From the article: Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment
Many people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) do not get the treatment they need for years after they first start experiencing symptoms. This can happen due to a variety of factors, including financial problems, difficulties finding a therapist that knows how to treat BPD, and hopelessness about treatment working. What has been your biggest obstacle to starting treatment? If you overcame the obstacle and finally made it into treatment, how did you overcome it?
Still Unheard
- I've been receiving psychological treatment off and on for the past few years. It has only been recently that I was diagnosed with "severe BPD". What bothers me is that my therapist seems to use the wrong tactics on me at times. Honestly, I don't think I am BPD; but in order for me to receive treatment now, I have to go along with the stigma of BPD even within the psychiatry system. Thanks for listening.
- —Guest Chatty51
Beginning Recovery :)
- I'm 15, and was diagnosed with BPD just a couple weeks ago. All my life it was just "depression" and "self harm", no one really ever looked close enough to see what it really was. I'm happy now, for the first time in years. My therapist is amazing, and we caught it a lot earlier than normal. I have a really good chance of recovery she says, although I know the road will be long and hard. Good luck to all of you :)
- —Guest lilylovesmexXx
Not Ready For Primetime
- Having turned 60 last December, I am frustrated at not being anywhere near successful treatment. I now have 10 years clean time (recovering addict) and yet I still don't have a med that works. Psych officials have taken me off all meds and given me Psych testing! Help me I ask...they are taking their sweet time (I have been without meds for 3 months...DBT worked for awhile, but they didn't want me to come until the med situation was addressed). It's a gut-wrenching torture to feel like I'm coming out of my skin.
- —Guest the impaler
I am BPD
- I have recently been diagnosed with BPD and am in the process of getting help. My therapist is working with me and so are my friends and family. It's nice to know that I am not alone in this and that there are others out there like me. Being 38 and just now being diagnosed is a big step for me. Yes I was abused as a child after my father died when I was 8. But now I know that there is hope.
- —Guest Jasonvh
Misdiagnosis and lack of health insuranc
- My biggest obstacle in getting treatment for BPD has been getting a diagnosis other than "alcoholic." I have no health insurance and have sought help from low-cost providers who diagnosed alcoholism and depression because it was easier and cheaper to treat than BPD. It went on for years and years and I only reverted to the same behaviors again and again.
- —Guest Joe
bpd clinical resource directory
- Here is a resource you can use to findDBT intensively trained therapists and treatment programs that offer DBT: http://www.behavioraltech.com/resources/crd.cfm. I have BPD, and am currently trying to find a BPD treatment program. This resource has been the best thing that I have found so far to find treatment programs/providers for DBT, which is considered to be the top treatment for BPD.
- —Guest guest shelley
I feel much better now...
- I was diagnosed as having a BPD when I was 15 years old after I had seen my only brother kill himself. I have been assaulted, I have been a drug addict, I have hurt my loved ones and myself countless times. I tried every therapy that you can imagine, including psychiatry, medications, hospitals, asylums...you name it. I am 30 years old today and I feel much better; it has been 5 years since I stopped medications and therapists. I turned into meditation, yoga and spirituality. It might be that many of you are not believers, however, trust that the only thing that helped me was my faith and my willpower. God was my only savior. I am not that religious, I still do some "bad things" from time to time, but I really can say today that I no longer have a BPD. When first diagnosed, reading the symptoms, I really knew it was me. Now, when i read them, I see the person I was before! My advice to you is to pray and believe that there is a way out. Trust me, you can make it and you will hopefully.
- —Guest Faith
My daughter and I
- I went to see a psychiatrist trying to find help for my daughter. The doctor told me he believed she had BPD from my description of symptoms. I went out and bought all the books I could find on this disorder and I felt I was reading biographies on her life. I knew that's what she had, yet she was appalled and very angry when I suggested she get help. Sometimes, I wondered if she was right. I still do at times. It's possible that I am a recovering BPD sufferer and that she has this disorder too. I am taking Lexapro, which had helped me immensely to cope with her anger, accusations, volatile personality, impulsivity, and lack of control. What worries me most, is her two year old baby girl, whom I absolutely adore. She is my little princess and I worry so much that this child will also develop BPD. Many times she is in her arms while she yells at me and accuses me of being the cause of all her problems. As I mentioned, she absolutely refuses to get treatment. What can I do?
