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Old Dec 04, 2008, 10:59 AM
Ubiquitous Maninlev's Avatar
Ubiquitous Maninlev Ubiquitous Maninlev is offline
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Member Since: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beth1957 View Post
Hi UM,
I'm not a psychiatrist/psychologist/counsellor, but it sounds to me as if you have BPD. Mainly because that's my dx, along with major depressive disorder, and you sound similar to me...
I do have a history of volatile relationships, but on the other hand I'm not (I think!) manipulative, so I don't fit all of the DSM criteria either, as this is another of the "core" features. However, as Zloppy says, you don't have to fit all of them to "qualify"

As to treatment... I've read good reports of DBT, but like you I'm in the UK and it doesn't seem to be available where I live. I've been on venlafaxine; actually I've been on a lot of different antidepressants at one time or another - I keep breaking through on them. I'm currently on duloxetine & indeed have been for a couple of years now & it's still working, which is probably a record for me! It doesn't really help with the BPD side of things but does help with the associated depression. I'm also on Sodium Valporate as a mood stabiliser - now that has really helped me! I still get the mood swings but they aren't nearly as violent: in fact I've not felt the need to self harm for months. And I think I've curbed my overspending, though not my binge eating or my smoking, a bit.
I'm now in group therapy. It's going quite well, but it's early days yet and I've not raised a lot of my issues in the group.
I'm here if you want to talk; PM if you like.
In the meantime take care & stay safe.
Thanks very much - that is extremely helpful. Its really good to know that there are people out there going through this and have managed to find medication that works. It really sounds like things are going pretty well for you - good meds, going through therapy, curbing the self-destructive traits (which is bloody hard when one minute you say you'll never do it again, and the next minute you're doing the exact thing you swore against). That's really impressive.

I must say I've been offered group therapy and have my reservations - I'm really not sure I'd ever bring anything up.

I really really appreciate your response. Responses like these mean I can go and face the psychiatrist with a bit more confidence, and get him to seriously consider comorbid diagnoses rather than wait yet another month for the medication to not take effect.

Many many thanks. I wish you the very best of luck. I can't tell you how much your response has helped me.

UM