Posted by raisinb on August 3, 2008, at 13:39:27
In reply to Borderline Personality Disorder.., posted by Amanda29 on August 2, 2008, at 18:40:59
I would have a lot of trouble with that, too. My therapist has told me that the therapy is tough on her, too, but she always couches it with a positive, like "I wouldn't trade you for anyone else." She has never diagnosed me. Once I asked her what she told the insurance, and she said "adjustment disorder" (though I think we know by this point things are more complicated than that!)
Personally, I don't think diagnoses are all that helpful in therapy. A therapist I had a few years ago told me I was BPD, and it led to an immediate loss of trust. I felt like you--everything coming from me was automatically, suddenly, evidence of my "borderlineness."
I don't think the diagnosis itself is that helpful either. It is an extremely broad (and many think, overused, label.
Marsha Linehan's book that Dinah referenced above is great on this subject. She points out the huge range of markers that have qualified as "borderline" over the years. And that it's often used as a catch-all for any clients therapists find difficult.
Is it possible you could talk to your therapist about this?
poster:raisinb
thread:843786
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080727/msgs/843900.html