[MisterUnderstood]

I have a general question for all of the borderlines out there. Is there anyone out there who feels that they're stigmatized as addicts by their doctor, even without having a history of abuse? I went to a psychiatrist previously who stopped even listening to my opinions because he said that "all I wanted was more and it's never gonna end." He said that I was probably Borderline, and he refused to prescribe me anything else. I told him that I'd used a couple of my mother's Xanax to help stop myself from exploding, but I didn't use them as an every day or even every week thing. I've been on Vicodin for surgeries, and I've never had an issue with coming off of it when it's time. I've used tramadol in the past couple of days to self-medicate, but if I had any other alternative, I'm sure I could stop it completely. And I've smoked cigarettes for over a year, but I can go weeks without needing a dose of nicotine. Why are doctors so distrustful of borderline patients, and why do they view them all as drug seekers and addicts? I know that substance abuse and BPD co-occur a LOT, but so does substance abuse and bipolar, and you don't see docs having an issue prescribing sedatives to bipolar patients to control their manic episodes. Why are doctors so focused on depriving an entire population of a possible help because of a population stereotype? Or am I maybe just kinda rationalizing the reason I was denied medications? Opinions would be appreciated! Thank you!

[nummy]

I hadn't realized, really hadn't.

My doc just informed me that, after 30 years of a depression dx, a likley dx of Aspergers, then a recent dx of bipolar ,that suddenly he suspects "something else going on" and that being borderline. he cut my antidepressant--which brought me out of a full on mixed state--and helped me feel better than I have in YEARS--to almost zero. This is bewildering as hell for me. I feel for you, i really do, but after going out of my way to please these people, to suddently be told I just have this terrible personality...has left me really wondering how I should respond. its almost like they gave up on helping my depression, or maybe the insurance company is pressuring them to save them a few bucks worth of medication and just say my whole problem is that I'm just some unlikeable
windbag. i suddenly understand why they are suddenly asking about my family;s background of addiction. Guilty by association, no doubt. Makes me sorta sorry I asked for help. No, wait it doesn't, but I need the antidepressant...not the stigma.

i wish you well. it sucks.

[MisterUnderstood]

So essentially, doctors just see borderline as a medical black hole? That once you receive a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, they pretty much can't do a thing for you? That's kinda messed up. I know that in general, we're a little difficult to work with, but to basically give up on it? I've heard stories of doctors refusing to even treat Borderlines, and saying they're too difficult. Or nurses complaining about them at the hospital. You'd figure that doctors would want to help, not give up.

Eh ? We don't have a terrible personality !! I feel as if ur stigmatising nummy !!!
I'm a empathetic person and if anything I care too much for people and I work in health sector. I have no addictions at all and I only have the intense emotions and hatred of myself. In not violent towards others. Maybbe realise not everyone is the dame

[nummy]

Sorry, just going by all the stupid, stereotyping crap I've read on line, much if it by doctors. What an awful rx to be saddled with.

But no, it's not hopeless. I read a study that if 52 with bpd, only 9 % met the criteria for bpd a few years later. I've also read the rx is a joke and calls for it to be removed completely from the DSM.

Yeh my doc called it emotionally unstable . Which I agree is what I am. But if anything it's because I care too much and too busy hating myself and bein socially awkward to be the typical bpd. It hurts reading stuff sometimes yano? I'm only 26 n I still feel like a kid xxxx

[nummy]

If it helps, my t told me most people outgrow it. So apparently I'm a medical miracle, having caught it at age 50. Hahaha!!! Gotta laugh.

I'm super sensitive too. I really admire you for your choice in jobs. Can't be easy. Me, I line talking to people at the bus stop, but socialization is difficult after that. I have a sister I get along great with. Coworkers who I usually do, but my best friend died 4 years ago and I've no longing to replace her. I'm just a little burned around the edges by life right now, and people keep the heat on me, wondering why I keep saying ouch.

If I do get diagnosed with it, it will be people like you I will think of, people who fight the stigma, living a good life best they can. But to be honest, a dx will make me give up. I'm too old to reinvent mysekf at 50.

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by MisterUnderstood

Why are doctors so distrustful of borderline patients, and why do they view them all as drug seekers and addicts? I know that substance abuse and BPD co-occur a LOT, but so does substance abuse and bipolar, and you don't see docs having an issue prescribing sedatives to bipolar patients to control their manic episodes. Why are doctors so focused on depriving an entire population of a possible help because of a population stereotype?

A lot of psychiatrists are reluctant to prescribe benzodiazepines even with people who have no history of addiction. You just may have a diligent psychiatrist.

I think the BPD population gets singled out because medications are often used to regulate emotions rather than mood which can easily develop into a serious addiction. Addiction compromises psychotherapy and worsens the illness.

