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Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross is a licensed psychotherapist with almost twenty years of clinical experience in the fields of clinical psychology and organizational management br br She has worked extensively with a wide variety of…
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New Hope for Those with Borderline Personality Disorder
The topic of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) was a main focus at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting this past May. Mental health professionals have long been perplexed by this diagnosis and at a loss for good treatment options. The diagnosis itself has taken on a profoundly negative connotation over the years and just the name conjures up images of unpleasant fictional characters portrayed in the media. In many cases people with this disorder have gotten a bad rap. It was recently revealed, based on a study done by the federal government of over 24,000 adults, that the prevalence of this disorder is about 6%. The disorder is equally present in men and women. This number is far greater than previously thought.
A patient presenting with symptoms of BPD is typically seen as extremely challenging for most clinicians. Many patients go undiagnosed for years and instead are given many other diagnoses that seem to fit only part of their unique disorder. The misdiagnosis then leads to improper or inferior treatment. Borderline Personality Disorder has previously been classified as the result of childhood abuse. In this way it has been somewhat misunderstood. Recent research has shown that there is in fact a biological predisposition to the basic symptoms of the disorder. Abuse will increase a person's chances for developing the disorder but not everyone with BPD has a history of abuse. One of the things that this distinction hopes to clear up is the belief that the person with BPD is being deliberately manipulative and combative. These beliefs have made it more difficult for sufferers of BPD to get unbiased treatment from clinicians and understanding from loved ones.
In addition to redefining the nature of the disorder, the attention it has received lately has helped educate family and friends of people afflicted with BPD. This is a critical step in the healing process for these individuals because a consistency in relationships is crucial to these individuals. There has been a movement towards more family and patient advocacy and providing better treatment and referral services. According to a Los Angeles Times report, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, a well-known patient advocacy group, has placed BPD on its list of "priority populations" for public policy efforts. This increased awareness and focus on the disorder is very good news for those who have lived with this diagnosis and for the people who love them.
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Terriann, i would question whether your mother had BPD or in fact suffered from a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, perhaps an Autistic Spectrum Disorder or PDD NOS (Not Otherwise Specified), comorbid with behavioral issues of some sort. I myself was at different times diagnosed with BPD with Schizoaffective characteristics, Clinical Depression, GAD, ODD, and eventually ADHD. I was finally diagnosed with AS by a clinical psychologist who knew what he was looking at. I am now receiving appropriate treatment, and having much greater success with dealing with all of my issues, and pulling together the whole picture of my life. I too was clumsy as a child, had poor motor skills in some areas, could never manage my finances well, and had issues with combative behavior as i entered junior high school then high school. I continued to have meltdowns up into my forties even. It turned out eventually that all of these were misdiagnoses, because there are characteristics of Autistic Spectrum Disorders and of other PDDs which can manifest like the charateristics of other disorders if taken separately. With Asperger's, they are increasingly discovering that women with AS don't necessarily manifest in the same ways as men, and in fact there is increasing evidence that the 4/1 men to women ratio for AS may be greatly in error, due to underdiagnosis of women with AS. We don't act like men with AS, and we can also at times manifest with behavioral issues that look like BPD! Tony Attwood, an Australian researcher and therapist for folks with ASDs, has a great deal to say about the issue of AS in women. His writings on the subject are a great place to start, if you're interested. I am not saying by any means that those diagnosed BPD should jump to the conclusion that they actually have AS, but it is possible for this misdiagnosis to occur.
i was diagnosed with BPD quite a few years ago, but somehow didn't seem to fit the stereotypical form. i read the book "Walking on Eggshells" and could not relate to much of it. i didn't feel the anger that seemed to be primary focus, i was more than compliant in treatment, both with medication and therapy, and my impulsivity wasn't so extreme, so i questioned my diagnosis. like it or not...it was there.
what i most learned is that, indeed, BPD IS very individualized! we can't be clumped into a single group, treatment isn't the same for all, and our own acceptance and self-driven desire to find an end to this (for ALL with BPD) is as personal as anything in our lives can be.
i think we who suffer from BPD need to be vigilant in making sure that the 'outside world' sees that our disease process is as different for each of us as we are we are individual in every other way.
the 'list of symptoms' that tie us to each other is very real. we have a responsibility to ourselves to stay informed, to learn all we can about BPD, but also to inform others.
http://www.dailystrength.org/blog/...
In terms of the "hope" that these new insights into the disorder provides, nettbaw was correct in writing that it is in the increased awareness. Whenever particular attention is paid to any disorder - whether it is in the physical or mental health area - the opportunity to develop new treatments increases. More awareness means more resources and more support for sufferers.
Today I don''t care anymore that I'm on meds I feel good, i'm alot more calmer and I still see my psych dr and my neuro.
Jolene
But is great news that finally the myth that BPD are manipluative is getting debunked.BPD is very painful for those who suffer it, and i'm sorry but is mostly abuse or dysfunctional families who cause it.
long story long life.. My wonderful doctor put me on Pryexa and it stopped it took 2 yrs but it was worth it, i have some mood changes now and i still have 4 sets of cloths in my closet so i know i change to that, but it is not bad com paired to what i was. My doctor Jenkins in Carson valley Nevada, saved my life.
When all others had not faith in me he did, he changed my entire world.
now! I can live an have lived a good life, however i am still a homebody to do my world but i am working on this with EA Emotions Anonymous they are helping me find a new thinking for my hurt soul.
I have never met anyone like me, and I hope i never do for I know the life i have had to live. And what my ex husband when through.
But my kids are still with me and i have helped them finish college, I also help raise my daughter.
I can not live on my own do to my disability, but at the same time I love being with my family, it is only my son in law and daughter that are kind enough to deal with me.. Thank you..