Borderline personality disorder

[CleosMam]

ive just been diagnosed with BPD and i dont know what this will mean for my daughter, ive done some research online for what types of meds used to treat BPD and its really freaking me out. stuff like anti-psychotics, i wasnt even aware that i was psychotic!! and tranquilizers. also terrified ill be hospitalised
v scared mum in need of urgent advice

Hi. Don't be scared, not everyone diagnosed BPD is hospitalised, not by a long chalk. You also are not necessarily psychotic - infact, bpd was first used as a label for people who were on the border of being psychotic but were not.

Who diagnosed you? What sort of information did they give you? Can you go back and ask more about it. Do be careful of online research, it can so often give you the worse case scenario.

Have you been offered any therapy? There's a type of therapy called DBT that is said to be helpful for BPD. It is combination of CBT and mindfullness I've been told.

Ok one step at a time - you've been diagnosed and you will need time to get to terms with it. And you need good information. Whether you need anti-psychotics will depend on whether you are actually psychotic, it all comes in gradations.

BPD is a tricky one, quite a few psychs believe it doesn't actually exist as a disorder as such. The symptoms can be difficult to treat hence the variation of treatments on offer - there isn't 'a' drug that works and talking therapy quite often does not work.

Hospitalisation against your will (which I presume you mean) will only be done if you are a risk to yourself or others. It is not something that follows from being diagnosed.

mind is helpful, although the helpline is now closed until Monday.

Royal College of Psychiatrists has good, calm information.

Make sure you get lots of info from the person diagnosing you or ask to see a community psychiatric nurse.

And don't panic - you are still you!

From Royal College of Psychiatrists:

Antipsychotic drugs can reduce the suspiciousness of cluster A personality disorders (paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal). They can also help with borderline personality disorder if people feel paranoid, or are hearing noises or voices.

there is no need for you to take antipsychotics unless you are actually psychotic. Not everyone with BPD has psychotic episodes, my friend (with BPD) does occasionally but manages them without medication through meditating and getting lots of rest.

Please don't be scared, there is no reason for this to affect your daughter, I don't know how old you are some people will 'grow out of' BPD symptoms naturally but if you don't it is a manageable disorder, no-one is going to lock you up!

AnAuntie is right that DBT is the best therapy for PD at the moment, some trusts offer DBT-based therapy groups so ask your CPN what is available.

are there not diferent types of bpd,different 'strands' of it

bdp is difficult to live with but it can be done. i have been diagnosed with it 5year now and have a 8yr old daughter. i have been on loads of meds for depression and psychotics for hearing voices and paranoid feelings. i cant even get on a bus at the moment. but you can get thru life maybe just slightly diff to others. you dont need to be in hospital i only get admitted with the depressive thought s and i become a danger to myself but even thats not often now. with the right support. there are lots of options and you have to decide whats right for you. we have a group near us that i attend to but its new so hopefully will spread around soon. it can be diff with children when you feel low. its how you cope that matters with this illness thats very important.

and my daughter is very happy,content. yes she sometimes wanders when i will go into hospital as it can be three times a year but she knows mummy has a poorly brain that makes her sad sometimes. she has grown up with it and is actually helpfull sometimes as she keeps me going on some difficult days