DDNOS- diagnosis

Just diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, nos & BPD. Do the two typically go together? Are they treated the same therapeutically?

The quick reply is yes and yes. My understanding is that many of the behaviors often associated with BPD arise from the developmental hurdles that were not accomplished as children, and no doubt, because we were too busy surviving for one and Two, often lived in families that did not foster healthy growth. Many view it as a disorder of attachment and there is much written about that topic. My T explained that it makes sense that when we have young parts, we act the age we are in the moment. but if you look at that through the lense of adult expectations, well, you can easily see that it causes conflict with other adults. In the end, it's one more label and not as important as the reality of your individual situation. In therapy, it's all part of the healing process. Still, any T may choose different ways of working with issues so it will depend on your T's style, education and beliefs. You'll work it out together; it's a partnership. Best on luck to you on your journey.

I agree with what Miri said about it being just another label.....My T doesn't even like the dx of BPD...

I think the bottom line is you are a survivor and now need to work thru the healing of what was done to you. You are who you are but that doens't mean you can't go beyond that to healing. As my T says to us "you are so much more that the Dx---you all bring so much to whole. Each is important and is worthy of a voice and of healing."

So I guess, don't get hung up on a label cuz you are so much more than that.

I've been DX'd with BPD for years. It turns out that I may have dissociative issues, too. The T I'm seeing now believes that they're related conditions. That they may actually be different manifestations of the same thing.

There is a school of thought promoted by Judith Herman and others, called Complex Post Traumatic Stess Disorder. It is an umbrella term that serves to bring together a number of now separate "diagnoses" under a more complete theory of varying effects severe trauma can have on people. Of course, no one person will have them all, but it is meant to show the linkages. It inlcudes the spectrum of dissociation and related disorders, depersonalization, derealization, borderline traits, eating disorders, self-injury and other acting out behaviors, as well as the post traumatic symptoms. I'm sure i've missed a few others, as well, because I'm relating this right now off the top of my head. Okay, it's another label, but what i like about it is that it tried to show the complexity of traumatic reactions and that is great overlap between these seaprate diagnoses. In a way, it kind of dilutes them so that no partcular label becomes an "identity" in and of itself. Also, I think it tends to encourage the thinking that whatever ways we cope, we are more alike than different and that is bound to foster greater acceptance and less stigma for many people who now feel on the fringes of life.
Just my thoughts about it, and something to ponder.
My best to all ...

I was given several different DX before the DID label was given. I began to feel worse the more labels got pinned on me. Depressive disorder, PSTD - delayed onset, BPD and then finally DID. ARGH!!!

I like what Miri said about not allowing our identity to get too fixated on any one dx we are given. It is about us as a person, not a label. When I first accepted I was DID I was so relieved that I let a bunch of parts act out and it damaged my relationship with my spouse, I lost a lot of credibility and now I could use his support. I wish I had been able to be more discrete about things.

I wanted so badly to understand why my life was so full of pain and fear and why I could not "just get on with it" in life. I attached so much significance to these diagnostic terms and it was a mistake.

What is ultimately most important is that we DID and we ARE SURVIVERS. Most of us have been beaten down by real experts in cruelty and we struggle with feeling very bad about ourselves. In fact we are intelligent, flexible, resilient, creative, persistent, strong-willed, brave survivors. Somewhere in all the therapy needs to be some strong attention to the positives of who we are and how we utliized even the smallest things to keep ourselves going and we stayed sane too!!!!!! (even though sometimes we feel pretty crazy)

Just remember, YOU ARE A PERSON, NOT A DIGNOSIS!

Leslie and her Pixies

I have been struggling with that exact fear and stress for many years. Your response really hit home. Thank you!

Shez

Kendyll

Shez

Miri,

Thank you for describing the range of disorders in a different way. That makes sense to me now! It helps to explain why throughout life I have experienced different diagnoses throughout that spectrum. It seems logical that the more stress (physical and/or emotional) that I am under, the more severe my symptoms become. Up and down.

That is what you meant, right?

Shez

Yes, it is all connected and that is logical isn't it. If you poke something, another part jiggles. We are complex beings, so of course we can't be reduced to simplistic labels without losing the bigger picture. I hope this discussion has helped you see, as well, that as one aspect improves, so will others, and there's where some hope lies. My best you ...