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borderline personality disorder/bpd

  • 04-05-2009 5:58am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5


    I have a formal diagnosis of borderline personality and would love to hear form anyone else with this diagnosis. also from anyone who know of someone in their lives who have been diagnosed:)

    How many diagnosed Sufferers of borderline personality disorder in Ireland? 50 votes

    family members of sufferers with borderline personality disorder
    2% 1 vote
    friends and partners of sufferers with borderline personality disorder
    16% 8 votes
    males diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
    14% 7 votes
    females diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
    14% 7 votes
    healthcare professionals treating borderline personality disorder
    54% 27 votes


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6 fi0


    Hi,

    Just got a diagnosis..... dunno how I feel about it... you posted the message some time ago.. any luck finding a forum to chat about it or anything.....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 emir27


    Hi, great to hear Im not alone here!! Ive not found any forums here yet addresssing bpd. will keep looking though! I was diagnosed over 10years ago but I pretty much ignored the diagnosis. I thought it was just an umbrella term used when they didnt really know what was wrong. I now take it alot more seriously! Its a difficult disorder no doubt, I really needed psychological support and my life has begun to open up dramatically since I found a really superb pyschologist who has had alot of experience treating bpd. I think its vital to get help from someone very experienced and around awhile!
    I would love to hear how you are managing your symptoms. I'll keep you informed if I find any good forums! take care, you're not alone in this thing :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    My daughter (20) has been diagnosed with BPD but we cannot get any realistic help.

    As she has moved to alcohol and drug abuse she cannot stay at home with young children in the house but we have not found residential care for her...

    Any ideas?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 emir27


    So sorry to hear about your daughter, I am not a healthcare professional so I can only offer my opinion based on my own experiences. I also developed alcohol dependence and abused drugs...It was pointed out to me that I had to tackle the addictions primarily. I entered a residential addiction recovery treatment centre for 5weeks. I was diagnosed at 18 with bpd and only really began getting help for myself at 28. I did not realise what my diagnosis meant, I thought I was depressed I felt so isolated. I dropped out of many treatments, feeling very unsure and untrusting. It was the addiction to alcohol and the misery of bulimia which made the pain of living with bpd unbearable. Getting treatment for addiction was the gateway for me to begin looking for a specialist bpd psychologist.

    I have had many hospital admissions and been in residential care 3 times spanning the past 14yrs, I met my current psychologist 5 years ago but I was not ready for the help.
    Your daughter may feel very frightened and unable to deal with her intense emotions. She may not trust you or anyone around her. I do feel a residential unit dealing with addiction is perhaps the very first step to take, there are units nationwide providing such rehabilitation.

    It may be a thankless job but one day in her recovery she will see what you have done to help her. She wont forget the people who believed in her.
    Good Luck


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Thanks for that.....

    She has been on a residential drugs program but left. However the period she was there calmed her considerably as she had 24 hour support and company. Retaining relationships and therefore support has been virtually impossible for her due to her unpredictability.

    I think the drugs and alcohol for her are just crutches to pass the empty times. Not really addicted (yet). Hopefully we/she can progress before she is really hooked.

    I am glad you have made progress - it must have been very difficult - well done.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 emir27


    I am so glad to hear she is not too dependant on drugs and has already been exposed to a treatment centre that is very positive for her. I felt the exact same comfort in having 24hr support because of the emotional upheaval giving up a crutch causes. Unfortunately when I left I did relapse also. Alcohol and drugs were a coping mechanism with a pay off.
    I disregarded the after care programs suggested following treatment and withdrew into myself. Isolating and withdrawing from people and places is something I stil have to find a balance in.

