Dating Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder Made Me Realize I’m a Narcissist—Why Don’t We Talk More About Mental Health in India?

Mental health conversations in India feel almost non-existent, and I’ve realized how much that silence can hurt. I recently got out of a relationship with someone who has borderline personality disorder. It was a roller coaster of emotions, and honestly, we were toxic for each other. She was already in therapy, trying to manage her condition, but I didn’t realize until after the breakup that I had my own unresolved issues. When I finally went to therapy, I was diagnosed with narcissistic personality traits. The diagnosis shook me to the core. All my life, I felt like something was “off.” People would like me at first, but eventually, they’d distance themselves. I’ve emotionally hurt people close to me—especially my sister, who somehow keeps forgiving me, and my parents, who’ve always loved me despite my unkindness. Learning I’m a narcissist was hard to swallow, but my therapist assured me that while it can’t be “cured,” it can be managed. The relationship made me confront parts of myself I had ignored for too long. I wonder how different my life—and my relationships—might have been if conversations about mental health were normalized in our culture. Why don’t we talk more about mental health in India? How do we break the stigma and encourage more open discussions?