[FeelingOpaque]

Id like to hear from those that have/ are in DBT, or whatever other form of therapy for BPD to find out exactly how effective these treatments are at treating BPD.

I was diagnosed almost 4 years ago and remember having this as long as i can remember - and its getting worse. I used to cut, around 4 years ago, but dont anymore.

I have been looking into the different treatment options recently to find out what can be done and have read alot about DBT, but the data backing it seem unclear in that it claims to treat the symptoms of a disorder in the nuerology of the brain by creating tools for individuals to use to control the symptoms. Many websites claim that it can 'cure' it in that if you were reevaluated you would no longer be considered as having BPD - which sounds ridiculous to me.

It also seems that DBT simply gives you the tools to ignore/ hide the emotions you feel while these swings of emotion continue to happen.

Can anyone clarify this for me? How effective is it really?

[JessLynn]

You summed up what I think of DBT and for that I slowly applaud you.

But for real. I haven't had DBT yet but I am on a waiting list for it. I feel like this rollercoaster is getting out of control even though other people say I am doing better. I haven't been in the hospital (only a 5 day stay) since December but I can tell you I'm really missing the support of inpatient.

[FeelingOpaque]

Good luck JessLyn, hopefully the inpatient works out. I think its really about finding people - therapist, family, friends, whatever - that are willing to just accept who/ what you are and just let you work it out without trying to force you into some mold of what you should look like. But thats just me talking out my ***..

[JessLynn]

I'm not going into inpatient, I was just talking about my brief experience there when I was actively suicidal.

It helped me get regular on my meds so now I look calm on the outside and I'm still experiencing the roller coaster moods, and boy do the lows suck. Makes me think about serious self harm.

[FeelingOpaque]

Well that's a positive - it's a start, can't heal if you're dead. And yea, the rollercoaster emotion are of course the lows can be an extremely triggering event. I found what worked was to just write, workout, walk around the neighborhood, blast party type music, whatever, was a great help to stop thinking about self harm - just do something that numbed me out - probably not the therapist approved, but effective to stop letting those thoughts enter and overcome you.

[Cinnamon_Stick]

I have been doing DBT for several months now and I am also doing a DBT group. It is very effective and helps tremendously. It gives you tools to cope, be more independent and manage how intense emotions can get when you have BPD. I have heard and read that DBT is the most effective treatment for BPD. It helps the most (I think) if you have a therapist who is trained with DBT. I have made the most progress with my DBT therapist.

Also intensely exercising for at least 30 minutes each day and doing yoga has dramatically improved my symptoms of BPD and I feel like a different person than when I wasn’t as active.

[Bill3]

It also seems that DBT simply gives you the tools to ignore/ hide the emotions you feel while these swings of emotion continue to happen.

The tools of Emotion Regulation in DBT allows patients to actively manage and control their emotions, not ignore and hide them.