- —Guest Nannette1pr
Be Careful with "Coming Out"
- BPD is an incredibly stigmatizing disease. Once people know you've even had a "hint" of a diagnosis of BPD - they begin treating you so differently. Typically, health care professionals are the worst. I remember while in nursing school when we discussed BPD - the message was sort of like "Run for the nearest exit. These people are manipulative liars, emotional drains and they are hopelessly ill." I would be judicious in my self-identification with this disorder. It can come back to bite you - just when you need help most.
- —Guest CBear
There is Light
- I want to say that there is hope for the BPD. I was diagnosed 15 years ago, then rediagnosed a year ago. In those fifteen years I made massive strides on my own, not willing to admit that I was someone with an illness to be treated. I have been seeing a therapist for one year now and have made excellent strides. There are still days I want to give up, want to make it all go away. Those days are fewer and far between. I promise, it does get better. You have to retrain your brain to work within the social norms. Much like a soldier has to retrain his brain after coming home from a war. A lot like a stoke victim has to learn to use a different part of his brain to speak. Use lots of visual cues to remember not to act out, or to do things that need to be done. Each day it gets bit easier, even with the depressed times. A good key is to find a therapist that is able to listen to you but not take bull crap either. Good Luck, it can be done.
- —Guest MilkQuasy
The journey continues.
- I am a 41 yr old professional female who struggles continuously with BPD. I was abused and neglected and then became extremely vulnerable and an easy target for pedophiles because of BPD. The terror continues as I struggle to maintain healthy relationships with people who may or may not be able to put up with the mood swings of splitting. We continue to try to educate ourselves and learn from "episodes" of panic and devaluation. Basically they have learned that "it will be better in the morning." I don't want to cause such chaos. I have gone to psychotherapy for 23 years. I have been on every medication used for treating related symptoms. I went inpatient for 3 wks. I know that I make many mistakes that quite often run off the very person that I want to cling to more than anything. Then I totally push them away and frantically look for my next victim only to do it again. Makes for loneliness and very few friends. Would love to know how others stop the cycle!
- —Guest 41 yr old survivor
Beware the charismatic psychiatrist.
- Some people with genuinely charismatic personalities may habitually misuse that enviable feature with untoward results. A psychotherapist who is, perhaps, overly adept at persuasion may attempt to use it in defiance of the so-called scientific method to visit a pet theory upon a hapless patient. Charisma is neither the same as genius nor is it a substitute for professional acumen. Point: Get as many objective references as possible before putting your mind on the line prematurely.
- —Guest Tom Harrington
depression
- I was diagnosed with BPD 1 year ago. The symptoms started years ago without me knowing it. Symptoms start with stress. Depression, neck and back pains, headaches, lack of forgiveness, sleeping problems, isolating from others, chest pains, short temper, etc. Then my GP sent me to see a psychologist. I've been seeing one for the last year but I feel more and more depressed everyday. One day up the next day back to day one. I can't handle it anymore you feel so useless.
- —Guest ester
H E L P
- I was diagnosed with BPD just over a year ago and it was like my world was turned upside down. It seems that with a personality disorder you are placed on a black list. Unfortunately now I have an even bigger problem, I need to get into the DBT program but the waiting list is at least 14 months long. I need to find better ways to cope or a theropist who specializes in Borderline personality Disorder so that I may be able to lead a better life for myself and my 3 young children. If you have ANY suggestions, please let me know..... Thank you for your time
- —MissTanyaP
i did it so can you
- it took over 17 years for my life to make sense and a long line of suicide attempts and incredible lows and a final crash and nearly losing my son for someone to finally listen but when they did therapy was like a light switch at first it was on dim but it soon lit the room now i know its there its like a safety blanket after about half of my life not knowing who i was its fabulous to feel real at last not empty and strange id like to thank sue gaggs for her time and patience also my partner and friends whos suppport and love saved my life
- —twistypix
I need help. Please!!!!
- I have been misdiagnosed for what's coming up on 20 years. My current therapist and MD still wish to say I have Bipolar Depression. It has only been three weeks since "I" discovered my true disorder. Reading tree books and 150+ articles on BPD during this time period it was like reading a blueprint of my life. Yet, my doctors still refuse to listen to me. I dont know where to start looking for a therapist who specializes in BPD & DBT because I live in a small town in eastern NC with limited resources. If someone can lead me to specific and credible resources which can help I would be indebted to them. thanks for listening. Deacon85
- —DEACON85