    Actively using drugs is really something that nobody could of convinced me against because I felt as though, emotionally I needed it. I got a great pay off from using. All the anxiety went, I lost weight, I felt I could cope because when I took a drug the substance usually gave me a reliable and expected mood change that I was in control of. Also I could remain numb to feeling and detached. It wasnt until the drugs caused paranoia and social anxiety, the very things they intially eleviated that I quit. For me there was no longer a pay off..
    Once there is stil a pay off in the crutches despite them being destructive I continue to use them.
    I did it the hard way-my way! I stil try to do it alone. I hope you can stil communicate with your daughter and let her know nobody wants to take her crutches away, control is a big thing and she may need to feel she can orchestrate her life in a way that allows her to manage her emotions. She will most likely turn against anyone that threatens her crutches. Educating her is probably the best thing and perserverance. please God she will find her way sooner than later.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6 fi0


    Hi,

    Sorry to hear about your daughter.... it's a difficult thing to understand.... the first thing that I found helpful was actually getting a case study of a person with BPD and readin it... it was only then that I could accept I had it.... if your daughter can read the case study and see herself in it she mightn't be as resistant to help for drugs/ otherwise.
    You can get them on the net or more reliably from a local mental health team... if you contact the HSE in your local area they should direct you on the help available for your daughter and offer you advice.

    Hope this helps,

    Fi


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Have any of you heard of The Henderson Hospital in London? It specifically treats people with bpd and other complex personality disorders? I know of one person who went there and was a patient for 8 months and found it helped alot. It treats patients without any medication. The help they offer is based around therapy and behavoural modification. I got the impression that it's quite an intense experience but according to the person I knew it had a good success rate. I don't know if VHI etc would cover it but it might be worth a look for anyone who is really struggling.
    http://www.swlstg-tr.nhs.uk/services/henderson_hospital.asp


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Hi guys

    sorry to hear you've all been going through so much. It sounds like a pretty tough experience. I think like most people I don't know much about bpd but I do have a friend who suffers from it. I've tried to find out about it and ask her about it but it's hard to see what the difference between bpd and depression is from what I see her go through. I've read a bit about it but I'm still not sure what it is exactly.

    I was wondering if maybe you could tell us how it affects you? How does having it impact on your day to day life or your relationships? Is it about having very intense feelings of depression or anger at people? If there was one thing you'd like other people to understand about the condition what would it be?

    Like probably lots of people I'd like to understand a bit more so that's why I'm asking. If none of you want to answer that kind of personal question though I understand.I hope you all find some help and support anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6 fi0


    Hi,

    Bpd for me sometimes feels like depression..... but the difference is that when I self harm it is to release some intense emotion mainly sadness/anger.... it bascally where ones emotions are more extreme than the average joe soap and the one thing I would like you to understand is that regardless of how mean your friend may be or how angry... it is totally justified in her head and she cannot help feeling these heightened emotions.. so if you think shes over reacting... it should be the reaction you learn to deal with because of BPD.... HOWEVER SHE CAN GET HELP TO LEARN TO CONTROL THESE BEHAVIOURS....somene woth BPD can also feel trapped easily either in a job or relationship and thus jumping from job to job/ partner to partner... i also tend to be quite dependant... thais can run into other problems ie sex addiction/ alcohol/ drugs addiction...

    Hope this helps..


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    fi0 wrote: »
    Hi,

    Bpd for me sometimes feels like depression..... but the difference is that when I self harm it is to release some intense emotion mainly sadness/anger.... it bascally where ones emotions are more extreme than the average joe soap and the one thing I would like you to understand is that regardless of how mean your friend may be or how angry... it is totally justified in her head and she cannot help feeling these heightened emotions.. so if you think shes over reacting... it should be the reaction you learn to deal with because of BPD.... HOWEVER SHE CAN GET HELP TO LEARN TO CONTROL THESE BEHAVIOURS....somene woth BPD can also feel trapped easily either in a job or relationship and thus jumping from job to job/ partner to partner... i also tend to be quite dependant... thais can run into other problems ie sex addiction/ alcohol/ drugs addiction...

    Hope this helps..

    Hi FiO. Thank you very much for your answer. I'm sure anyone reading will be glad to know what this condition feels like from the perspective of the sufferer.It sounds like you go through alot and like it really impacts on your life. My friend definitely does have alot of the same issues too. She can be very difficult to understand at times and she can have a major falling out with you without you doing or saying anything at times. Even when I am at the end of my tether with her I still feel extremely sorry for her alot because I can see how isolated she has become, particularly as I know she has severe depression too.Thanks for the insight and I hope wish you the best of luck getting help hope things will get better for you.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 283 ✭✭b12mearse


    Is this disorder brought on by trauma?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6 fi0


