I Hate You--Don't Leave Me: Understanding the Borderline Personality

by Jerold J. Kreisman

Much of the borderline’s dramatic behavior is related to his interminable search for something to fill the emptiness that continually haunts him.

Unfortunately, the borderline has difficulty grasping that she does not need to earn acceptance continuously.

could transform from a docile, dependent, childlike woman into a demanding, screaming harpy.

"screaming harpy" while preaching empathy is a difficult line to walk. there's a lot of value in being honest about how behavior comes across, but it's probably best to do it without literal monstrous comparison.

Although unconsciously Pat may actually want Jake to physically overpower her, this need is based on unhealthy experiences from her past, and will likely later be used to criticize him more.

this comes again later in the case study. they do not KNOW that this is part of Pat's pathology, they've just assumed it must be.

In Fatal Attraction, for example,

fatal attraction as an actual "academic" reference about bpd? for real?

The borderline feels that if only he is attractive enough, or smart enough, or rich enough, or demanding enough, he will ultimately get what he wants.

It is important to remember that BPD is an illness, not a willful attempt to get attention.