For years we’ve watched Miami Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall veer off and on a seemingly destructive path.

There has been the erratic behavior, the occasional outbursts, domestic issues and it all seemed to come to head this spring when his wife, Michi Nogami Marshall, was arrested for allegedly stabbing Marshall during a domestic dispute.

Even during the April incident Marshall was seeking treatment for mental illness. Marshall revealed this week to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that he suffers from borderline personality disorder a.k.a. BPD.

Marshall, who also played for the Denver Broncos, opened up about the part the disorder has played in his life and how it has affected his relationships over the years. He hopes that by telling his story that it will bring more awareness to BDP and perhaps will improve treatment and medical coverage for the recovery program that has cost him $60,000 out of his own pocket.

"Any time there's conflict it's a challenge," Marshall said in the Sun Sentinel piece. "What I'm feeling or trying to get across is right, but I'm reacting wrong. My actions or what I'm saying is not effective or productive and it makes the situation worse."

Marshall has been going to counseling at Boston’s McLean Hospital since earlier this year to learn to deal with the disorder.

The sessions have helped him in ways that the NFL-ordered counseling sessions had never helped in the past. Marshall now has a better understanding of his triggers and how to cope with anger and disappointment when it comes.

"By no means am I all healed or fixed," Marshall said, "but it's like a lightbulb's been turned on in my dark room."

For more on the symptoms and treatment for borderline personality disorder, click here.

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

(Photo: NFL via Getty Images)