    Sometimes trauma can provoke irrational behaviours and emotions like this yes but there are a number of factors including genetic


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    I suffer from Borderline also and when i first got the diagnosis I couldnt accept it. It took me over a year or more to come to terms with it. And when the doctor first told me, i was in hospital at the time I collapsed with shock and i had to be brought back to the ward in a wheel chair. It is a very difficult thing to live with and I do get so pissed off at the health care so called professionals who start with and are only interested in your thinking and not how you are feeling. So I am not getting any help from a therapist from the last two months and I only see my psychiatrst. I do suffer with it pretty bad and feeling emotionally all over the place and insecure affects my thinking and functioning.
    If i was nt on my meds Id hate to think how bad my head would get, it just gets into knots.
    I wasnt always like this, which is sad for me but because I had a nervousbreakdown I have never been the same. It seems there is no way sometimes to get comfort from my own personal private hell !!!!!!!!!!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    The biggest and most helpful thing you can do for someone like a friend who has bpd is to help make them feel safe and secure, i feel that a lot of the psychological distress and emotional distress comes from a lack of feeling safe and secure in yourself and your surroundings/enviornment. I have bpd and staying in touch with my feelings and trying to mother myself and self soothe give myself the right to feel better helps me a lot and i try to do that as much as i can and not just when my distress levels go through the roof and i can barely rememebr my own name.
    People with bpd need understanding friends friends and family that can reassure them when they feel insecure and very wobbly. I dont self harm myself thank god but it is ruining my life and holding me back. Because it is a personality thing it affects all aspects of your life.... The biggest fear BPD suffers have is being abandoned and they will do anything to avoid feeling or actual abandonment as they deep down feel that there is something wrong with then or that they are BAD. in some way... I understand it, my bpd, but it doesnt help me feel better, and feeling better is what its all about isnt it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21 iasscarra


    I cannot believe that this is discussed here, not a bad thing at all. I have variant diagnosis in the last dozen years or so and all between bi-polar and secondary schizophrenia but as cookie crumbles ; nothing concrete, although the phrase 'Borderline personality disorder' has been used towards me more than once and to be honest ones that have used it know me best and they can be trusted, so definitely food for my thought. I must imply that my illness is not holding me back as much as it normally does as I understand the nature of the beast and I have learned to 'duck and weave', saying that I love to make contact with person/ persons that have similar challenges, as I never had the opportunity as yet. slan for a while....... thanks in advance . T :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Ye ah you have your good days and bad days depending whether or not you can regulate your emotions well.
    There is a very good course available that is tailored specifically for BPD , and it was designed by a an american woman called Marsha Linehan.
    Maybe you could first contact the major universities in cork that do psychological studies and ask have they trained people in treating people with BPD.

    thats just a suggestion, it is very hard to find it in dublin even, and my own psychriatist is a from cork and he didnt know where its on.

    So Good luck with that

    Jesse


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21 iasscarra


    Thank you jesse, it is a real pain that help, support cannot be found, perhapes well shall need a celebrity/ politician to suffer from the same before we can get people to shun the stigma and take notice of something that I believe so so many more people are cursed with than suggested.. kind regards again!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    emir27 wrote: »
    I have a formal diagnosis of borderline personality and would love to hear form anyone else with this diagnosis. also from anyone who know of someone in their lives who have been diagnosed:)


    Hi,

    People who have this disorder such as me, have a very strict way of living and dealing with people, people that you once thought/think were great and placed them on a pedestal easily become not good enough and all bad as opposed to all good. You think in black and white and it is a strict line to be crossed, so you may find yourself friendless all the time and alienated as its easy to fall out with people.. People experience the disorder in a very personal and individual way, ways that are hard to accept as bad ways as you have them all your life.. I find myself alone with no newly made friends when it comes to christmas, new years eve, my birthday etc etc such is my strict way of dealing with people and putting them on the chopping block, and i have no friends from childhood though this is a common thing in BPD.... it is something that has to be looked at closely and you have to be brutally honest and sincere with yourself that accepting your ways of living that you have hung on to all your life are flawed,..... but i would also say you do need to trust some aspects of yourself and dont challenge everything, trust is the only way to feel some sense of worth and that life is good.... trust yourself trust your doctor trust your therapist,...... its a long slow battle and relief wont come overnight, keep the faith...

