My name is Summer and I am a 24 year old female.

I'm 24 years old (female), married with one son and live in  the Mountain West region of the United States. I have an eating disorder and I  self-injure, both are secondary to Borderline Personality Disorder.

Borderline has been hard on me and my family. Since I entered the workforce at 13, I have been hired over 35 times, averaging one job every three months with  long periods of unemployment. I even joined the Army (and was promptly thrown out). I am on my third attempt to go to college and I am happy to say that I  am about to complete my first semester. I have seen several mental health  professionals and finally landed on a combination of medicines that gives me  some increased function. A few professionals have refused to see me because I  was a Borderline, and one changed my diagnosis from BPD to Bipolar so my  insurance would reimburse her.

I have been deeply frustrated with my insurance. Even with good coverage, my  mental health costs outstrip my car payment every month. There are no parity  laws where I live, and I am actively working with my state legislators to  change that. I am also working with my employer, one of the largest in the  state, to provide insurance parity and become a good example.

I would be happy to exchange e-mails with other sufferers (BPD, eating  disorders, self-injury and/or suicide) or with family members and friends who  need help.

My email is: ancer@kinex.net