I can look at my life and see why doctors have labeled me Borderline Personality in some ways...any advice?

Being a guy, I'm not comfortable with this label. Some of the characteristics of this mental illness don't apply to me, but many do in some ways. It's certainly not a good thing to be called, but it's not a murderer or thief or something.I can look at my life and see why doctors have labeled me Borderline Personality in some ways...any advice?
Try not to think of yourself as a label. You are more than just a diagnosis that was pinned on you, just as you are more than just a guy, more than you hair colour etc. No it's not like being a murderer or a thief. Sometimes they do label people with this when they don't fit any other categories, adn there is still some controversy over the label, and if it even exists.


To be diagnosed with this you would have had to fit certain criteria... which of the symptoms do you identify with? If you feel unhappy with the diagnosis you are well within your rights to demand a second opinion.


Who diagnosed you? It should have been a psychiatrist, not a family doctor.


The treatment for BPD is not generally medication except for antidepressants, or in if you have psychotic episodes maybe antipsychotics. The usual treatment is either CBT or DBT, both are therapies designed to help you learn new ways of regulating your emotions.


It would certainly be worth a second opinion, also don't think of it as a mental illness, it is not a brain chemistry problem in the way schizophrenia is, it is a personality disorder, in the case of BPD affected by your self esteem and emotional dysregulation.I can look at my life and see why doctors have labeled me Borderline Personality in some ways...any advice?
Read the book ';I hate you, Don't leave me!'; by Kreisman %26amp; Strauss Its an awesome perspective into BPD. http://www.amazon.com/Hate-You-Dont-Leave-Understanding/dp/0380713055 Report Abuse

BPD is addressed in section 15, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Be aware that, because of their upbringing, people suffering from BPD tend to see things in terms of black and white, rather than shades of grey, and often idealise, then devalue, in relationships. They also tend to have a great fear of abandonment, and sometimes go to extreme lengths to prevent it. A tendency to abuse alcohol and/or drugs, or high risk activities may be present.





Use the locators, in section 1, at ezy build, and the phone book, to find a therapist who uses Dialectical Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or get a good book on the subject, and give to a therapist using Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy (fairly common, and probably nearby) and ask that it be incorporated into your treatment. Read ';I hate you: don't leave me.'; by Jerold J. Kreisman, m.d. and Hal Stras. A workbook that offers good coping skills is Marsha Linehan's Skills Training Manual (a DBT Workbook). Try http://www.amazon.com/ for these. View: http://www.2knowmyself.com/uieforum?c=sh鈥?/a> ~~~ THERAPISTS: It depends to a certain extent on what your tentative diagnosis is: people with Borderline Personality Disorder, for example, need to be challenged from time to time, by therapists using DBT. A good therapist will get you to examine the appropriateness of your actions, or thought patterns, and offer the occasional suggestion.





Some therapists, however, work from an ';I know best'; basis, and, even though they may actually do know best, their approach often isn't as conducive to progress as others, who take more of a middle position. On the other hand, there are those who try to be your friend, when what you really need is expert help. I suggest that you try at least 3 new therapists, and initially select one you feel most comfortable with, because a good degree of rapport (which takes time to build) can help a lot, with therapy. Closely examine the http://1-800-therapist.com/ %26amp; http://www.metanoia.org/choose/ websites, and use the locators, there, and/or in the index page of section 1, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris (and phone book, but only if necessary). Personally, I'd select a clinical psychologist who believes in only recommending minimal necessary medication, if at all, because they don't issue prescriptions, so are considerably less likely to be involved with the rewards, and inducements offered by sales reps from ';big pharma';: the large drug companies, to psychiatrists (there are links to, or articles on how psychiatry has become corrupted by money from drug companies, and ';how doctors are being manipulated';, in section 1: worth reading!).





It's important to not only feel comfortable with your therapist, but also to know about their qualifications, and the type of therapy used (read section 1). Some people are in therapy for many years, and pay a small fortune in fees, so recognise that therapists may have a vested interest in keeping their patients coming back. It pays the rent, and permits them to feel that they are fulfilling a useful function in life. For this reason, I believe that, unless there is a need for a specific type of therapy, such as Dialectical Behavio(u)ral Therapy, for Borderline Personality Disorder, or EMDR therapy, for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or ongoing support, in the case of people with bipolar disorder, who find they function best this way, it is a good idea to start out with a clinical psychologist who uses Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy.