Quote:
Originally Posted by steelfang
I don't understand why there is such a stigma, even in the mental health community, when the words "borderline personality disorder" are uttered. Ever since I received this dx my podocs and therapists have all been very surprised that I am a relatively pleasant/patient individual. I mean sure I overreact to things but I have learned to internalize much of it or tone it down to an appropriate level. It sucks having to search high and low when you need a new therapist because so many of them run for cover when they hear I have this diagnosis. It feels like I have been branded forever :/
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There's a mode called detached protector that many people with bpd function in where we appear pleasant and "normal". It's in this mode often therapist/pdocs think we may be getting better when we're not. We're just coping by not addressing the issues.
https://sites.google.com/site/cognit...ality-disorder
I'm not saying this is you, but it's one possible explanation. I think I tend to function in this mode more often than not.
We can be difficult clients and prior to 2005 we tended to be viewed as a lost cause with little to no hope for any kind of recovery. DBT didn't come around until the early to mid 00's, and today people still have hard time finding a program or getting into a program if they can find one. I've yet to see any programs in my area for schema therapy or mbt both of which are suppose to be good for treating bpd. So therapies to treat bpd are still relatively new and in there infancy stage.
I often see these posts where people write they are not their disorder and that may be true, but their disorder is part of them. The way we act, interact with others, cope with stress is our behavior, many of us lack identity and have very rigid thinking and it's all dysfunctional. They're behaviors that we've lived with the majority of our lives and changing behaviors and perceptions of ourselves isn't easy. It's not like a mood disorder where you can pop a pill and oftentimes see improvement, and therapies for mood disorders have been around longer, and is probably much less demanding than treating a personality disorder.
I think there are some therapists that want to help but don't think they can and so they don't try for fear of letting themselves down, as well as, us. Then there's others that just don't want the hassle and aggravation.
In my opinion treating a personality disorder is much specialized than general therapy. I don't think a therapist who chooses not to treat a personality disorder is necessarily a bad therapist. That may just not be their expertise and have no desire for it to be their expertise. I think what makes a therapist bad are the ones that lack understanding, compassion and speak of us in a derogatory way.