BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
The main feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions. People with borderline personality disorder are also usually impulsive, oftentimes demonstrating self-injurious behaviors (risky sexual behaviors, cutting, suicide attempts.)
Imagine someone who fits the description above. Or maybe, like me, you know and love people who fit the description above.
Now imagine that person winning the lottery to the sum of 86 million dollars. What do you think he or she would do?
This is what the movie, "Welcome to Me," staring Kristen Wiig, is about. Kristen plays Alice Klieg, a woman in her 30s whose original diagnosis was bipolar disorder but later changed to borderline personality disorder.
Alice knows what she wants. She wants her own television show that totally and completely focuses on her and depicts (from her point of view) all of the pain that others have inflicted on her.
Is it difficult to watch? Yes. Does it seem real? Yes. We saw it yesterday. Dave did not care for it. I was kind of spellbound. It mostly validated what I already know about this disorder. Wiig does an amazing job of showing us this sweet, vulnerable, funny, smart, crazy, selfish, narcissistic, self destructive woman.
How much of the 86 million dollars is left when the movie ends? I'm sure you know the answer.
Why didn't Dave like the movie? My take on it is that he's way too well adjusted to relate.
My favorite character in the movie, besides Alice? Her psychiatrist, played by Tim Robbins. He obviously cares for and respects her but, in the end, he has to turn her away in order to save himself.
I get it.
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