forum/support for parents of young adults with BPDs? Borderline Personality Disorder

[sushiforever]

A dear friend is really struggling with the day to day difficulties of having a dd with BPD and I would really like to put her in touch with a support group (either locally or online) of people in similar circumstances but I don't know where to start. Any suggestions gratefully received!! Thanks.

If this is a formal diagnosis of BPD she should have access to treatment which is quite effective provided the patient accepts the diagnosis (many prefer to deny it). I am assuming you're in UK.

Unlike, say, autism, BPD is more often a result of environmental factors and is treatable. If untreated it can have very destructive long term impact on the sufferer and their loved ones. So I would say treatment is even more critical than support.

The other thing to be aware of is the cause. Unfortunately it is often (not always of course) a result of a dysfunctional childhood situation, frequently including abuse of one form or another. This cause may or may not be known to your friend but obviously it is very important to resolve that situation if it hasn't been already.

I should add I'm not a medical professional but my exDW has BPD so I have an extensive working knowledge. Trust me it is extremely difficult to live with.

www.psychforums.com/family-support/

This might be of some help.

Thanks everyone. The patient is having treatment but in this case, it is the mother that I am focusing on getting support for.

She needs to keep loving boundaries and try to stay calm. Easier said than done. Also to realise that she, herself, cannot fill the painful hole within her daughter.

She also absolutely has to look after herself. This is essential. You want to give everything to your children but she can't do that if she's run dry herself.

I hope she can stay guilt - free. I've seen BPD develop within a loving and stable family and the cause turned out to be external and completely unforeseeable. The family had had a lot of finger pointing aimed at them until the actual cause came out years later through the police.

thanks so much