prestigious one at that - for Johnny Depp.

Has Amber took to the stand at all? I haven't been following the case closely but every clip I see it's either Johnny or other witnesses. I haven't seen her speak yet?

It's just so frustrating to see so many people saying it's a clear cut case of her being abusive because she has BPD and the BPD explains it perfectly when it doesn't, not at all

I hear you op. Sorry if this has upset you. I can understand why.

I work with service users who have a array of mental health diagnosis.

Some with BPD are non violent offenders some with BPD are violent offenders.

BPD is a sliding scale in my experience.

She does fit a BPD diagnosis, but I wouldn't then shoe horn everyone who has BPD in to the same "behaviours" because that isn't how BPD works, and it's definitely not my experience of working with people who have BPD.

Past trauma also effects how people with BPD frame/exhibit their behaviours so again it's not a one shoe fits all whatsoever.

But I agree OP many people don't understand the condition and are pretending it's now "proof". It's proof of nothing in my opinion.