Me and the voice in my head Channel 4

[Blackcats7]

Just watched this on channel 4. Utterly brilliant, what an amazing insight into bpd. I hadn’t heard of Joe Tracini before but I will look out for his comedy now.

Amazing documentary- just watched in catch up.

Yep - prtobably having an inherited element, but then the abuse .... heartrending. His parents not realising.

His father calling his suicide attempts a lifestyle he had adopted was just awful. I hope he gains some better insight into his son’s life and his own part in it when he watches this programme.

Having worked with many people with BPD I didnt think he was particularly typical of the disorder, although no one is the same.

I felt there were lots of gaps missing, he said he that he had been in therapy for most of his life but later said that he he had never looked at/talked about his childhood, that seems odd and wasnt questioned.

He was diagnosed fairly late, after many years of drug and alcohol addiction yet little focus on drug induced psychosis and voices

I think its really hard for families and there is much more of a view from MH professionals these days that suicidal ideation, self harm, even attempts at suicide are a behavioural issue, not a MH disorder. CAMHS say this about young people a lot, not sure if its the same narrative with adult MH services. So it wouldnt be a surprise to me if this is why his dad views it as lifestyle choices/behavioural choices also.

Ohhhhh I need to watch this with DH as he has BPD

couldn't help thinking that his presentation is more autism than BPD
(I work with autistic young people and they've frequently been misdiagnosed with BPD before getting an ASC diagnosis)

I will watch the documentary as I have a relative with BPD. What I find really fascinating is why he has it in a family of 5 siblings, when none of the other siblings do. He was the golden child before anyone suggests abuse or scape goating. But yeah, why was his childhood so triggering? And why actively CHOOSE to have 3 children yourself when you know you have BPD, you know how fucked up you are, you have threatened suicide many times and blame your birth family for it all?

sorry but it touches a nerve

I'm Autistic and so is my daughter. I don't recognise his presentation as Autism at all. (That said, if you've met one Autistic person, you've met one Autistic person) I'm also aware of women I know who were formerly diagnosed with BPD, who then went on to receive a diagnosis of Autism later in life. Some were originally, incorrectly diagnosed. Some have both conditions.

His mannerisms remind me of Tourettes syndrome tics. Coupled with his anxiety and panic attacks on stage, it put me in mind of how Lewis Capaldi struggles in a similar way.

Ultimately, though, I see a psychologically unstable, paranoid, impulsive person, similar to some people I know who also have diagnosed BPD/EUPD.

Sorry, are you saying people with BPD shouldn't have children?

I think he also presented some signs of tourettes. Myself and my husband are flabbergasted he wasn't on any anti psychotic medication to help with his voice that her heard. I can see why people thought he had ASD as at first he reminded me a lot of the way my son flaps but I think his is clearly aggravated from panic and nervousness. He was brilliant in hhollyoaksand I wouldn't have ever though he had any kind of mental health back then.

I didnt think he presented with any or many ASD traits.

He certainaly had some tic like behaviour, again I would say Ive seen this so much in people with drug and alcohol addictions/previous addictions

I missed the bit where he said he wasnt on anti psychotics, is this because hes not taking them or hasnt been prescribed them?

My husband was an arsehole before I met him! He wasn't diagnosed until he was nearly 30. He was addicted to drugs and alcohol for most of his life before being diagnosed. (Prescription drugs not street drugs). When we watched it he and professionals never mention medication and said the best help is therapy. He also never mentioned any type ofbl antidepressants or the help of medication. When I worked in a children's secure unit we had lots of young children with these tic like behaviours and once medication had been prescribed and had kicked in they changed and all behaviour like this stopped over time, they also stopped hearing the voices/voice. I know some people hate medication but I really feel in these circumstances it should be tried along with therapy. Mood stabilisers would 100% be considered before any truama therapy is sought. I actually cried watching it as I was so proud he got through his show!

Yes I agree with you. I suppose the problem with these programmes is it doesnt say everything. Like I mentioned above, he said that he had therapy his whole life but then said that he has never talked about or looked at his childhood, that would be incredibly unusual therapy never to have done that with someone, but no one asked him why that was the case, or was it that he didnt engage with therapy.
So no one mentioned or asked about meds but does that mean he isnt on them, or is on them, or has been offered them but doesnt want them. Who knows!

I'm saying that if you are a person with an extremely unstable personality for 10+ years, who is chronically depressed and very often suicidal to the point of being sectioned, then parenthood is not the road to go down. Because your children will suffer for it.

My children don't suffer with their dad one bit! Having children actually help him to manage it alot more.