Just diagnosed with BPD

[Timmer]

Hi guys, this is my second time posting in this particular board. For a long time, I have had issues with major depression and anxiety with panic attacks, but it always seemed like there was something more. I have always been intense mood swings, and I often found myself asking therapists I've had in the past if I was bipolar or something, because I knew there had to be another piece of the puzzle, another explanation for my intense mood swings and erratic behavior.

 

Anyway, the more I had learned about BPD, the more I wondered if I needed to talked to a mental health professional to see if I met the criteria. Two days ago, I did just that. I had an appointment with a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and she asked me a series of questions. Unfortunately, I meet the criteria. On the plus side, I happen to be high functioning, so my BPD is not quite too severe. In addition, I am already somewhat familiar with mindfulness and meditation, which are are key components of DBT. However, my new therapist is not actually trained in DBT as she was licensed before DBT was developed. Still, I think she will be able to help me deal with the disorder.

 

Last night, I downloaded an e-book from Amazon called The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Living with BPD by Dr. Alexander L. Chapman and Dr. Kim L. Gratz.. I haven't finished reading it yet, but it is a great book so far, and now I don't feel so hopeless about living with BPD. Still, it is overwhelming. The reality is, depression and anxiety disorders along with my physical health issues are hard enough to deal with. Knowing that I also have BPD, my life even more complicated than I realized.

 

[panda90]

I'm going to try to read that. Thank you for posting that link.

And sorry for having to get the diagnosis but welcome to the club!

Edited December 13, 2013 by panda90

[cipher]

Timmer - glad you found us again. i'm wondering - might it be worthwhile to seek out some other help? I'm still very much learning about the condition myself, having been diagnosed in may of this year - and something that i see within myself and others who have it is an overwhelming sense of overwhelm. so, it could be helpful to have some other supports - such as someone to help you with goal setting that visits you and checks in every week.

 

having some physical health goals - it sounds like exercise could help with a heck of a lot that you have going on here. as weird as this sounds, i'm no weight trainer, but i'm finding Evolution: The Cutting Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You've Always Wanted helpful in the sort of mindset that i'm going to need for next year just to get shit done.

[Timmer]

having some physical health goals - it sounds like exercise could help with a heck of a lot that you have going on here. as weird as this sounds, i'm no weight trainer, but i'm finding Evolution: The Cutting Edge Guide to Breaking Down Mental Walls and Building the Body You've Always Wanted helpful in the sort of mindset that i'm going to need for next year just to get shit done.

Thanks! I have lost some weight, a little over 60 pounds. I have a lot more to lose. Because of my back problems and knee problems, I have to limit what kind of exercises I do though. Some exercises can actually cause further injury.