Bipolar disorder is mainly treated with medication. Benzodiazepines can help control the manic state and relieve akathisia caused by antipsychotics which a lot of people with the disorder take.

[MisterUnderstood]

I suppose that they really are just a crutch. But from what I've experienced (and I know this sounds like an addict), I'm pretty good at coming down off of meds. Neurontin is supposedly physically addictive, but I actually went off of it FASTER than my doc told me to just to stop it from making me so slow-witted and stupid and I had no ill effects. Coming off of Lexapro, however, did leave me with some pretty bad withdrawal. Like the entire world was spinning and I had a tremor for months. But I'm pretty good at knowing when enough is enough. I don't know if they can, but isn't there a way for them to prescribe a minimal amount of a medicine? Like maybe 5 emergency Ativan a month or something, just so the temptation isn't there?

[doglover1979]

Originally Posted by nummy

I hadn't realized, really hadn't.
but after going out of my way to please these people, to suddenly be told I just have this terrible personality...has left me really wondering how I should respond.

People with borderline don't have terrible personalities, we are misunderstood and have poor communication skills.

Be nice to yourself.

[Notoriousglo]

There is stigma out there and I think it's about finding supportive people. No doctors or therapists have ever mistreated me due to my dxs. If you asked for benzos or narcotics, w/e, that might be why the psychiatrist got upset. I'm not sure. Also, benzos and narcotics are not used for borderline, they are for like anxiety I believe... I thought I read somewhere antidepressants can help. I've never asked a doctor for a benzo or narcotic and they have prescribed them to me, but I never took them...but the point of them was for anxiety, not borderline freak outs. That could be some of it. I'd say you get a new psychiatrist.

Also, I'm pretty sure mood stabilizers are used for bipolars...not sedatives. I'm not a doctor, though.

I think it's true that psychiatrists and doctors as well are hesitant to just prescribe narcotics and benzos.

Get a second opinion?

[sideblinded]

Don't get me started on this subject:

I have a major problem trusting mental health diagnoses. These DSM's are merely speculative and involve a round table of doctors coming up with new terms for a set of observances in people. It is hardly scientific and the only reason I want a correct diagnoses is so I get the proper medication for them.

Every disorder gets a number so they can bill for it.

Even if a doctor or therapist said I had a personality disorder like BPD, I still would be reluctant to fully buy it and I would rather depend on myself and my own introspective nature to understand my type of traits.

Labels have a purpose but they are not always there for our best interest. I agree that there is stigma for every mental disorder. It is a shame.

It is a shame that people with mental illness are treated differently than those who have physical illnesses. It is a fact and it has taken insurance programs too long to treat both equally. (Parity)

IMO, BPD most probably gets a horrible wrap due to the classical signs like self harm and suicidal ideation and for those who are trying to get attention....There are many other facets to BPD as well.

Don't get me wrong here. It shouldn't matter if these traits are present. NO mental health professional should treat anyone with BPD worse than anyone else who has diabetes. There is too much ignorance in the mental health care field. Sometimes I am not treated very nicely when I go to my pdoc's office. I can sense it. No one can tell me that stigma is not still part of any mental diagnosis. It is still rampant and it is a shame.

Now I am pissed.

MDD
ADHD
GAD

[MisterUnderstood]

I don't 100% agree with the dx, but I don't 100% disagree with it either. I see a lot of borderline traits in me. I switch emotions quickly if someone makes me upset, I manipulate people with guilt trips, and I have really fast and hard relationships that kinda just burn out. But I also see some bipolar traits as well. The mood swings can be completely random, I'm pretty sure I've been going through a hypomanic episode, and unlike the usual borderline, my anger isn't inward. It's outward. But I don't wanna try a psychiatrist tbh. Imo, they're mostly people who have a god complex who wanna feel like they control someone else's life. My therapist is really understanding and all, so I might find a doctor that will take his suggestions and act as a psychiatrist in place.

[aprillynn197]

I have bpd and my addiction is people, how do you treat that?

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by MisterUnderstood

I don't 100% agree with the dx, but I don't 100% disagree with it either. I see a lot of borderline traits in me. I switch emotions quickly if someone makes me upset, I manipulate people with guilt trips, and I have really fast and hard relationships that kinda just burn out. But I also see some bipolar traits as well. The mood swings can be completely random, I'm pretty sure I've been going through a hypomanic episode, and unlike the usual borderline, my anger isn't inward. It's outward. But I don't wanna try a psychiatrist tbh. Imo, they're mostly people who have a god complex who wanna feel like they control someone else's life. My therapist is really understanding and all, so I might find a doctor that will take his suggestions and act as a psychiatrist in place.

