Personality Disorders Support Group
Personality disorders form a class of mental disorders that are characterized by long-lasting rigid patterns of thought and behaviour. Personality disorders are seen by the American Psychiatric Association as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it.
so what are your success stories with dealing with borderline? Keep it short and sweet because this paper is also a speech. Positive will help dispel the negative of stigma that comes with the territory of having borderline. Ready set go! PS thanks to kaylabear for suggesting this. I was going to put down just mine but more is better then one person.
I have not had a therapist for a hwile now, but i have been dealing with my abuse and neglect on my own and with the help of peers here.
As a result my BPD issues have diminish, so dealing with what caused BPD in the first place has helped my BPD without dealing with it directly.
One main breakthrough was understanding where the rage comes from, again is the rage of a severe invalidating environment and childs abuse and neglect.
I too came from an invalidating environment. Minus the abuse and neglect. I was tugged and pulled between family members (Mom vs Dad. Grandma vs Dad. Dad's sister vs Mom. Grandma vs Dad's sister. Etc, etc.) They all claimed the other didn't love me as much as they said they did.
I would like to try your technique. Could you help me learn how to deal with that? I mean, how did you? If you can give me more details, that would be great.
What has helped me with my BPD is cognitive therapy. My therapist taught me mindfulness. She wanted me to write down FACTS vs FEELINGS. Then compare them. It really has helped me understand my thought process. Now I don't react so quickly because I try to understand my feelings beforehand. I don't know what my therapist's credentials are, but she seems well qualified to work with BPD. In addition to helping me with my thought process, she helps me with other things. Self esteem and reducing my stressors and anything that is bothering me. For instance, my finances have always made me panic. Even when I was only 1,900 in debt compared to my now whopping 15,000. She had me bring in all my billing statements and we came up with a plan to tackle my debt and get rid of it. We called the companies and told them our plan. I felt so good about it. She had never done it before. But she was and always has been very willing to do anything it takes to help me. When I am about to have a panic attack, I can call her during business hours. If she is unable to talk to me at the moment, she always calls me back within the same day. If I call after hours, she returns my call the next day just to make sure I am ok. She tells me things like "Kayla. I will never stop working with you. It is my job to help you. And quite honestly, I want to do everything I can to help you. The day we stop working together is the day that YOU decide that you no longer want to see me. I will recommend you on to someone else if that is the case, because I think it is crucial that you attend therapy." And she always encourages me and applauds me when I am doing well. She is also always looking for other resources to help me. Whether is recommending books or a support group in town. Even if it has nothing to do with my BPD, she always tries to find resources that I need to help better my life. This is what I think a therapist should be like for someone with BPD.
I'm also on medications. I take Ativan for my anxiety as well as Seroquel to help regulate my moods (even though it is not an imbalance, it seems to help.) I haven't been on Seroquel long enough to tell you the results. But Ativan has helped me tremendously for panic attacks. Though it is a risky drug because some people get addicted to it. I have not.
I use to be on Propranonol (which is a high blood pressure med) for my anxiety. Oddly, this did wonders for my anxiety as well. It helps reduce the PHYSICAL symptoms. Racing heart, sweaty palms, pounding chest, everything. In my head, I felt like I was going to panic, but because my body wasn't reacting the way it usually does when I panic, the fear of panicking went away.
What has also helped me outside of therapy is having a routine of some sort. I think BPDs crave stability. And they need it, too. Get up at a certain time, whether you work or not. Prepare and eat your meals at a certain time, BE ACTIVE. Go for a walk or work out. HAVE A JOB. Being productive helps.
I also have pets. It's nice to have them to come home to. They're always there when the loneliness is too much to bear. And they'll always love you even if you have a bad day.
Hope this helps.
And Ponygirl, I would like to hear your success story. :)
I don't think is a technique is more like the validation i've gotten since i understand why and how most people get BPD or PTSD through a childhood of very invalidating environments and child abuse and neglect.
Through my understanding of it i can "call out" my symptoms and separate myself from them and on good day sort of rather watch them pass as an observer instead of a participant, if that makes sense.
On bad days i still go through hell but i'm still i'm very conscious of what is happening and why.
Also the validation i've gotten through peers, shared stories, talking to child advocates, my ex-doctor, social workers, books on child abuse and neglect, BPD....
And finally i'm being able to validate myself more with the help of all of the avobe..
hugs and thanks all of you here on DS have been key in helping me cope, i've learned so much.