Movie Characters With Borderline Personality Disorder
Some people may be shocked about how prevalent mental health concerns are in the United States. However, this data is not entirely unexpected since mental health is taboo and shameful for years.
The truth is 1 in 5 people will struggle with a mental health concern in a given year, according to the CDC. In addition, experts estimate that half of all adults will be diagnosed with a mental health condition during their lifetime.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that about 1.5 percent of the population live with signs and symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Individuals diagnosed with BPD or exhibit symptoms of this condition can experience severe functional limitations and may be debilitating by its effects. In addition, individuals with BPD often struggle with difficulty regulating their emotions. It is most often occurs with uncomfortable feelings, such as loneliness, abandonment, fear, guilt, and regret.
When individuals have trouble processing these emotions, it can lead to intense behaviors such as:
● Dangerous or reckless choices, like speeding, spending sprees, or unsafe sexual practices
● Bouts of uncontrollable anger, which can lead to verbal confrontations, violence, and acts of physical aggression
● Crippling depression can result from a deep-set fear of abandonment or a realization of the extent of their actions
Individuals with BPD may use substances to cope with some of these underlying emotions. As a result, they are at an increased risk for developing a substance use disorder such as alcoholism or drug addiction.
Though women are more likely to receive a BPD diagnosis, research suggests that men suffer from the condition equally. Men are often wrongly assessed to have post-traumatic stress disorder syndrome due to how this condition presents in that population.
Scientists are not entirely sure what causes the condition, but most mental health professionals agree it stems from a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors.
Despite the dramatic stigma associated with mental illness, society has a steady appetite for Hollywood films that revolve around characters suffering from psychiatric concerns.
The main characters in these seven movies have BPD:
Uncut Gems (2019)
In this breakout role, Adam Sandler plays a man with a crumbling, chaotic day-to-day life. His character, Howard Ratner, is a jeweler and compulsive gambler living in New York City.
While Ratner’s BPD diagnosis is not a significant part of the storyline, the audience can see that he is unwell. The way Ratner is in this movie can certainly ring true for some individuals with BPD. In real life, many people suffering from a gambling addiction struggle to recover because of BPD.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Pat Solatano, played by Bradley Cooper, moves back in with his parents after his bipolar disorder led him to get treated in a psychiatric hospital. The drama starts when Solantano begins a tumultuous romantic relationship with Tiffany Maxwell. Jennifer Lawrence does a great job with this role, as her vivid portrayal of telltale BPD symptoms earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Monster (2003)
In this film, Charlize Theron plays a prostitute turned serial killer who murders seven men. The movie was based on real-life crimes and highlighted her character’s enduring struggle with trauma and mental health. At the January 1992 trial, a psychiatrist testified she had been diagnosed with BPD, contributing to her murders.
Prozac Nation (2001)
Christina Ricci stars in this aptly-named film as Elizabeth Wurtzel, a young Harvard freshman coping with severe mental health issues. As the character’s story unfolds, her problems with impulse control, fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, a precarious grasp on her identity and excessive use of antidepressants are significant indicators she is suffering from BPD.
American Psycho (2000)
An intense and somewhat gruesome take on the “decade of greed,” American Psycho stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman. He is a successful New York City financier hiding a double life as a predatory serial killer. Though the film does not revolve around his mental health issues, Bale’s character displays BPD traits, such as disproportionate emotional responses, an unstable self-identity, and uncontrollable anger.
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Angelina Jolie got her debut role as Lisa Rowe in this movie, which takes place in a 1960s psychiatric hospital. Winona Ryder’s character, Susana Kaysen, is admitted to the institution for BPD and is heavily influenced by Jolie’s more extreme behavior. As the story unfolds, Ryder’s character faces the decision to follow in the footsteps of her rebellious new friend or listen to friends, family, and staff workers who want her to get better.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2003)
In this sci-fi, romantic, comedy-drama, Clementine Kruczynski goes through a turbulent breakup with Joel Barish. Clementine, played by Kate Winslet and Joel (played by Jim Carey), decides to erase the other person’s memories.
Though Winslet’s character is considered whimsical in the film, she struggles with alcohol use disorder, difficulty regulating her emotions, and impulsivity that is a strong indication of BPD.
There are a variety of mental illnesses that can impact the lives of many people. Some conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression are relatively easy to recognize, understand, and diagnose. Others aren’t as common. Unfortunately, such complexity and lack of awareness usually make the diagnostic process much more difficult.
Regardless, individuals with any of these conditions require treatment from a trained mental health professional.
While it doesn’t affect as many people as depression or anxiety, it is still a severe mental health concern. The hope is that seeing a movie with a character who has BPD will resonate with people, who may more easily be able to recognize potential signs and symptoms in their own life or the lives of their loved ones.