I have a family doctor who does not want to prescribe any psychotropic medications. I hope you find a doc who is comfortable prescribing psychotropics as I can't find one. A random mood disorder with mania does sound like bipolar and sometimes it can be tricky to treat so I wish you the best and I hope you feel better soon.

MDD
ADHD
GAD

[NoChildSupport]

I told a doctor that there was a possibility that I could have bpd & she scoffed & said in a disgusted voice "people who have that don't care about people". Obviously she didn't know what she was talking about because from what I've been reading, they DO care about people & the things they put them through.

[aprillynn197]

the guilt is overwhelming for what I put people through. I care just my actions may seem like I dont

[Kimaya]

Even my own NP fears that my diagnosis will cause me to be receive poor treatment due to the medical profession's stigmatization. The biggest one being that meds do not help us. I really do not agree with that, but it is something that some health professionals feel.

I realize it is probably really frustrating to treat us, because medication is only useful to a degree as it relieves symptoms of depression/rage/anxiety but cannot stop severe triggering (its like grief, no pill can fix that, only make it more tolerable - our emotions are strong), and so many Pdocs probably have a 'you're BPD I can't help you attitude'. I am really glad my NP does not, we do all kinds of fun testing of pharmacotherapy, and I can tell you they all do different stuff :P The idea that they don't do anything is ridiculous.

The work Perry Hoffman and John Gunderson (and others in conjunction with NEA-BPD) do gives me hope that more professionals will open their eyes instead of just run from a Borderline.

[icantfiguremeout]

Oh my gosh "doglover1979" I have the worst communication skills ever. I hardly ever put myself in the shoes of the listener...my filter is forever non-existent it seems and I almost always think my opinions are right. Go figure. Often I talk about crap that I have no experience or first hand knowledge of. And I interrupt often.
I am working on all of this...my gosh I am working on all of me....in totality..I have no idea who the "old me" is...my black cat has taken over and I am trying to kill her...I always say I am misunderstand but the reality is I don't communicate well, so people misunderstand me because I can't communicate. It is my fault not theirs.

[Teacake]

Originally Posted by nummy

If it helps, my t told me most people outgrow it. So apparently I'm a medical miracle, having caught it at age 50. Hahaha!!! Gotta laugh.

I'm super sensitive too. I really admire you for your choice in jobs. Can't be easy. Me, I line talking to people at the bus stop, but socialization is difficult after that. I have a sister I get along great with. Coworkers who I usually do, but my best friend died 4 years ago and I've no longing to replace her. I'm just a little burned around the edges by life right now, and people keep the heat on me, wondering why I keep saying ouch.

If I do get diagnosed with it, it will be people like you I will think of, people who fight the stigma, living a good life best they can. But to be honest, a dx will make me give up. I'm too old to reinvent mysekf at 50.

I too developed borderline traits at 50. (bahahahahahaha!) . But only when provoked to wrath and only the week before my period. (bahahahahaha!) Yes, imbecile mental health workers, I am laughing at you, not with you. And its been fun.

You could roll a severed head I.to a psychiatrists office and he would diagnose it, precribe for it and roll it back to you. That's how much they consider the reat of the body when they do their thing.

[jean17]

Originally Posted by MisterUnderstood

I have a general question for all of the borderlines out there. Is there anyone out there who feels that they're stigmatized as addicts by their doctor, even without having a history of abuse? I went to a psychiatrist previously who stopped even listening to my opinions because he said that "all I wanted was more and it's never gonna end." He said that I was probably Borderline, and he refused to prescribe me anything else. I told him that I'd used a couple of my mother's Xanax to help stop myself from exploding, but I didn't use them as an every day or even every week thing. I've been on Vicodin for surgeries, and I've never had an issue with coming off of it when it's time. I've used tramadol in the past couple of days to self-medicate, but if I had any other alternative, I'm sure I could stop it completely. And I've smoked cigarettes for over a year, but I can go weeks without needing a dose of nicotine. Why are doctors so distrustful of borderline patients, and why do they view them all as drug seekers and addicts? I know that substance abuse and BPD co-occur a LOT, but so does substance abuse and bipolar, and you don't see docs having an issue prescribing sedatives to bipolar patients to control their manic episodes. Why are doctors so focused on depriving an entire population of a possible help because of a population stereotype? Or am I maybe just kinda rationalizing the reason I was denied medications? Opinions would be appreciated! Thank you!

Dear Misterunderstod, no, I don't think that you are wrong. But it really hurts when people who are really supposed to understand don't. And it's really bad when we get blamed for our illness. Therapy & medication is usually needed to help us feel better. Dear me, I don't know what to say. I just hope that you can find a Therapist &/or a Psychiatrist who really understands you and isn't blinded by popular misconceptions of your problems.