SITE INFORMATION

GOALS OF THIS SITE

1. To provide support.
2. To provide a safe and friendly site for all involved with BPD to express their opinions, feelings, concerns and experiences on BPD openly, freely and respectfully.
3. To provide accurate and up-to-date information on all aspects of Borderline Personality Disorder.
4. To provide resources, both web site and hard copy to Australians.
5. To establish a support group here in Australia and over time to establish similar support groups within each state.
6. To increase the awareness and acceptance of BPD amongst health professionals and the public in general.
7. To erase the stigma attached to mental illness by accurate renaming of disorders.
8. To assist in encouraging research into the causes of BPD and the subsequent recovery programs.
9. To provide an Australian database of professionals who treat people affected by BPD and/or those who love and care for them.

Revised Feb 2002

TERMS OF AGREEMENT OF THIS SITE

RESPECT - Respect other people’s point of view and even if you may differ NEVER attack another persons comments or the person themselves. Express your thoughts and beliefs respectfully and help point the person to a topic, a thought or a website that will help them obtain a better understanding.

TOPICS - Topics should be kept to BPD related topics but at the same time we do not want to lose track of the reason why we are here – to support each other.

CONFIDENTIALITY - This issue is important to everyone now-a-days and you are responsible for the information you reveal about yourself and others. Obtaining a new e-mail address through yahoo or hotmail etc using a code name is a good idea. This site will have a large amount of through traffic on it and therefore it has limited control. You do not have to put your e-mail address on every post you make.

GIVING ADVICE - Not the best thing to do with people who are hurting or suffering. I do not state that this site knows the answer to every question and I am sure you don’t either. People find the greatest comfort when others share similar experiences, talk about how they handled situations, what worked, what didn't, that they had experienced the same thing etc. But unless you are suitably qualified please refrain from giving advice. Certainly talk about your experiences but please direct them to professional advice, if required.

FLAMING - As described earlier under jargon, will not be tolerated on his site. If this happens please forward the details to the owner of the site and this issue will be dealt with professionally. No I am not saying you have to agree with everyone and everything, by all means disagree on THE TOPIC, but not the writer. The support that comes from sites like this cannot be jeopardized by one person's strong beliefs. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

ANGER/BLAMING - It's crucial to keep in mind that you can often go through stages of being very angry and blaming a partner/family member for what has happened--just like the person with BPD can blame their Non for all their problems. However, these are STAGES. When people post, you are only seeing a 'snapshot' of what is happening with their lives and emotions. You are NOT seeing the 'whole movie.' Most of the time, after Non's work through some of their pain and grief, they do come to realize the part that they actually played in the marriage/relationship. And although they may be very angry with the BP, they do also care a great deal for that person. If they didn't, they wouldn't be here. The BP is slightly different as what they perceive to be reality is often believed but this makes no difference. No one, I repeat no one has the right to get angry and blame others posting here. Special note: as this is a mixed site it is easy for BP's or Non's to go in and have a look at the others message board. This sort of action has been known to trigger reactions and we don't want that to happen to anyone.

POSTINGS - This site aims to provide a safe, comfortable non-threatening environment for you to discuss issues relevant to BPD and the feelings that goes with this disorder. There are two message boards – one for people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (on the Home Page under the question of "Have you been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder") and another for people who love and care for someone with the disorder (again on the home page under the question "Are you in a relationship with someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder).

I have provided a separate message board for each group and it would be appreciated if you would respect each other's right to talk within their own groups. Boundaries have been set and it would be appreciated if those boundaries were respected. The moderators have the power to block access to the site. They do not want to have to take such action but the goal of providing a safe, comfortable, non-threatening environment will not be put at risk.

If you have any problems with people posting or anyone upsetting the fabric of this site them please direct their posting to the Site Moderator to my attention.

SWEARING Will not be accepted and the "Swear Sheriff" will ride the threads. Any overly descriptive language will have you blocked from accessing the site. I am counting on your maturity and respect for others but moderators will intervene if they have to.

MESSAGE POSTING I urge you to use Yahoo, Hotmail type general e-mail accounts when using the message boards. By doing this you will remain anonymous. Also if anyone is worried about someone looking at your web site visited history I urge you to clear your PC history. To see 'how to' do this go to Helen's Site on the links page.

NON PROFIT This site is totally funded by myself and is proudly an Australian first. It is not funded by any Government grants, secondary organization or company and all information will remain within the boundaries of The Shack. I intend to keep it this way as the receipt of funding can sometimes influence the information provided. My thoughts and beliefs are my own, I have followed my dream and I intend to keep it that way.

DISCLAIMER At no time am I portraying that I am a professional in the field of therapy or Borderline Personality Disorder, nor do I wish to take on the role of therapist or ‘rescuer’. My knowledge was gained from some 22 books, 1000's of pages on the web, what I experienced and talking with Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists and people who suffer from or care for someone with BPD. It is all 'self taught', just like the comments you will receive from other people on The Shack. All care is taken in the preparation of the information and published materials on this web-site but The Shack accepts no responsibility nor liability for, and makes no representations with respect to, the accuracy of the information and published materials on this web-site. Where information has come from other web-sites a link to that site will be provided. Sometimes information is forwarded to me without acknowledgement of the author. Should you find such a case please let me know and I will supply the appropriate link.