High functioning with BPD

Cinnamon_Stick · Feb 15, 2017 at 07:12 PM

How did those of you who are higher functioning with BPD get there? Was it intensive therapy and/or DBT? Did your extreme emotions get better and your attachment/abandonment issues get better and to a manageable level?

MobiusPsyche · Feb 15, 2017 at 11:56 PM

Honestly, I just decided not to have any romantic relationships at all and didn't for twenty-plus years. That cut out most of the opportunity for extreme emotions and abandonment issues. It was tough but I've come so far in my career which I couldn't have done otherwise. But now I want to have a relationship and I have no skills or experience in that area. Mine is not a typical experience.

technigal · Feb 16, 2017 at 10:56 AM

When I was diagnosed I was told I was high functioning, so there is nothing that I did. I did do an 18 week DBT course that helped a lot and now I just have traits. Not too helpful I know.

Unrigged64072835 · Feb 16, 2017 at 06:48 PM

I think time and therapy helped a lot. DBT did quite a bit.

jeremiahgirl · Feb 16, 2017 at 09:03 PM

I think I was considered high functioning however; I question what does that really mean in light of the dx? Does this mean one is educated? Degrees? Or just functionality? I know the emotional spectrum can very (not much) because we tend to get thoughts out of proportion. With that being said, I was dx about 4/5 years ago and I didn't have success with therapy until I was introduced to EMDR. All other therapies really didn't help because the trauma was deeply, deeply buried. I'm happy now.

ThunderGoddess · Feb 16, 2017 at 11:51 PM

DBT and going on 4+ years of therapy. I still have bpd traits but I'm much happier, I'm continuously climbing the chain of command at work, and I am able to control my emotions more than I ever had before therapy. I was labeled low functioning when I first walked through the door for therapy. Overall everything got easier and better.

Cinnamon_Stick · Feb 17, 2017 at 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiahgirl

I think I was considered high functioning however; I question what does that really mean in light of the dx? Does this mean one is educated? Degrees? Or just functionality? I know the emotional spectrum can very (not much) because we tend to get thoughts out of proportion. With that being said, I was dx about 4/5 years ago and I didn't have success with therapy until I was introduced to EMDR. All other therapies really didn't help because the trauma was deeply, deeply buried. I'm happy now.

High functioning to me is that the symptoms of BPD I mentioned in my first post in this thread are no longer running your life and you are able to function without it tying you down. I am glad you are happy now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderGoddess

DBT and going on 4+ years of therapy. I still have bpd traits but I'm much happier, I'm continuously climbing the chain of command at work, and I am able to control my emotions more than I ever had before therapy. I was labeled low functioning when I first walked through the door for therapy. Overall everything got easier and better.

Its comforting to know its possible to get to the point you are at. Did you find a therapist who specialized in BPD? What kind of therapy did you do that helped you the most?

ThunderGoddess · Feb 17, 2017 at 11:03 PM

I think DBT helped the most and psychotherapy with someone who is DBT centered.

JessLynn · Feb 18, 2017 at 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremiahgirl

I think I was considered high functioning however; I question what does that really mean in light of the dx? Does this mean one is educated? Degrees? Or just functionality? I know the emotional spectrum can very (not much) because we tend to get thoughts out of proportion. With that being said, I was dx about 4/5 years ago and I didn't have success with therapy until I was introduced to EMDR. All other therapies really didn't help because the trauma was deeply, deeply buried. I'm happy now.

Can I ask what you mean when you say that "the trauma was deeply, deeply buried"? I'm curious because I've been questioned about trauma in my past and told I might have suppressed memories.

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High functioning with BPD

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Cinnamon_Stick Grand Poohbah Member Since May 2015 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 9 4,146 hugs given	Feb 15, 2017 at 07:12 PM #1 How did those of you who are higher functioning with BPD get there? Was it intensive therapy and/or DBT? Did your extreme emotions get better and your attachment/abandonment issues get better and to a manageable level?
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technigal Grand Poohbah Member Since Sep 2013 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,625 11 829 hugs given	Feb 16, 2017 at 10:56 AM #3 When I was diagnosed I was told I was high functioning, so there is nothing that I did. I did do an 18 week DBT course that helped a lot and now I just have traits. Not too helpful I know. __________________ Mags Depression diagnosed March 1996 PTSD diagnosed January 2000 BPD diagnosed September 2013
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Unrigged64072835 Legendary Member Since Oct 2010 Location: Under the noise floor Posts: 18,579 (SuperPoster!) 14 11.8k hugs given	Feb 16, 2017 at 06:48 PM #4 I think time and therapy helped a lot. DBT did quite a bit.
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ThunderGoddess Veteran Member Member Since Nov 2014 Location: The beach. Posts: 591 9 428 hugs given	Feb 17, 2017 at 11:03 PM #8 I think DBT helped the most and psychotherapy with someone who is DBT centered. __________________ Just keep swimming I have BPD or Autism or both, we may never know, the focus is always the symptoms, not the diagnosis
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