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Borderline Personality Disorder

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hey :wave:

So I braved my appointment with the Psychiatrist, but he told me I had a personality disorder. Although I can't figure out how, or why I have it, and still can't make sense of it.

Has anyone else been diagnosed with this? Or had experiences with it? How did you accept and handle it?

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I've had friends saying it's likely I have it, but never thought of it tbh. I guess with the symptoms, and reading through it more, I can kinda twiddle it around my finger.. but still highly confused. Thank you for the reply!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Thank you, I'm going to read more about it, and like how to avoid the situations, I don't even know anything about it! Grr. Hopefully I can make more sense of it and accept it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    try to remember that you are exactly the same person, with exactly the same difficulties, as you were before you were given the diagnosis. it doesn't change anything about you. it just (hopefully) means that more support is made available for you.

    i have a shaky diagnosis of bpd amongst other things and i know a lot of others who do too, and i do recognise many 'borderline' traits in my thoughts and behaviour but equally i don't think that i am that way because of i have a certain label, i think i am that way because i am me. a lot of it depends on your view of psychiatry really. it is worth remembering that there is a lot of overlap between different conditions in terms of their diagnostic criteria, so a lot of the time people are given different diagnoses depending on the clinician they see. what i would say is that there are lots of really intense, overwhelming feelings that people who may fit the criteria for bpd have (i'm wording it like that because i think a lot of people meet the criteria for all kinds of psychiatric problems but that doesn't mean that they do or should have a diagnosis) and the key skills to master involve emotional regulation and self-soothing, to help you manage your emotions. things like crisis planning and distraction lists are useful if you experience a lot of suicidal urges. sometimes the feelings you have can seem completely logically irrational yet can be really painful, and that's why really basic things like self-care are important.

    i remember when i first heard the phrase 'personality disorder' used about me and i was probably about your age. i felt really upset and attacked, as if they were saying that my personality was faulty or broken. i think that's a natural thing to think but it doesn't mean anything like that, it's because the things you think and do are considered to be due to personality traits, hence the name. that doesn't mean that those things can't improve or change. lots of the things we do are down to things we have learned or experiences we have had, and are not pre-determined, so we can unlearn them and find different ways to cope. try not to let the diagnosis get you down too much because as i said at the start, you are still you, and the label is just the doctor's way of describing some of your symptoms.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Mhmm, Samaritans is under my phone, and I have Becki's number when I need her, considering she knows basically everything.. I guess it's odd, but in ways probably explains a lot of things. He seemed worried how many attempts I've had, and how I have a plan and all sorts... I guess there will be a day I can accept it, I'll just work on it until then...

    Yeah I have a crisis plan somewhere in my room, which sometimes helps.

    Appreciate your replies.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I honestly dont know what to say as the advice you have got so far is spot on. :)
    Want you to know we are here and we care :) at least you now have a diagnosis, and i hope eventually you have a better understanding :)


    Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd take that diagnosis with a pinch of salt...BPD is a questionable 'disorder', as are many of the others. if the psychiatric establishment had their way, all personality traits and character types would be defined as disorders. they have a vested interest.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Meh, I couldn't careless what I have now, it's like wow, hasn't changed me. Maybe it's made me more aware, but oh well.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Spliffie wrote: »
    I'd take that diagnosis with a pinch of salt...BPD is a questionable 'disorder', as are many of the others. if the psychiatric establishment had their way, all personality traits and character types would be defined as disorders. they have a vested interest.

    There is an element of truth to this. Most people I know who have complex needs have ended up with a BPD diagnosis, and the range of symptoms sometimes feels a bit 'catch-all'. Having said that, I have found that I have been offered better support since diagnosis. The flip side is that a lot of people believe the myth that people with BPD are all manipulative, all the time.

    The hurdle for me to get over, in my own mind, was "personality disorder". I have had to programme myself to realise that my personality is not disordered. Sounds silly, but words have power and if you don't like yourself much it's easy to make that just another stick.

    You're lucky to have Becki, she sounds excellent.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    piccolo wrote: »
    There is an element of truth to this. Most people I know who have complex needs have ended up with a BPD diagnosis, and the range of symptoms sometimes feels a bit 'catch-all'. Having said that, I have found that I have been offered better support since diagnosis. The flip side is that a lot of people believe the myth that people with BPD are all manipulative, all the time.

    The hurdle for me to get over, in my own mind, was "personality disorder". I have had to programme myself to realise that my personality is not disordered. Sounds silly, but words have power and if you don't like yourself much it's easy to make that just another stick.

    You're lucky to have Becki, she sounds excellent.

    Yeah, I agree, words really do have power, when he said 'personality disorder' I was like o.O and was like that all the way home, then figured I needed to sit by the canal and process everything.

    Oh she is, she's more nuts than me! :o Didn't think that would be possible! Haha

    Thanks Picc :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    turns out i might have this as well, although the clinical psychologist said it was more important to get the right support, not necessarily just have the diagnosis... i'm not sure how to process it either, i said, well, it's just like having chronic depression really isn't it? and she agreed. the only reason i would really need to even bring it up is when i'm filling out forms for benefits... but i'm not sure it's a definite thing yet cause other professionals think i have a psychotic disorder, they're just not sure which one... the psychologist mentioned that maybe i have BPD but get psychotic when i'm really stressed. who knows...
    anyway, just thought i'd mention it, i certainly don't think you're alone, seems like a lot of people have the 'disorder'.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have BPD amongst other things and really relate to the diagnostic criteria. I get psychotic under stress and take anti-pyschotics every day to help with this. Also the self harm, the intense need not to be left alone, the 'I hate you - don't leave me' aspect of it, the chronic depression, the wreckless overspending, the eating disorders that can come with bpd, the paranoia, the boundary issues.

    Personally I have found the diagonosis useful to help me understand and also I have been in 2 specialist units for bpd and they have been far more helpful to me than more general treatments I have had.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    yes... i have this, along with a lot of other issues- i'm happy to talk to you about it
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was once told I had this, but a lot of people disagree with such a thing existing and I've since been told a diagnosis of C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) is far more apropriate. Talk to your doctors and discuss why they think you have that and what it actually means. Also, always remember that you are entitled to a second opinon.
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