Posted by FP on May 4, 2000, at 0:16:21
In reply to treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, posted by Ella on May 2, 2000, at 10:35:03
> Is SSRI's a treatment for BPD? It's like the door was opened when I was diagnosed. It felt like someone understood me for the first time. I have had 3 marriages and sabotaged the first one, second was so abusive and the third is a wonderful man who encourages me to seek help but I find there are times I push him to the limit to see if he will leave me. I was sexually abused as a child by my stepfather and told my Mother who said she did believe me but couldn't leave him because she couldn't support us. I resented her for years for that and only now as she is in her mid 60's do i find i can stand to be around her but hate to touch her. I am overweight and eat impulsively not from hunger. feel like a ball of mess at times and other times can see the light and try to function as normal as i can. Of course, not sure what normal is. I've seen people who drive broke down cars with nothing and they seem happy why can't I be happy? I mean completely happy. is anyone? I am now on Celexa and feel more in control and not so out of control but don't feel like I want to be. Any help would be appreciated.
> EllaOh Lordy, that's a touch one. My wife went through a similiar experience, including the strained relationship with her father (her mother was the abuser), and longtime depression, anxiety attacks, night panics, various forms of self defeating behaviour, etc.
But, back to the topic: I would question your diagnosis. When my wife and I researched this topic, (childhood abuse survivors) we found that BPD was a kind of "dumping ground" diagnosis, applied mainly to women, and meant, essentially, "this person is hopeless; just try to make them comfortable."
Another possible diagnosis for an abuse survivor might be "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome." This may be treated with SSRIs, tranquilizers, sleep meds, and - usually - a couple of years of talking it out.
My advice, for what it's worth: SSRI's may help; but if your pDoc has really diagnosed you as BPD, leave him, find a new pDoc, and never mention that you saw the first pDoc. BPD is the "ghetto" of diagnoseses - what "hysteria" was to the 19th century.
poster:FP
thread:31921
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/32191.html