‘Wanted to raise awareness on disorders’
Author Shabri Prasad Singh talks about her ordeals with Borderline Personality Disorder and the decision to pen down her book, Borderline
Besides being an author, Shabri Prasad Singh, 32, is someone who loves to cook, paint and party. She has majored in anthropology and psychology and has even tried her hand at politics. To most, Singh may not come across like a person who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder — a mental disorder characterised by unstable moods, behaviour and relationships. And, that is precisely why she has penned her debut novel, Borderline, which is a fictionalised account borrowed from her life.
“Borderline is my attempt at creating awareness by talking about mental disorders, something that is still a taboo for many. People need to know what having a disorder feels like and that is why I decided to fictionalise my ordeals and made it palatable for the reader,” says Singh. Written in an incredibly emotional manner, accompanied by clear and crisp language, this pageturner, traces the journey of Amrita Srivastava, her battles with excess emotions, and how she finally accepts her situation.
Talking about her own condition and how she balances it now, she says, “Initially, it was hard. I went through a phase called psychosis. I remember being at a holi party where I thought I was getting married.” She goes on, “All of this lead me checking into a rehab, and that wasn’t a great experience. However, my doctor, Sanjay Chugh was a great help. I am still on seven different medications that help me balance the disorder. All this wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t understood my condition and sought help. And, that is why I want to raise awareness, so that no one else suffers.”
Singh’s working on two books now — a dark romantic comedy called Delhi to Dholpur and Into the Mind, a psychological thriller.
People need to know what having a disorder feels like, and that is why I decided to fictionalise my ordeals through this book
SHABRI PRASAD SINGH, AUTHOR