Posted by Helen36 on June 4, 2001, at 16:49:18
In reply to stigma, posted by Cam W. on June 3, 2001, at 13:41:41
Great musings, Cam.
Borderline, ahhhhhaa! I have done a *lot* of research on BPD, being 1) an academic and 2) engaged to a man with BPD until quite recently.
The stigma of the diagnosis is slowly changing, and much of that is due to some great new research being done in the field (new studies that find, for instance, that NOT all folks with this disorder were sexually abused, or that at least 30% of them are male, or that certain SSRIs work much better than others for containing the specific symptoms, or that Dialectical Behavioral Therapy as developed by Marsha Linehan of UofW shows vast improvement over other therapeutic strategies, or even that the diagnosis is NOT a 'life sentence').So ultimately, YES, I agree wholeheartedly, treat the person, not the illness! (I know I'm preaching to the converted here, but what the heck ;) )
Sometimes the Dx IS important, though, such as in my fiance's case; he is classic BPD (meets all 9 diagnostic symptoms) yet because of a psychiatrist who didn't 'believe' in 'stigmatizing' folks with the label BPD, he was diagnosed Bipolar II and treated with lithium for over a year with absolutely no improvement. Traditional talk therapy repelled and alienated him (although to his credit he kept at it).
Ultimately, he almost successfully attempted suicide while still on massive doses of lithium, depakote and risperdal. Why? The acquired thought patterns of BPD had simply not been addressed in his treatment. Had his psychiatrist been willing to address the topic of BPD, he could have gone straight to a DBT clinician and begun the proper therapy regimes.I urge anyone who is interested in BPD as a diagnosis to check out a brand-new website I've created: it's a HUGE compilation of internet resources relating to BPD. It's geared mainly for family and loved ones of BPDs, but has lots of resources for those wondering if they are BPD themselves, too. I've collected all the latest internet-available information, and many books, pertaining to life with BPD in all its many permutations.
There are sections on treatment/clinics, general introductions, support groups for both nonBPs and BPs, links to all the latest discussions of etiology, relation to other mental disorders, etc etc.Check it out!
http://home.hvc.rr.com/helenbpd
I am particularly interested in any materials relating to these cross-over diagnoses, such as: BPD, Adult Reactive Attachment Disorder, PTSD and Bipolar II, which can all read very similarly on paper. Yet the treatment regimes do vary considerably, as in my ex-fiance's case. Had he not been labelled Bipolar, more attention might have been paid to his very real disordered learned coping mechanisms.
Very frustrating! And indubitably even more so to the folks seeking help themselves.I welcome comments on my site, just drop me a line at the address on the intro page of the site.
Strength and courage!
Helen
> As some of you know, I have done some research on stigma. I'd like to add some to this talk of stigma (which has most recently cost me a job and, for a while, I thought a career).
>
poster:Helen36
thread:6255
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010526/msgs/6294.html