Finding it hard to accept my bpd diagnosis.

[selfdestructivelady]

I am diagnosed as co morbid bipolar and borderline. When I'm ill with bipolar I know the episode will end but as I am currently I'll with bpd I'm finding it hard as it won't just suddenly end.

I've lost hope and I'm desperate there was always a light at the end of the tunnel wwith bipolar as it is Episodal but as bpd is not I have no light.

I regularly scratch my arms and bite them to stop me from burning then and I regularly think of suicide. Please help me.

You can get better. x I am free from BPD following a lot of therapy. Talk to your psych team about what therapy they can offer you - and bear in mind because it's reprogramming it needs to be done over a LONG period of time - 6, 16 or 26 sessions isn't going to cut it!

Do you mean borderline personality disorder, SDL - I've just read on another thread that psychologists diagnose BPD and psychiatrists diagnose bi-polar and that the treatment for both is different. Are you on any meds. I think sometimes ADs and mood stabilisers can help with BPD. I have a friend who has recently been diagnosed and I went on the MIND site to see how I could help. There's quite a lot of useful info on there which might help a bit.

If you are having suicidal thoughts then I would have thought an AD would help. Are you on any meds? Scratching and biting is better than burning and I do understand about self-harm but you should be getting help from the medics to keep you more stable. I know the meds can only treat the symptoms of mental illness and not the underlying cause, and sorting all that out of course is a mammoth task.

ST you say "talk to your psych team" but most people don't have a "psych team" - at best they are reliant on the GP, although SDL I would think that you've seen a psychiatrist who diagnosed these mental illnesses. Are you under review by him/her. Do you have a CPN or any kind of follow-up from the CMHT? Might be helpful ST if you could give more details about the therapy that you had that was so successful. I'm not sure any of us are "free" from mental illness. For many of us it is a case of learning to live with whatever it is that we are suffering.

Hi I was told by a psychiatrist that after x number of years something like 50% of patients diagnosed ( and a proper diagnosis using diagnostic tools over several meetings, like a SCID-D) would no longer meet the criteria for BPD. I read the research etc at the time.

And just to note, only psychiatrists make mental health diagnosis, psychologists are not medical doctors. Nor should a gp diagnose.

Anyway that is not helping you. What makes you think bpd is not something that can change or will always be like this? Can you work on getting yourself well from bipolar first and then seek help for bpd symptoms?

NanaNina I went to my GP about 10 years ago because things "weren't right" - I thought i was BP as I was having dissociative episodes and other issues.

I was referred to a psych unit where I underwent diagnosis by a team of nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists - 100s of questions and probing interviews. Through a panel discussion they diagosed BPD.

The therapy I underwent was "Schema Therapy" - it took about 3 years and the idea is that it reprograms you - i.e., gets rid of all the bad stuff. It turns black/white in to grey and allows you to manage feelings, thoughts and assumptions as an adult.

So yes, having gone from 5/6 of the BPD fulfillment criteria, I finished therapy at around 2/3 - so free from diagnosis. The therapy is a very powerful tool and I've not had meds since 2006 (?) and no dissociative episodes and/or suicidal thoughts.

The trouble is - so often people are fobbed off with meds (especially by the GP!) rather than therapy which will genuinely help rather than just quieten the demons.

do you have a team to help you hun.if not could you or anyone help you find one.even going to ur gp and asking for help.therapy.if you dont beleive are are being told this is your long term diagnosis and moods will follw then to me an important thing is to get help with coping with that.
you are you hun this is not.this is your illness.your conditions with its symtoims.therefore you must seek urself out from underneath it all and leanr ways of being you whilst coping.haha so much easier to do when you dont feel like shit right!!but it is possilb.ethere are many who have been diognosed with this same thing.some cope very well.and are happy or at least content with how they are dealing with it.

dont blame yourslef or feel you cant get through it because i beleive you can.the fact your on here shows you have determination to find out at least.
its so hard to deal with and feeling low just makes that worse.
but your strgoner than it.its is your secondary a condition and illness you are still you.all the great things about you still very much there.

people get handed many things in life which means things have to change.some easier than others.this sint your fault.
i really thing therapy or even cbt could help.teach you that if you have to deal with this then how to do it.to have someone to talk to to get your emotions out to.
do you have a supportive family or friends to turn to.dont DONT DONT do this or try to do this alone.mental health conditions need support.
take care

My psychiatrist diagnosed both conditions I am on meds for bipolar but I've not been offered any therapy for my bpd. Tbh he just told me I have it that's why I'm feeling so low and said see you in three months.

I am being 're referred to a cpn as I was well and was discharged. I will ask about therapy. Thanks for all replies they really are helpful.

Hi great seeing psychiatrist again for review. If you having a Cpn they often do the talking treatment bit. They will also want your bipolar stable on medication before offering you anything I guess. If you under a Cpn you cannot access the talking treatments from gp as they only treat people at primary care level and a Cpn is classed as secondary care level if that helps.

Group treatments for bpd are worth asking for but can be long waiting lists for them.