    Jesse


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Hi
    There are a couple of sites in US which have lots of useful information. www.bpdcentral.com & www.bpdfamily.com. I have just read two excellent books on the subject: "Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified" and "Stop Walking on Eggshells". The latter is more focused at partners/parents/children of BPD sufferers. Unfortunately I think that in Ireland there is limited help/support/therapy available at this time? And probably little awareness within the health care profession (many of whom prefer not to use labels like BPD etc)...
    Regards
    James


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11 jenortega


    Great thread. Has anyone else here read eckhart tolle, or have done byron katie's the work? I found it has helped.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 290 ✭✭Hardrain


    I also suffer with it along with clinical depression, my life is at a standstill. No friends left as I have left behind going to the pub and other such behavior. Out of work and hoping to go back to college in September but so worried in case I don't get in, what will become of me, will i go into a severe depression again etc. All plays on my mind.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Hardrain - I can totally relate! At times it has hot me so bad I have spent six months or more wanting to stay away from other people / my friends and the whole social scene. I just get so extreme about things and can get very frustrated and angry. I then hide myself away, to the extent that most of my friends have given up on me / don't bother asking, and also I just can't do the whole drinking / pub / club culture any more. I do find exercise helps a little though, and gives you something to aim for / focus on, so fingers crossed!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Shank1970


    Hi Emir,
    Well i can be added to the list of BPD in Cork.Hope your getting on well.It is indeed only a diagnosis.There is a recovery which is always good.I found an excellent counsellor in Cork and have been working together with the last 4 months.No meds and starting to rebuild my life.

    :-)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,914 ✭✭✭✭tbh


    I have it on good authority that Emir's doing great. I'm not sure she has internet access anymore, but she's been working really hard and it sounds like she's turning things around.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1 maria.osullivan


    Hi I know you can get dbt dialectical behavioural therapy in st patricks hospital in dublin, I definitely found it very useful but i am quite high fuctioning which is a big problem because people don't see how bad I am and I am terrififed of telling them in case they think I am crazy. I did find it very useful but it is a slow process which often you can't quite fathom. Would anyone be interested in an online support group? There does not seem to be a lot on offer in Ireland and there is so much stigma in relationship to bpd as well


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 689 ✭✭✭tudlytops


    Hi I know you can get dbt dialectical behavioural therapy in st patricks hospital in dublin, I definitely found it very useful but i am quite high fuctioning which is a big problem because people don't see how bad I am and I am terrififed of telling them in case they think I am crazy. I did find it very useful but it is a slow process which often you can't quite fathom. Would anyone be interested in an online support group? There does not seem to be a lot on offer in Ireland and there is so much stigma in relationship to bpd as well

    i have BPD and Bi-polar, gosh would I welcome any help.
    Worse still is that now for some reason i panick every time i should go to the doctor, so i don't go, he won't come, so i don't get any medication, so I guess i'll just get wrose.

    last time i was real down took my partner's insulin, thank God he knows what to do, or i wouldn't be here today.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4 e27


    Shank1970 wrote: »
    Hi Emir,
    Well i can be added to the list of BPD in Cork.Hope your getting on well.It is indeed only a diagnosis.There is a recovery which is always good.I found an excellent counsellor in Cork and have been working together with the last 4 months.No meds and starting to rebuild my life.

    :-)
    so great to hear you found someone in cork, this is emir it has been so long since I was on that I forgot my password so just re registered....I was doing great up until a month ago, got into severe stress, level 5, and clawing my way back now...keep in touch. stil in cork myself and really good to know im not alone..


