Well, you're probably not going to want to hear this, but if you suspect that you MAY be suffering from BPD, then you should get a referral from your GP to a Psychiatrist or Psychologist for a psyche evaluation. You don't have to tell your family that you're going. And your doctors have a confidentiality responsibility.
If it turns out that you DO have BPD. There are several options available. For instance, if you wish to take meds, then you can get some of those. If you would rather NOT take meds there are a few types of suggested therapy that is available. 1 is DBT, it's a behaviour therapy focused primarily on those WITH BPD. Another is CBT(Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), which has a lot of similar concepts in DBT only it's not strictly based for those with BPD...but is apparently just as helpful. There is also individual psychotherapy. At least 2 different therapies are suggested for those with BPD. So, find out. If you do have it...you have options to help you deal with it. :) Good luck to you. :)
Discussion Topic
I think I have it
Posted on 10/31/09, 09:10 pm
I only really found out about BPD today and it describes me quite accurately. For example, the fear, anger and depression because of "abandonment, real or imagined" has been something that's dogged me for..I don't even know how long. It's just been getting worse these past couple of years. I'd started to think that I was going crazy because of it - switching from love to hate for a person in a split second, avoiding people and I'm embarrassed to say even getting obsessed with people because of my fear and jealousy. When I get obsessed, it's almost as if I want them to need me as much as I need them and when they do something that's nothing to do with me, I feel worthless and it makes me fall into depression. This sounds weird, but I agonise over it and it makes me feel awful even though I know that the problem is really my haywire emotions. I just can't shake it.
Things such as problems with identity and self harm also rang true for me as well. So am I affected by BPD? If so, what do I do from here? I don't want to talk to anyone, especially not my family about it because they'll laugh at me as usual (that's what happened when I tried to talk about my sleeping problems with them - even though my dad has very similar problems! Grr..*rolls eyes*)
Things such as problems with identity and self harm also rang true for me as well. So am I affected by BPD? If so, what do I do from here? I don't want to talk to anyone, especially not my family about it because they'll laugh at me as usual (that's what happened when I tried to talk about my sleeping problems with them - even though my dad has very similar problems! Grr..*rolls eyes*)
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Reply #1 10/31/09 9:21pm
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Reply #2 11/01/09 12:04am
Thank you for the informative answer :)
You're right, I hate it when I hear about GP appointments etc...but right now, I'm seriously considering it. It seems a bit intimidating to me though, going to complete strangers face to face and talking about how I'm feeling. I'm a bit scared of how they'll treat me. I'm thinking that I'd probably pull an "oh, yes, that's very helpful, I'm better now, bye" - avoiding things again. I don't even talk to my friends or family about this, so I have no idea if I can do it with them.
Say I do go and see my GP...what do I say? I'd feel as though I'm wasting their time and they'll just get impatient with me. I don't know how to talk about my feelings - definitely not face to face. -
Reply #3 11/01/09 1:25am
You're welcome. :)
I know...I'm not good with doctors either. Never have been. I only go for 2 reasons. 1, if I can't take any pain I may be in any longer(but now I'm set...I have T3's to last me for a while), 2, if I feel I'm "going" crazy!! The way I see it though, your doctor has NUMEROUS clients...plus, I'd much rather talk to a stranger who knows NOTHING about me...then to someone who already assumes things about me because they "know" me.
What I did when I went to my GP(I just simply go to a walk-in clinic) I told him that I knew SEVERAL people who thought that they believed I had Bipolar or Borderline Personality...and to a degree I agreed with them...because I feel like I'm losing my mind. That was exactly what I told him. If you want, you could just tell them that the truth. That you suspect that you MAY have BPD...and would like an psyche evaluation. Or, you could just wait until you finally snap and are FORCED to go get an evaluation. However, if you go that route, then your family will have something to talk about without you telling them anything.
That's how I look at it. I go and they never find out. Or, I don't go and I do something incredibly retarded, giving my family more reason to laugh at me. ^Not that that would happen with my family though, cause my mom is mentally unstable, so, my family's learned to accept that sort of thing^. I DO hope you choose to go and find out. *hugs*
P.S. I failed to mention earlier, that it will take A LOT of work, to recovery if you do have it. It won't be easy, but as long as you can find a strong support group who hopes for nothing BUT the BEST for you, then you can do it. I know you can. It can be up to 2-3 DIFFERENT forms of treatment AT ONCE. Usually meds and at least 2 forms of therapy. Or multiple forms of therapy. -
Reply #4 11/01/09 5:23pm
Haha point taken..I think I'm going to have to prepare myself to bite the bullet. It's just that in my family, it's kind of a rule that's been drummed into me that you should get over things yourself and not waste people's time. I'm worried about ridicule (gosh, I'm just remembering that time when I had a mini breakdown in front of my dad because of school stress of all the things :S I don't want to be taken to get an evaluation in that state. I think I better do it on my own terms.)
Whew okay, I think I will do it. It is just an evaluation after all. The last time I went to see my GP, she poked my swollen finger to see how I'd react (a small cut had gotten infected and she wanted to see how painful it was.) That the only time I remember seeing her actually, but I still have a bad impression of her.
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Reply #5 11/02/09 3:42am
lol That's right, it's ONLY an evaluation. They may ask you some tough questions, like what kinds of thoughts you're having, do you intentionally hurt yourself...becuase you want to feel something, or if you do it to relieve stress...are you suicidal. Have you ever tried to kill yourself...how often your moods change, to what extremes. They will probably ask you about a personal history, emotional abuse, physical abuse...how you coped with it. How you cope with stress, do you hear voices...do you feel like your thoughts are scattered. (these are all just some examples of what they may ask you, of course if you tell them straight out...then they may ask you to explain what you mean, which will only bring them to a conclusion(diagnosis) sooner)
I went in to get an evaluation ONCE. Told the doctor ALMOST EVERYTHING...and walked out with 2 diagnosis. So, if you want them to be able to figure out a diagnosis...be 100% honest. Doctors aren't there to judge you...they're there to help you. So, I keep getting told. lol I just have incredibly big issues with authority figures...of any kind really. lol
P.S. Your GP won't be the one to give you your evaluation. She'll be the one to give you a referral TO someone actually qualified. ;)
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Support for those suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual's sense of self-identity. Originally thought to be at the "borderline" of psychosis, people with BPD suffer from a disorder of emotion regulation. While less well know
