Personality disorders / long term psychotherapy

[fluffydressinggown]

I have a big long thread about being admitted but I have some specific questions.

Does anyone have a diagnosis of a personality disorder? What led to your diagnosis and has it had an impact on you career wise or when having a family?

And has anyone had long term psychotherapy (they are saying 2 years for me)? It would be through the NHS and delivered by a clinical psychologist, it would be psychanalytical therapy and DBT.

At the moment it all sounds very scary and long term :( Any experiences or advice? I am currently inpatient so at the very very beginning of this all although I have had short term nurse led therapy in the past.

I have BPD, but also have severe clinical depression, OCD and at some points can be psychotic. I only knew I had BPD because it was on the discharge letter from the hospital, no one has sat down and said what it is, why or how they came up with the diagnosis.
My CPN tells me that one of the issues I have with it is not being able to emotionally give to my children.
I have been seeing a Psychologist on the NHS this time for 4 years, but saw her previously for 2 years.

When I started back seeing her this last time I thought I could just go see her, talk abit and everything would be fine, but I couldn't have been more wrong, she is slowly teaching me to feel (which I hate but know I need to do for my childrens sake) and to match up what happened to me with the feelings as just now everything is like I'm reading from a book with no emotions and doing it as fast as I can to get to the end quickly.
Seeing my psychologist has helped me with some trust issues and to open up abit about my past but its going to be along road.
I see her weekly when things are really bad with some telephone support inbetwen and then it can go to fortnightly when things aren't too bad but I can phone inbetween if needed.

I have also been diagnosed with BPD, but also have a history of severe eating disorders, fibro, conversion and CFS.
I am currently in open-ended psychotherapy for my eating disorders, have had 2 sessions and it is incredibly difficult!
Career wise..I managed to get a first class degree although it was difficult, and am beginning my Ma in September. I took a year out as was seen as too ill by the university last year. I have had both ft/pt jobs but atm am unable to hold one down, but that is mainly due to my physical issues. Saying that, atm I do not think even if my legs were not useless painful floppy things I think my mood swings may stop me from getting a job atm.

BUT the fact is it sounds as if you are trying, and trying really hard. I have been ill for a long time, and it has only been in the last few years i have really pulled my finger out to try to get myself better & IMO that is the most important thing. It will not be easy, but with the right people to support you you can get there.

I have also had a few courses of DBT (18months each) in the past, which helped, but wasn't all that useful at the time as other things were going on that stopped me from using it.

The scary thing about PD's is that, yes, they are long term, but they do improve. Also if you are working with a psychotherapist they focus loads more on the actual symptoms than the label..and a lot of the labels for PD's are highly contested atm.

I know it is daunting, and a difficult road, but you can get there. Wishing you luck.