I WAS DIAGNOISED THREE YEARS AGO WITH BORDERLINE PERSONSILITY iAM JUST STARTING THERAPY BUT I WAS WONDERING HOW DO YOU CONTROL NOT ACTING IMPULSIVLY THAT GOES WITH BPD AND THE SELF INJURY THAT GOES WITH IT NOT TO DO IT

[mlpHolmes]

Hi and Welcome to Psych Central! I was Dx w/ Bpd 3 yrs. ago too.
The impulsivity is incredible, isn't it!! I started therapy for it back then.
A few suggestions that may help you, I hope: if shopping sprees are a problem - cut up every credit card, if you MUST have 1 For Emergency situations, give it only to someone you trust & is responsible.
Delete all e-mail that involves stores, all postal mail - throw away catalogues, sale ads, don't even read them, recognize them & toss. Mail carrier may be able to help you out w/ junk mail.
Junk food - Don't buy it! None, not I deserve it, I had a tough week, no. Write Lists before you shop - Buy only what's on the List.

Urges?? Distractions!! In PTSD forum there is a list of coping skills=fun distracting things to do!! I've collected some if you need more! LOL! Go & have some fun!!!

PM me anytime!!Thinking of You,
Holmes

P.S. All decisions (except answering this post, LOL) I think about for 24 hrs. and only take action after 48 hrs.

[Michah]

Hi sweetie, welcome!! I was dx 15 years ago and what holmes said is excellent.......my impulsivity also included promiscuity, drugs and crime......don't know if thats also what you are battling with.........

The self harm is tricky, addictive, self-medicating and instantly relieving.......to be honest I had to learn to control my anger before I could stop cutting. I was like a binge cutter........wouldn't do it very often but when I did I would often go a little too far and i would end up in hospital. I was not suicidal just insanely angry.

Therapy, hospitalisation and anti-psychotics got me through the worst times of Borderline. And I would suggest a good T and psychiatrist to help you if you can.

Mind you, there was never any support for BPD outside of the T office when I was dx.......no one knew of it and no one talked about it.........I am amazed 15 years on how much support is out there now and that some of the stigma of this disorder has been removed.

I am sorry if I have not been able to help.......most of my experience comes from an extreme perspective........you sound proactive though and you have initiative.........

Good luck and be safe.........

You are right the cutting is addictive especcially when your are angry i just started therapy iam on a anti-depressant and mood stablizer i have ended up in the hopitial 4 times in 2 years because of it i do not cut deep just enough to draw blood i started doing this 3 yrs ago does not seem like a do it much only when iam angry or hate myself thanks for the reply