The pervasive sense of helplessness serves as a common thread for individuals grappling with borderline personality disorder, a condition that played a pivotal role in shaping the tumultuous life of the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe. This disorder propels individuals, like Monroe, into an eternal quest for refuge in a protective figure.
Joyce Carol Oates' novel 'Blonde' paints a haunting portrait of Monroe, depicting her as fragile, submissive, hypers----lized, insecure, childlike, and profoundly sad. The novel's controversial film adaptation resurrects the myth of Monroe with a starkness that is challenging to digest. Beyond Monroe's commercialization as a mere s---al object by an industry that undermined her human and professional worth, the film delves into the complex mental problems afflicting Norma Jean, problems even her psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson, remained unaware of until after his death.
"In the 1950s, when they began treating her, diagnoses like schizophrenia and depression were suggested. However, the lack of advanced tools to study the brain at that time complicates discussing a specific diagnosis," explains Isabel Serrano-Rosa, director and psychologist of EnPositivoSí.
Traditionally, attachment impulses lead individuals to seek a secure and trusting relationship, forming the core on which they build their self-image. For adults like Marilyn Monroe, who experienced emotional deficiencies or abuse in childhood, functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals difficulties in developing empathy mechanisms and forming bonds with others.
Serrano-Rosa draws attention to Simon Baron-Cohen's insights on borderline personality disorder, describing it as complex and often linked to additional pathologies such as eating disorders and substance abuse. Those with borderline personality disorder can be both aggressive and difficult to get along with or extremely dependent, craving attention due to early emotional deficiencies.
Individuals with borderline personality disorder experience a deep-seated fear of pain or abandonment when love is offered, leading them to reject it. The reference to romantic partners as a 'daddy' in Monroe's case reflects an enduring longing for a protective figure, rooted in the feeling of emptiness and helplessness that defines their lives.
These individuals struggle with abrupt mood changes, ranging from intense dependence to cruel rejection. Approximately one-third of borderline individuals may exhibit suicidal behavior due to impulsive tendencies. Their inability to read others and lack of empathy make them focus on their own needs, resembling babies incapable of entering the world of those around them.
Treatment for borderline personality disorder is challenging, requiring the establishment of secure attachment figures that set boundaries. It is crucial for individuals with this disorder to internalize that love involves self-care, countering their often self-destructive tendencies.
