[maryeber]

I was just told by a mental health person that i had borderline personality disorder im not sure what it means ive done some research but still dont know about it

[Lexi232]

A lot. There are a couple of diffrent views on it.
BPD can not be treated by mediciene, BUT medicene can help. There is no cure all drug for it at this time.
You can have this disorder, and other things as well, or just have bpd.
Most commonly people who are diagnosised with BPD have PTSD (like me).
It is mostly the effects of what you weren't given enough as a child, or was given too much of. Not enough protection, statiblity, love, nurturance (and other things), or maybe too much protection. There are basic core childhood needs that every child needs as they are growing up. If they don't get it, then they may grow up and end up with this disorder.
It is curable. (there is some controversy over that though).

[pinkcorr]

for you Maryeber,

Welcome to PC. I remember when I was first diagnosed with BPD 9 years ago, its not easy to take in at first. I wanted to share this link with you, its a site ran by a woman named Tami Green who has recovered from BPD or is in recovery. She is a life coach amongst other things, she talks to professionals, she has talked to congress about BPD, she helps those with BPD and their loved ones.

I know alot of information about BPD, but I won't bombard you with it all.

http://www.borderlinepersonalitysupport.com/

Hope you find the link useful

x x x x

[ECHOES]

Hi Mary,
I hope you will read the many posts here on this forum to find you are not alone and there is hope for your life to feel better. I hope that you have the help of a psychotherapist who works with those for whom BPD is an apt descritpion. My therapist has made all the difference in my life.

I posted a description of BPD symptoms that I relate to and that are a bit different, or more clearly explained than some standard descriptions.
http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=115908

Below is the description I posted on that thread. I hope you will read the replies there too, as you are reading other threads here.

from the site: http://www.borderlinedisorders.com/public.php

The symptoms of borderline patients are similar to those for which most people seek psychiatric help: depression, mood swings, the use and abuse of drugs, alcohol, or food as a means of trying to feel better; obsessions, phobias, feelings of emptiness and loneliness, inability to tolerate being alone.

In addition, these patients displayed great difficulties in controlling ragefulness; they were unusually impulsive, they fell in and out of love suddenly; they tended to idealize other people and then abruptly despise them. A consequence of all this was that they typically looked for help from a therapist and then suddenly quit in terrible disappointment and anger.

Underneath all these symptoms, therapists began to see in borderline people an inability to tolerate the levels of anxiety, frustration, rejection and loss that most people are able to put up with, an inability to soothe and comfort themselves when they become upset, and an inability to control the impulses toward the expression, through action, of love and hate that most people are able to hold in check. What seems to be of central importance in the symptoms and difficulties mentioned above is that the hallmark of the "borderline" personality is great difficulty in holding on to a stable, consistent sense of one's self: "What am I?" these people ask. "My life is in chaos; sometimes I feel like I can do anything—other times I want to die because I feel so incompetent, helpless and loathsome. I'm a lot of different people instead of being just one person."

The one word that best characterizes borderline personality is "instability." Emotions are unstable, fluctuating wildly, often for no discernible reason. Thought processes are unstable—rational and clear at times, quite extreme and distorted at other times. Behavior is unstable—often with periods of excellent conduct, high efficiency and trustworthiness alternating with outbreaks of regression to childlike states of helplessness and anger, suddenly quitting a job, withdrawing into isolation, failing.

Self control is unstable leading to impulsive behaviors and chaotic relationships. A person with borderline personality disorder may sacrifice themselves for others, only to reach their limit and suddenly fly into rageful reproaches, or they may curry favor through obedient submission only to rebel, out of the blue, in a tantrum.

Associated with this instability is terrible anxiety, guilt and self-loathing for which relief is sought at any cost—medicine, drugs, alcohol, overeating, suicide. Sadly, oddly, self-injury is discovered by many borderline people to provide faster relief than anything else—cutting or burning themselves stops the anxiety temporarily.

The effect upon others of all this trouble is profound: family members never know what to expect from their volatile child, siblings, or spouse, except they know they can expect trouble: suicide threats and attempts, self-inflicted injuries, outbursts of rage and recrimination, impulsive marriages, divorces, pregnancies and abortions; repeated starting and stopping of jobs and school careers, and a pervasive sense, on the part of the family, of being unable to help.

[peechiz]

Has anyone here ever tried dialectical behavioral therapy? what are your thoughts about it?

[shezbut]

Originally Posted by peechiz

Has anyone here ever tried dialectical behavioral therapy? what are your thoughts about it?

I am in DBT. It is very helpful to me.

Rather than questioning what brought us there, we are learning healthier ways to deal with the pain and avoid hurting others/ourselves. We refer to incidents somewhat vaguely, as we are to discuss "triggers" in private therapy with our T.

Sometimes, triggers are brought up in group ~ and almost all of us become very emotional, and the group facilitators gently work to get us grounded and remind us to use mindful techniques to stay grounded.

My group is very kind and supportive. We do care about one another. That helps me put my guard down and speak honestly. Facing my old skeletons in the closet is very new & I hope to finally gain acceptance.

That's my experience anyway.