Borderline Personality Disorder:  Email Someone for Support

Disclaimer

Self-help is useful, but it is not a substitute for professional assistance. Emotional and behavioral problems can be debilitating and dangerous. Please seek professional help: 

if you have thoughts of killing yourself or harming others;
if you feel depressed, anxious, guilty or down on yourself frequently; 
if you are abusing substances; 
if your performance or interpersonal relationships are impaired.

"We cannot, and are not, assuming the role of your physician or therapist in any of our replies. 

We also do not know your other medical problems and psychiatric diagnoses, which usually has a dramatic effect on medication (and other treatment) recommendations. You must make a medical and treatment plan with your physician and therapist(s).

Borderline Personality Disorder Email Volunteers

Feel free to write any of the volunteers below.

1) My name is Katy and I'm 21 year old Christian living in South Dakota with my husband and two cats Dax and C.J. (They are my children, lol). I am a recovering addict and have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder , DID, bipolar 2, PTSD due to several types of abuse growing up, anorexia and bulimia, chronic depression, agoraphobia, and panic disorder.

I was abused by family from a very early age until around fourteen. I began self harming to seek attention and to call for help, and was hospitalized numerous times. I felt safe nowhere because no one in my family protected me. By the age of sixteen I was heavy into drugs, become a prostitute, and ran away from home several times only to end up coming back. I soon hated myself, and felt there was no way out. Thankfully I decided to get help. 

I love my family dearly in spite of their many problems, but I had to step away and find my own sanity and sense of safety. I'm active in therapy and a twice a month depression group at my hospital where I often lead/ moderate discussion. I also help run NA, AA, and SA groups in my local town. I've gone through DBT and found it to be quite helpful, as well as other therapy classes (Courage to Heal, etc.). 

Anyone who needs or wants to talk can contact me at k8tymarie@yahoo.com 

2) My name is Shae; I am a 31 year old mother of one beautiful 8 year old daughter. I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, also known as Emotional Intensity Disorder three years ago when I decided that everyone around me couldn't possibly be the problem all of the time and that I needed to start taking responsibility for some of my emotions. 

It's my opinion the first step in being able to control BPD is admitting you have a problem; it's also the hardest step to take. Most BPD's wont even admit they have a problem...it's everyone else, not them. In fact, I thought that for awhile until practically everyone I knew and cared about was fed up with my attitude. Something had to change....me. 

It is possible to learn to control symptoms of BPD and our emotions, some of us need medication to help us. (I tried Zoloft and medication was NOT the answer for me) Now that I am in my 30's I realize how many phases I've gone through in my life. Many times I feel much younger than my age, especially emotionally. If you've read the "check list" of behaviors that define BPD, there are many including self mutilation and suicide attempts. In my teenage years I drank quite often, cut myself, added several piercings just to feel the pain on the outside rather than what I was feeling on the outside. I was extremely self-destructive whenever I was angry or depressed which was often and unpredictable. 

I am a highly functioning BPD which my therapist describes as the most manipulative or "emotionally dangerous," however in my personal situation, I disagree. I have been at my job for 11 years, which is almost unheard of for BPD's. I also am very stable when it comes to my routines and living habits. I have studied BPD since my diagnosis and have read many books including: Stop Walking on Eggshells; Coping When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder by Paul T. Mason, Randi Kreger, I Hate You, Don't Leave Me : Understanding the Borderline Personality by Jerold J. Kreisman, Hal Straus, and Lost in the Mirror, 2nd Edition : An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder by Richard Moskovitz. I recommend all of those books if you are either BPD or living with someone who has BPD.

ShaeDreams@gmail.com 

BPD Family Volunteers

1)  My 23 yr old son was diagnosed three years ago. We've gone through many of the ups and downs of this mental illness. He is no longer living in our home but we are
still touched by it.

My husband and I are active members of NAMI. We will be training to be Family-to-Family leaders next year. Since we deal with a dual diagnosis, drug and alcohol use along with the BPD, we are involved in a 12-Step support group.

Sadly, we've even had to encounter the legal system involving our granddaughter who is in a dangerous situation.

One factor that is often left out of dealing with a loved one with any mental illness is grief. Working through the steps of grieving (an on-going process) has helped me be a better mother and grandmother in this troubling situation.

Susan
bpdloveone@yahoo.com