Therapy advice please

[in_BPD_hell]

Hi guys....

So I'm in quite a fortunate position but I'm confused! If you were me what would you do?

I've waited 20 months for therapy for my BPD & it's finally come around which has happened the same time as my CBT for my bulimia! I've been advised I need to choose one, the psychotherapy of CBT.

I'm so confused my initial thoughts were CBT as I have struggled with bulimia for ages & my weights increasing & it's destroying my life. So I made that choice & then my CMht rang & said I need to go & discuss this further. They said It's my choice but they want to know I've made the right decision?!

What would you chose?

[random.swirls]

Tricky

What impacts upon your life most?

Will the psychotherapy/CBT help with the other?

How long will each therapy be and how long are the waiting lists?

[in_BPD_hell]

It varies.
I'd say I hate my weight a LOT but the negative feelings of me is the worst!
Waiting lists are huge for psychotherapy I waited 20 months whereas CBT is 18 weeks!
The man who does psychotherapy rang me to say we need to talk!!! But I'm so confused!!!

[random.swirls]

Have you done a pros and cons list?

[in_BPD_hell]

No cos I don't think I understAnf the therapies enough x

[sherlock holmes]

Can you meet with someone independent (ie not the CBT person and not the psychotherapy person) to explain to you the benefits of each therapy so you can decide?

Or maybe if you think of it in regards to the waiting times then you've waited the longest for the psychotherapy so you could try that first, and if afterwards you still need the CBT you know it's a shorter wait.

[in_BPD_hell]

Thank you. May book to see my gp!

[ParanormalChickenGeek]

Do you think your bulimia functions as a BPD behaviour? Sometimes, EDs can manifest themselves in people with BPD as a way of communicating distress, self harm, getting needs met etc. If this might be the case, I'd suggest choosing therapy for BPD.
If that's not the case at all and you feel the ED is completely separate to BPD, I'd go with whichever you wish to conquer first.

[in_BPD_hell]

Thanks! Everything is pointing at the bpd therapy. It seems the hard one tho. I'm worried I'll go into crisis. I've only been in my new job 3 months & I'm worried if I go into crisis I'll loose it

[sherlock holmes]

That's a good point Paranormal. When I had my ED assessment the nurse told me that for the vast majority of patients she's seen the eating disorder has always been part of BPD.

in BPD hell if you feel worried you'll go into crisis then when you start the therapy it would be useful to first make a crisis plan so if that does start to happen you'll know what to do and what plan is in place to help.

[in_BPD_hell]

Hey guys so they pretty much decided for me... Eds first then in 6 months do psychodynamic psychotherapy.

During my consultation I got really overwhelmed & blanked out I couldn't listen... Never done that before really - what was it???