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4 e27


    iasscarra wrote: »
    I cannot believe that this is discussed here, not a bad thing at all. I have variant diagnosis in the last dozen years or so and all between bi-polar and secondary schizophrenia but as cookie crumbles ; nothing concrete, although the phrase 'Borderline personality disorder' has been used towards me more than once and to be honest ones that have used it know me best and they can be trusted, so definitely food for my thought. I must imply that my illness is not holding me back as much as it normally does as I understand the nature of the beast and I have learned to 'duck and weave', saying that I love to make contact with person/ persons that have similar challenges, as I never had the opportunity as yet. slan for a while....... thanks in advance . T :o
    would love to touch bass with you on how you are doing etc...living in cork with bpd and finding it immensely isolating..hope you are doing great, emir


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Shank1970


    Hi Emir,
    Good to hear your doing well.Keep ducking and weaving :-)

    Shank


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,914 ✭✭✭✭tbh


    howdy folks - there's lots of unregistered posts on this thread. This is just a note to say that if you post here unregistered, one of the mods has to approve it before it can be seen. it's just a formality. however, we don't always remember to check the posts queue - if it's been a day or so since you posted and your post isn't shown, feel free to pm me in the strictest confidence and I'll approve or explain.

    cheers,
    tbh.

    ps - welcome back sunshine :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4 e27


    b12mearse wrote: »
    Is this disorder brought on by trauma?
    Ive been told by a psychologist that specifcally sexual abuse is linked to developing bpd.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2 brokenwings


    :eek: where do i start?? im 26yrs old. i was diagnosed with bpd at 15 which i am told is too young but they labelled me!:mad: i have been to hell and back a million times over. so many hospital addmissions, for suicide attempts, for a lot of self harm... alcohol, drug abuse... my parents had no choice but to throw me out because things got so bad. i have been in the services 11 years now and it is still a daily struggle. i have been lucky in some ways being able to see counsellors, some who have helped, (some who have not :confused:). my parents are not well off so i have been attending public services, when i was twentyone i was offered or ordered to attend dialectical behavioral therapy (after, psychologists, cbt etc. ). :o i went along, got evaluated... for the 1000th time and they accepted me straight away. i was one of the the first to do it :rolleyes:... it involved group therapy, once a week and a therapist, who i also saw once a week and had daily contact with. it was heavy going and in the first few months i had done alot of damage to myself, like i was fighting this and didnt want the help. i completed the group and continued one to one but slipped further back, i still dont know why... they let me come back a second time. things are not as bad as they used to be but if i had the chance to start again, i wouldnt be so stupid and id fight for and through it... thank you for taking the time to read this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 bec88


    i just got diagnosed with bpd. unfortunately i'm in the process of training to be a psychiatric nurse. been told i can no longer do it. I was under the care of a psychiatrist before i entered the course and was discharged a year and a half ago. I wish some1 had said something to me before this as i've been doing the course for 3 years. it just highlights how bad the irish mental health service is that they refuse to label a person with borderline personality disorder so they dont need to treat it


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8 borderline girl


    to bec88, that is terrible that you cannot continue with your nursing, WHO told you u cannot do the course??!?! i have been diagnosed with bpd and bipolar ll and hav been told by a psychologist and a psychiatric nurse that there would be no problem me studying to work in the mental health field be it a psychiatric nurse, psychologist, etc.

    that just smacks of discrimination IMHO :(


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭degausserxo


    Bec, perhaps you were just advised not to continue for a while, rather than told that you weren't able to do the course at all? I was told last year that any sort of education would be totally out of the question for two years by my psychiatrist (advice that I hated and refused to accept at first, but was ultimately the best decision for me).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 430 ✭✭margarite


    emir27 wrote: »
    I have a formal diagnosis of borderline personality and would love to hear form anyone else with this diagnosis. also from anyone who know of someone in their lives who have been diagnosed:)


    I have being dignoised with borderline personality disorder. It very hard to deal with unless you can get a friendly doctor who will help you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 430 ✭✭margarite


    emir27 wrote: »
    Hi, great to hear Im not alone here!! Ive not found any forums here yet addresssing bpd. will keep looking though! I was diagnosed over 10years ago but I pretty much ignored the diagnosis. I thought it was just an umbrella term used when they didnt really know what was wrong. I now take it alot more seriously! Its a difficult disorder no doubt, I really needed psychological support and my life has begun to open up dramatically since I found a really superb pyschologist who has had alot of experience treating bpd. I think its vital to get help from someone very experienced and around awhile!
    I would love to hear how you are managing your symptoms. I'll keep you informed if I find any good forums! take care, you're not alone in this thing :)
    How and where did you find this pyscholigist?:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 430 ✭✭margarite


