"Emotionally unstable personality disorder"

Both Teams Dublin

Apparently this is what Borderline Personality Disorder is called in Ireland. I was diagnosed with it several years ago when hospitalised in a psychiatric unit during a very difficult time. For some reason I've never had any proper treatment for it, though it has ruined many aspects of my life. When recently I had to return to my childhood GP because I was experiencing serious distress, he seemed to think that I had invented the name "Emotionally unstable personality disorder" and laughed at me as though I was just being self-indulgent. I don't know how to start looking for proper help for this. I was misdiagnosed with several other things before and was in CBT counselling for 8 years and have been on SSRIs for 10 years. Does anyone on here have EUPD or know how I can seek proper treatment for it? I know from research that Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is recommended, but it doesn't seem to be available in Ireland. This is an illness that has controlled my whole life and that I will have to live with long term - please tell me that there is support available.

Avasa

I think emotionally unstable personality disorder is an old name for it. As far as I know its just called Borderline personality disorder. I know two people that have been diagnosed with it but their experience of it is completely different (One diagnosed/hospitalised/ treated initially in America and the other in Dublin. Could you go back to the doctor that gave you the diagnosis? They would have your records and history. If this isnt an option maybe you could ask them in writing to send your records to a gp of your choice, and ask the gp to refer you to a psychiatrist. They would then probably diagnose you again if the origional diagnosis is unclear, and begin an appropriate treatment. Im sorry I have no idea what treatment would be available here, but there is something as both women I know have had treatment here.

Hang in there. Its great that you can recognise things arent going well with you, and that you are trying to get help. Samatitans, Aware and probably a few others are just the other end of the line. If things are really bad and urgent you can always go to your nearest emergency room and speak with the doctors and psychiatrist there. They can also refer you to different types of treatment without seeing your gp.

Hersheys

Both Teams Dublin wrote: »

Apparently this is what Borderline Personality Disorder is called in Ireland. I was diagnosed with it several years ago when hospitalised in a psychiatric unit during a very difficult time. For some reason I've never had any proper treatment for it, though it has ruined many aspects of my life. When recently I had to return to my childhood GP because I was experiencing serious distress, he seemed to think that I had invented the name "Emotionally unstable personality disorder" and laughed at me as though I was just being self-indulgent. I don't know how to start looking for proper help for this. I was misdiagnosed with several other things before and was in CBT counselling for 8 years and have been on SSRIs for 10 years. Does anyone on here have EUPD or know how I can seek proper treatment for it? I know from research that Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is recommended, but it doesn't seem to be available in Ireland. This is an illness that has controlled my whole life and that I will have to live with long term - please tell me that there is support available.

I've just been diagnosed with it. Still in the early stages but I can keep you updated with how I'm getting on?

Both Teams Dublin

Both the terms Borderline and Emotionally Unstable are used, but it's actually Borderline that's the outdated version of the name. ICD-10, which is the diagnostic manual used in Ireland (rather than DSM), calls it "Emotionally unstable personality disorder - borderline type". I actually already have my records from my diagnoses and hospital admissions but just seeing a psychiatrist isn't adequate treatment for the disorder. I'm not sure how much experience you have of regular psychiatrist visits for a long-term mental health issue but I have plenty, and their emphasis is on pharmacotherapy which is not only something that has little effectiveness in the treatment of EUPD (call it BPD if you prefer) but is something I've already been doing for over a decade so am not in need of. I am looking for advice regarding Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or treatments inspired by it. I've just read this PhD paper http://doras.dcu.ie/2367/1/austin_bayley_2009.pdf and it shows that DBT has been effective in treating EUPD and is available in a very limited way in Ireland. I can't find anywhere other than Cork (I live in Dublin) that I can request being referred to. It seems deeply unfair, irresponsible, and frankly dangerous, that a proven treatment for such a very high-risk disorder that puts considerable strain on the mental health system is not better made available.

neemish

There are a few programs in Dublin. Both John of Gods and St Pats offer it on a private basis.
St Vincents in Fairview offer it on a public basis in their catchment area.

Hersheys

neemish wrote: »

There are a few programs in Dublin. Both John of Gods and St Pats offer it on a private basis.
St Vincents in Fairview offer it on a public basis in their catchment area.

Oh good, I've been referred to Vincent's.

deadmau

@Both Teams Dublin - have BPD myself and like you have battled to get the correct treatment It is as you know a personality disorder and treatment is tricky. There is a living in distress program in St Patricks Hospital which i did a few years ago and it was of some benefit but expensive. i have tried all therapies etc but found psychoanalysis to be the most effective for me. There is no cure per se (despite what anyone says) its just a case of living with your illness and learning to cope better especially during those difficult times.

For what its worth I am a firm believer of when you are ready for healing it will happen.

i would look into St Pats as a starting point and go from there. there are quite a few people in ireland with this condition, so you are not alone.

