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Mental Health Borderline Personality Disorder

MMMMKAY?!

MMMMKAY?!

Ex-Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 28, 2010
Messages
489
I've read in a couple books that up to 50% of drug 'abusers' also meet the criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder.
So I am guessing there are quite a few on this website?
I have been diagnosed with BPD as well and welcome anyones expierences, opinions, advice etc. [:
 
I'd say that's a gross overestimate.
I have nothing of value to add to your thread, though.
 
I think that's an overestimate as well. Some drugs do seem to affect people in a way that might make it seem like they are BPD, when they are actually not. I know of people that have been diagnosed, quit their DOC, and then were told that they had been misdiagnosed.

I do have BPD and I'm sorry that you're struggling with this. It can be absolute hell at times, there's no doubt about that. If you haven't already, check into Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and especially Mindfulness. Both have done wonders for me. I know that everyone's symptoms differ from person to person at least somewhat. What symptoms do you find to be the worst for you? If we know that, maybe we can help you out with those a little bit more. I want to say more, but I have to run right now.

Take care of yourself and please check back in here. You're not alone. <3
 
spork said:
I think that's an overestimate as well. Some drugs do seem to affect people in a way that might make it seem like they are BPD, when they are actually not. I know of people that have been diagnosed, quit their DOC, and then were told that they had been misdiagnosed.

I do have BPD and I'm sorry that you're struggling with this. It can be absolute hell at times, there's no doubt about that. If you haven't already, check into Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and especially Mindfulness. Both have done wonders for me. I know that everyone's symptoms differ from person to person at least somewhat. What symptoms do you find to be the worst for you? If we know that, maybe we can help you out with those a little bit more. I want to say more, but I have to run right now.

Take care of yourself and please check back in here. You're not alone. <3
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Holy crap! I have BPD and am in DBT. I love it, and recommend it to everyone with BPD. I second everything you said.
 
I apologize everybody, I might have worded it wrong. I will copy the exact words out of the book "I Hate You, Don't Leave Me" by Jerold J. Kreisman and Hal Straus:
"BPD and chemical abuse are frequently associated. Nearly one-third of those with a lifetime diagnosis of substance abuse also fullfill criteria for BPD. And over 50 percent of BPD inpatients also abuse drugs or alcohol. Alcohol or drugs might reflect self-punishing, angry, or impulsive behaviors, a craving for excitement, or a mechanism of coping with loneliness..." pg.33

Also on page 27 to 28 it says this (though I do not think I agree): "Second BPD may be closely linked and perhaps even contribute to the development of another disorder. For example, the impulsivity, self-destructiveness, interpersonal difficulties, deflated self-image, and moodiness often exhibited by patients with substance abuse or eating disorders may be more reflective of BPD than the primary Axis I disorder. Although it could be argued that chronic abuse of alcohol could eventually alter personality characteristics in such a way that a borderline patter could evolve secondarily, it seems more likely that underlying character pathology would develop first and lead to alcoholism"


I have been trying to practice mindfullness alot lately. I find that picturing myself out of my body looking down kind of, helps alot. Like if I try to focus on that exact moment and play it in my head. It does get very hard sometimes though. /:
 
It is difficult when you're starting out and can be frustrating too. Keep with it though, and it gets easier. Check out this thread. It's full of information and advice on how to practice mindfulness. Do what works for you. Things will get better. <3
 
Sometimes I think I have borderline personality disorder.... I read up on it and I matched a lot of the symptoms... I know online tests aren't reliable but I scored very high or severe in all of them. Hmmm, so I have no idea. My best bet is to see a psychologist and see what they think, but I never seem to bother to try to get to one anymore. If I was diagnosed with it then that would explain a lot... I definitely get the mood swings, low self esteem, obviously drug abuse, I use drugs because they're my way of self destruction (not so much at the moment though), can be impulsive, I do the whole I love you thing but then I hate them for no reason... but then I want them here... a lot more than that too... ugh. Also someone who is my best friend and who I was in a relationship with agrees that I might have bpd. I totally ruined that relationship for reasons I can't really explain.
 