    The biggest and most helpful thing you can do for someone like a friend who has bpd is to help make them feel safe and secure, i feel that a lot of the psychological distress and emotional distress comes from a lack of feeling safe and secure in yourself and your surroundings/enviornment. I have bpd and staying in touch with my feelings and trying to mother myself and self soothe give myself the right to feel better helps me a lot and i try to do that as much as i can and not just when my distress levels go through the roof and i can barely rememebr my own name.
    People with bpd need understanding friends friends and family that can reassure them when they feel insecure and very wobbly. I dont self harm myself thank god but it is ruining my life and holding me back. Because it is a personality thing it affects all aspects of your life.... The biggest fear BPD suffers have is being abandoned and they will do anything to avoid feeling or actual abandonment as they deep down feel that there is something wrong with then or that they are BAD. in some way... I understand it, my bpd, but it doesnt help me feel better, and feeling better is what its all about isnt it?
    I suffer from bpd and was lucky or not so lucky to attend a course which was done in conjuction with Trinity College and Belfast University, and when I finished I had some skills, but still find it hard to deal with certain things, I do feel insicure and find it hard to talk about it unless it is to follow sufferers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 30 lightangel


    I was diagnosed almost two tears ago, though it's only recently I decided to find out what BDP is, as my counsellors said not to focus on labels, the hospital never bothered to define it and my doctor gives me a eyes up to heaven response. Learning more about this condition has made me feel less blind. Though I don't share this much except with one friend as she has a background in counselling. For the rest of my friends when I'm having an episode I lock myself away in my house, this usually lasts 3-5 days. I feel disconnected, confused, spaced out, flashbacks, distrust in myself and others, binge eating, sleeping too much (escapism) anxiety, fearful, lonely, alcohol abuse. I don't take medication because it made me worse ie Xanax, seroxat , diazepam . Is there any kind of group therapy out there? I attend a counselor but that isn't bdp directed. I have attended st James hospital with a pyschotherpist 5 years ago but after almost 8 months his contract wasn't renewed so he went back to UK and st James didn't follow through. When I overdosed again 2 years ago I was admitted and released 5 days later withca phone number for my current counsellor , who is child abuse counsellor. I find this counsellor very nice but know I hold back and also can find it very hard to carry out tasks if I'm having an episode so I feel I'm going round in circles. When I'm not having an episode, which are at least once a month, I feel very positive, self aware and functioning. The episodes seem to wipe all that out. And I become house bound and people avoidant. Thanks for taking the time to read this


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    for those of you looking for forums with others who suffer with BPD, I highly recommend Mental Health World forums: http://www.mentalhealth-world.org.uk/forums/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 Graham74


    Hey all,

    Just 6 weeks out of hospital and BPD is what the team I was under reckon I have. Hopefully I will get onto a local DBT programme. Still suffering from Depression and some addictive behaviours.

    Has anyone found a good support in South Dublin? Would anyone like to start a support group? Possibly facilitated by a professionel?

    Graham.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 jessica99


    Hi all,
    My sister was recently diagnosed with bpd and I was wondering if anyone out there had any advice as to what I should be doing or not doing to help her.
    I have just moved away from home to start college so I dont live with her anymore but I still want to be there for her. Anyone have any ideas what I could be doing to help her from a distance?
    I always feel like Im doing and saying the wrong things around her so Im desperate for any suggestions from anyone out there who has been through this before!
    She is also bulimic and she is cutting herself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭pheasant tail


    jessica99 wrote: »
    Hi all,
    My sister was recently diagnosed with bpd and I was wondering if anyone out there had any advice as to what I should be doing or not doing to help her.
    I have just moved away from home to start college so I dont live with her anymore but I still want to be there for her. Anyone have any ideas what I could be doing to help her from a distance?
    I always feel like Im doing and saying the wrong things around her so Im desperate for any suggestions from anyone out there who has been through this before!
    She is also bulimic and she is cutting herself.



    well,ive also bpd but ive yet to meet someone that doesnt have a mental illness and that can really help as they dont understand,but thats not your fault,its great you wana help and i wish some of my friends where the same as you!