Best of luck :cool:

newmug

deadmau wrote: »

i would look into St Pats as a starting point and go from there. there are quite a few people in ireland with this condition, so you are not alone.

Best of luck :cool:

I'm not being smart, but you are right, there is a massive portion of the population who seem to have this, undiagnosed

ene

i was diagnosed with bpd 3 years ago now, i was in john of gods for 6 weeks and from there i was refered to do dbt therapy which they were piloting.

i feel like having a diagnosis makes me feel better and i have been on tablets for 4 years.

Hersheys

ene wrote: »

i was diagnosed with bpd 3 years ago now, i was in john of gods for 6 weeks and from there i was refered to do dbt therapy which they were piloting.

i feel like having a diagnosis makes me feel better and i have been on tablets for 4 years.

How did dpt work? Do they still run it? Is it accessible?

endacl

Hersheys wrote: »

How did dpt work? Do they still run it? Is it accessible?

Sure is.

http://www.cluainmhuire.ie/our-services

endacl

This may be of interest to posters. I'm not aware of a programme of treatment being offered in Ireland, but it certainly makes for interesting reading.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychoanalysis/research/mbt.htm

Hersheys

endacl wrote: »

Sure is.

http://www.cluainmhuire.ie/our-services

Don't live in the catchment area might look into it though. Was it expensive?

Hersheys

endacl wrote: »

This may be of interest to posters. I'm not aware of a programme of treatment being offered in Ireland, but it certainly makes for interesting reading.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychoanalysis/research/mbt.htm

I read into attachment therapy & would consider it but just started with new therapist so will see how I get on first.

Does anyone else have ridiculously poor interpersonal skills & end up being ridiculously reliant on other people? And perhaps behaving inappropriately to feel validated?

Edit. Link:
http://www.mindandbodyworks.com/issues/attachment

ene

i did a programme of it and thought it was pretty goof, but it was a trial run in john of gods so i have no idea if they are still offering it

neemish

ene wrote: »

i did a programme of it and thought it was pretty goof, but it was a trial run in john of gods so i have no idea if they are still offering it

Was that the one with Mary and Colin? Was supposed to do it but couldn'tbecause of work commitments

Hersheys

neemish wrote: »

Was that the one with Mary and Colin? Was supposed to do it but couldn'tbecause of work commitments

Yeah that's the one. Haven't done it but a friend has. I'd like to tho. I like the sound of dbt.

ene

neemish wrote: »

Was that the one with Mary and Colin? Was supposed to do it but couldn'tbecause of work commitments

yep thats the one, was in january 2 years ago! it was good but didnt get as much done as i thought as the course of it wasnt long enough. Mary did say that she wants to run it again but i havent heard anything

neemish

It always amuses me though that these courses are run at a time when a lot of people are at work. There seems to be an assumption that if you have had a mental illness, then you must not have a fulltime job. Or that somehow you can just say to the boss, ah ya, I need to take a day off a week for the next six weeks. How about running something on a weekend or evening?

Just a little bug of mine!

ene

ye i know that really annoyed me as well, like i found it beneficial but it meant i had to take time off work. i would never disclose to anyone that i have bpd and people did wonder why i had so many appointments

ls91

Both Teams Dublin wrote: »

Apparently this is what Borderline Personality Disorder is called in Ireland. I was diagnosed with it several years ago when hospitalised in a psychiatric unit during a very difficult time. For some reason I've never had any proper treatment for it, though it has ruined many aspects of my life. When recently I had to return to my childhood GP because I was experiencing serious distress, he seemed to think that I had invented the name "Emotionally unstable personality disorder" and laughed at me as though I was just being self-indulgent. I don't know how to start looking for proper help for this. I was misdiagnosed with several other things before and was in CBT counselling for 8 years and have been on SSRIs for 10 years. Does anyone on here have EUPD or know how I can seek proper treatment for it? I know from research that Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is recommended, but it doesn't seem to be available in Ireland. This is an illness that has controlled my whole life and that I will have to live with long term - please tell me that there is support available.

That's awful that you got that response from your gp. I also got diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, borderline type and have been on the receiving end of similar inappropriate attitudes. Look at the 2013 proposed revisions for the criteria: http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201112/borderline-personality-disorder-big-changes-in-the-dsm-5

If your looking for a therapist try to find one who is experienced with personality disorders and is up to date with bpd/eupd in particular. There are three main therapies I was recommended to do by Jim Lyng who runs the DBT in Cluian Mhuire, Dublin:

DBT, Schema focused therapy or transference focused therapy in that order of effectiveness I think.

Get in contact with him if you can and tell him your story like you have done here and he will offer you advice at the least. I'm currently 4 weeks + into transference focused therapy its extremely tough, but ill update again as I progress. Good luck to you!

chinacup

There is talk of getting a meet group together for bpd/eupd sufferers and those affected, over on another thread. Anyone here interested?

sam34

I'll close this thread as there an active one on the topic already.