My Dr has suggested on more than one occasion that she suspects I have Borderline Personality Disorder. I've done a lot of reading around it and I do fit quite a few of the "symptoms." However, the only way to get an "official" diagnosis is through a mental health professional and have DBT. I've turned this down at the moment, I'm managing my anxiety and depression and panic attacks, I'm doing a lot of yoga which I find really beneficial, walking, dancing, speaking to my close friends about how I'm feeling and being open with them, alongside antidepressants. I'm not in a place or a mindset for DBT, and even the thought of it left me anxious and panicking. I'm seeing this potential diagnosis not as a bad thing, but as an explanation for why I am how I am, why I respond and react in certain ways, and finally being believed after 8 years of on and off GP appointments.
I've not ruled out DBT, I've not said no or never, I've just said not right now.
Is there anyone on here for suffers from BPD at all? Could you share your experiences and if you've had input from services, etc?
Hey, I've got BPD as well. Although I haven't had DBT, I've found having the diagnosis in itself helpful. Not as an excuse for my behaviour but as an explanation, and a way of understanding how my mind works. I can now pinpoint what parts of my thoughts and actions are fuelled by the BPD symptoms, and what parts are, as it were, more "natural". I suggest learning about the disorder anyway, and getting to know how it might affect you. Remember that being diagnosed isn't the most important part. If you feel that there are aspects of you that fit the criteria, then you might want to work with those aspects. Similarly, if something doesn't describe you, don't feel like you need to look for it (sounds stupid I know, but makes sense to me), or that you're not doing it "right". For example, a lot of BPD sufferers turn to substance abuse, but personally I haven't and sometimes I feel like this makes me a fake, like I don't deserve my diagnosis, and should just get on with my life and stop causing problems for myself, regardless of the fact that my fear of abondonment, which stems from my BPD, is what causes these problems. So yeah, rambling a bit now. My point is that if you recognise yourself in the description of BPD you might benefit from learning about the disorder first of all. And if later on you want to try DBT, then go for it, I've heard great things about it. But if you want to cope with it in your own way and feel like it's working, then that's fine too. There is no one way of having BPD. And often it's more a matter of learning to cope with it, instead of looking for a cure, because that might lead to disappointment in yourself if it doesn't work. I'm really glad that you're coming to terms with how your mind works, that's a good thing whether or not you get a diagnosis for it. Hope that's helpful. Feel free to ask question, I have no answers generally, but I do enjoy trying to figure things out.
Love, K
Perfectly normal, perfectly sane,
perfectly perfect, no-one's to blame.
There are so many different symptom combinations you can have with BPD so it can vary wildly between people. Also if you do get diagnosed you're not forced to do DBT! Many areas don't even offer it. I've done it twice and it's honestly worth it but you have to be ready for it.
I think essentially BPD is about having emotion dysregulation. Someone with BPD gets triggered easily into different emotional states that go higher and lower than the average person. It also takes longer to return back to baseline. So during the day it can feel like you're on a rollercoaster of emotions. They happen much faster than someone with bipolar disorder and can lead people to coping in negative ways such as self harming, using risky behaviours, substance abuse, spending too much money etc.
Quite a common feature of BPD is the fear of people leaving you, but also wanting to push people away and that causes internal conflict. It means some people struggle hugely with relationships, but others do not have much or any issues in that area.
BPD usually improves the older you get. Learning to manage and live with it is the best option (which is where talking therapies are very, very good).
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Hello I've been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder for couple years now I knew I had it borderline personality disorder since I was young but no one listened to me. I finally found a psychiatrist who would actually listen to me and she is diagnose me with borderline personality disorder I also have episodic depression and anxiety, and an eating disorder. I was lucky enough to get DBT, although it wasn't deliverd the way it is aim to. As you as you've probably found out dialectual behavioral therapy is supposed to be delivered in a structured group and individual therapy over a span of two years. As there was not any DBT groups in my area. I received dbt by a therapist who just qualified to deliver DBT. I had the therapy for a year and a half and it has dramatically improved my life and how I Live and handle the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. It's hard work there a lot of paperwork (homework) involved but it is totally worth it if you can receive the DBT. Being diagnosed with Borderline personality disorder was the best thing that happend to me! Finaly i knew what was wrong with me. I got the correct medication and therapy... there is still a long way to go for me...
if you want to ask me any questions feel free to message me.
Best wishes >^..^<
I also have BPD and have been diagnosed and in treatment for about 8 years. I have never tried DBT because there are no specialist services within my area and I also don't think I'd have the patience to practice the skills. Do you think you would like to be officially diagnosed? Maybe there will be other treatments available for you if you don't want to try DBT. I have seen a few psychologists and briefly worked through CBT, Schema Therapy, and Compassion Focused Therapy. Good luck with everything.
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I've decided, for now, to do nothing about this. Some days I think therapies would be a good idea and really helpful for me, and my friends feel the same, but other days I absolutely do not want to do it or think about it and its not fair for me to take a therapist and a slot when someone else needs it, when I'm not sure its even what I want. On days when I don't want it, I know I would absolutely not engage.
I had BPD but I no longer meet the criteria so I have had the diagnosis removed. I had DBT and it saved my life but it is hard work and you need to be ready to make the commitment to it. You could pick up the dialectical behaviour
therapy skills workbook then you can dip into it and just try using the skills to help yourself before you decide to fully commit to therapy.