    For me anyways,i hate when people ask too many questions like if they see the cuts on my arm etc,dont ask why or dont even say stop,just kinda pretend you understand and accept thats her way of coping,tel her never be afraid to lift the phone and ring you even if she just thinks shes feeling down. Little things often help me like make up a lie that you met someone with bpd and that he/she said its really difficult but it does get easier and give it time,get help,not alone etc..Its sucha difficult illness and dont be offended if she pushes you away,for me when i tell people im good and im okay it often usually means the opposite but everyones different,sorry if this sounds all stupid and useless im just about to fall asleep,if i can think of anything else that might be of help to you ill come back to this,,all the best!! :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 jessica99


    Hi pheasant tail,
    Thank you so much for taking the time out to reply to my post but not to be offensive or disregard your advice I dont feel very comfortable pretending or lying to my sister.
    She already has trust issues with me because I was the one that told our parents about her (because I was concerned and confused) after she asked me not to tell them. She was really mad!!! So I promised never to do anyting like that again I feel I have to be as honest with her as I can be now.
    What you said wasnt stupid or useless at all! I think she does the same as you, says shes fine when I know shes not, and again like you i feel she hates being asked about it.

    So do I not ask her how shes doing? Do I talk about other things instead to distract her? Is that not sort of ignoing her real feelings!?

    Would I be a greater help to her if I got more involved and encouraged her to talk even though she doesnt want to. Or should I try to carry on as normal with her.. doing and talking about the same things as always leaving all the more difficult and emotional stuff to the professionals?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,781 ✭✭✭nothing


    Hey everyone.

    Got diagnosed about a year ago, after 4 years without a proper diagnosis - a lot of humming and hawing between depression, anger issues, anxiety etc, but never an actual diagnosis.

    On the one hand, I was really happy to finally have a name for what was wrong, but I generally ignored it, sort of didn't want to know about it. Have been researching and reading about the condition for the last 4 or 5 months, in some ways it's helped - knowing I can do something about it, in other ways, well, it's terrifying.

    I recently read Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide, found they really broke things down in a way that a lay person can understand (albeit some of it was a little patronizing).

    I was wondering if anyone had any experience with DBT here in Ireland? I have a great psychologist, but tbh I already seem to know more than he does!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭pheasant tail


    Ok this is all my oponion,but my feelings towards the professionals yes there the only ones that can actually help in the end,but your paying them to be there and to care in regards to a friend or family and the person themselves knowing they really care like!!

    you ask of course but like the way it was often for me,someone asks me how am i,i reply fine,they ask really are you....yano like,id just send a text saying well hope your as well as you can be just thinking of you,,then theres probably a better chance of her hoping up like...i hate when my sister acts really happy around me when im always the opposite,its just the way she is but it makes me feel so differnt and jealous..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 942 ✭✭✭pheasant tail


    Well,i was kinda in the same boat as you,it took until my second admission for them to decide that it was personality issues causing depression and anxiety issues and they had thrown every tablet in the book at me like..

    Em i actually started that DBT last week with pschyologist,he told me to read a book on mindfulness first before i start proper,consists of 1 to 1 with therapist then a group team work thing or something,not really sure,he said its a long long road and you have to be very committed to it and put in the hard work!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 jessica99


    Ya your right pheasant tail about just sending a text so she knows im thinking of her, and I do think that the professionls are the only ones that can help her overcome certain things.. but knowing this doesnt make me feel less useless because I cant seem to help her.:(
    I think i kind of do what your sister does.. act extra happy around her even when Im not. Its like im trying to shield her from any other outside negativity, which doesnt really work of course. For me anyway I seem to always end up insulting her or upsetting her more when I try to help her or try and cheer her up. I feel like I keep saying and doing the wrong things and end up being an insensitive idiot around her. Sometimes I feel like it would be better for her sake if I didnt talk to her at all.:(
    Im glad you've started DBT. My sisters due to start it soon too. Good luck with it!:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 whatthefcuk


    hi guys dont know if im cutting in here but my psychiatrist said to me that i might have bdp and i researched it and im pretty sure that i do to be hoest.

    im devastated! heartbroken but explains why ive never felt a core sense of self you know??

    just anybody wanting to talk about anything not even related to this but anything mental health wise please pm it would be great to talk to someone about this, im 19 in dublin and just want to understand what other people are going through as well

    cheers!


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