Bpd is often mis diagnosed and some doctors use it as a catch all to label difficult patients. I would take that diagnosis woth a grain of salt
 
I have BPD. When I was in a day treatment program at the psych ward when I mentioned it literally everyone in the group was convinced they also had it. And these were people who didn't even know there were personality disorders prior to that. I feel like it is overdiagnosed. Those who truly have it have a lot of work in front of them to overcome it so I don't know why people are so keen on diagnosing themselves.
 
thesameoldfears said:
I feel like it is overdiagnosed. Those who truly have it have a lot of work in front of them to overcome it so I don't know why people are so keen on diagnosing themselves.
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I understand what you mean by saying you feel it is overdiagnosed. But it's weird to me-I've read over and over that is the most underdiagnosed mental health condition out there and that it is much more common than people think. They say that it is so underdiagnosed, because borderlines have a certain 'pathology' that masks there deep underlying condition..though idk. I really don't believe much of what I read anymore.

And also in my case, I WAS very keen of finding out this diagnoses. I think it is because I was kind of raised my whole life in and out of the care of psyciatrists, psych wards, therapists etc. So I was always kind of wondering what was wrong with me. I got diagnoses like Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Manic-Depression, Hypomania, ADHD, OCD and a couple more, and I guess when I started reading about Borderline, I was relieved (in a a way) that this diagnose covered all my life problems I've been having. It also may be because Borderlines have a screwy sense of identity so diagnosing themselves feels like they 'belong somewhere'. Though don't get me wrong, I know 'owning' the diagnoses can cause more problems. Just because you have BPD doesn't mean you are BPD.
 
MMMMKAY?! said:
Just because you have BPD doesn't mean you are BPD.
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I love this!

Diagnoses (not just BPD, but any diagnosis) are just that, diagnoses. So many people (including myself) have felt that a diagnosis defines who they are, when it really doesn't at all. Sure it might explain some of your behaviors a little more and shed some light on some things or perhaps even offer some relief because you can get the support that is right for you, but it doesn't make you you. You are still you and will always be. Being diagnosed with anything does have the potential to be dangerous when we think of ourselves as incurable or hopeless, but when you look as yourself as still being your own unique self magic can happen and I think that you can accept yourself for you and be willing to do what it takes to make yourself feel better.
 
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I kind of agree with drinkswithevil. When it boils down, Many people can relate to MANY psych disorders. You will go online, read the symptoms of the disorder and see you fit 7/10 of them. But then you will read a few others and still fit in with those, that is why i hate self diagnosing. I use to do it all the time, and it would drive me nutts because i could fit in with all of them. And going to a psychologist doesn't work either, because they may mis judge you.
 
crimsonjunk said:
Bpd is often mis diagnosed and some doctors use it as a catch all to label difficult patients. I would take that diagnosis woth a grain of salt
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my thoughts completely..... dont let yourself be defined by a label
at one point i had i was at an inpatient rehab and i recieved the diagnosis.... i later had EVERY proffessional who ever saw me after that say that was utterly ridiculous
 
I'll have to add once I'm on my comp, but most people have traits of BPD or other disorders. This does not mean they have this disorder but characteristics of said disorder. There is a difference.
 
F1n1shed said:
I kind of agree with drinkswithevil. When it boils down, Many people can relate to MANY psych disorders. You will go online, read the symptoms of the disorder and see you fit 7/10 of them. But then you will read a few others and still fit in with those, that is why i hate self diagnosing. I use to do it all the time, and it would drive me nutts because i could fit in with all of them. And going to a psychologist doesn't work either, because they may mis judge you.
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Yep /:. your right. it's like, you can't forsure tell you have a certain mental health disorder. Like with diseases and phsyical stuff, you can do a test and you know forsure-with many illnesses its not so easy. It the end labels really are just labels-though they did do an QEEG with me and reported excessive 'Hyperacticity in the temporal frontal lobes'. Though alot of other psychs i've seen say it seems like "Reactive Attachment Disorder"-I don't know much about it though.
 
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