‘Interpreter of maladies’ sees writing as therapy

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9

Writing is a cathartic experience for many, especially for troubled souls. And when the writer is a patient of borderline personality disorder (BPD), writing remains not just a therapy, it becomes a life-changing experience.

This is what happened with Shabri Prasad Singh, who openly talks about her malady. She has penned a book titled “Borderline”.

She is the daughter of a late police officer, RS Prasad, who commanded respect among his colleagues and seniors over his work as IG (Litigation) during terrorism days in the state.

Shabri was at the Punjab Police Officers Institute here today for a book-reading session.

After her father’s demise, several police officers pooled money to send her abroad for studies as she was unable to follow a path here. But she came back, leaving her course mid-way and was termed a lost case. Today, she stands as an example before serving and retired police officers after conquering her malady and becoming a beacon for others.

Perhaps the best compliment came from DGP (Provisioning) VK Bhawara, the chief guest at the book-reading session. “I know her since childhood and am amazed at her transformation. She was a problem. Today, she is a solution to all affected with the BPD,” he said.

Inspector General of Police Gurpreet Deo, who moderated the event, said Shabri had given 25 per cent of royalty from the book to the Punjab Welfare Fund.

As Shabri talked about the life of a BPD person, she acknowledged how writing can be of great help. “My life changed when my therapists Dr Sanjay Chugh and Dr Purnima asked me to pen down my thoughts. As BPD persons get addicted to an activity, this was what I was addicted to. In a month, a rough draft of the book was ready. And here I am reaching out to people to spread awareness about the disorder which many suffer from, but are unaware of or others don’t acknowledge it,” she said.

The symptoms of the BPD originate in all of us, she said. “A normal person can handle them or learn to handle them, but a BPD patient cannot.”

People suffering from BPD have tell-tale signs. “They indulge in unnecessary quarrels; are very friendly but discard a person fast; become distant easily; suffer from excessive anger over trifles or assumed matters; are known trouble-makers and can’t stand criticism at all; and are prone to self-harm.

“The worse is that others don’t understand the malady and even the person does not until he or she is rightly diagnosed. This is where writing as a therapy helped.

“But writing about one’s thoughts and life is one thing and putting it in public domain is another. It was the most difficult decision.

“Writing would not have cured me if I had not bared it all. I have talked about a phase of my life when I was in and out of relationships, was possessive and clingy, and had one-night stands,” she added.