Five years ago, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
The National Institute of Mental Health NIMH says that it's "an illness marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. People with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days." The most effective way to treat it is the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which is described by NIMH as "a type of therapy that uses concepts of mindfulness and acceptance or being aware of and attentive to the current situation and emotional state. That starts with knowing the symptoms and the feelings that came with it so you can recognize it later.”
People don't notice I struggle with mental illness and when I tell them they're always surprised. I've developed some good defense mechanisms over the years which help me mask it.
I started this project to try to understand more about my diagnosis and attempt to express the feelings attached to it as the first step of the DBT.
But the project turned into a conversation and that conversation became a safe circle for me and others like me. We realized we are not as alone in this as we thought we were, and that helped.
So yeah... I hope this helps.
Mennatalah Khaled, an Egyptian Photographer and Cinematographer, made the leap from a Computer Science degree at Alexandria University in 2021 to pursue art as her primary career. Specializing in portraits, street, and documentary photography, Menna captures the intangible elements of human experience – unfolding fears, dreams, and emotions. Her work has been showcased internationally, earning her multiple scholarships as a rising artist.