How to treat Borderline Personality Disorder, ALONG with therapy?
What are other treatments available (medications) that are commonly prescribed to reduce the symptoms of BPD?
I've tried SSRI's (Zoloft and Lexapro) and SNRI's (Effexor XR) but it didn't affect me at all. I gave each drug a chance for 3 months each, but I didn't get any relief.
I'm in therapy, but it's not helping with my suicidal thinking. I need something that will reduce my impulsive and reckless behaviour and anger/irritability.
I can't be on something that is easily addictive, because I've been known to abuse drugs and have been hospitalized many times.
Please help me. Does anyone else here have BPD? What has helped you?
I have a past Dx of having BPD (along with many other Dx) — today I am virtually free of all symptoms. It takes a great deal of patience. I found that integrating many forms of therapy together helped the most - CBT, DBT, expressive therapies were very helpful as well. I have also been on alot of meds in the past - medication is difficult because everyone has a different chemical makeup - so what may work well for one person, may be toxic to another. Also, just like any type of "drug" - we can build up a tolerance - which is why it's important to not start/stop medication often. It makes finding the right one/ones more difficult. Personally, I found the most helpful meds to be Cymbalta, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, and Buspar. Talk to your psychiatrist, and do your own research too. I would research into some IOP programs that specialize in DBT, in a group setting. There are also good books & workbooks on BPD. "Mind Over Mood" is a great one. Some other good ones are
"Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Living with BPD" by Robert O. Friedel, Perry D. Hoffman, Dixianne Penney, and Patricia Woodward, and also "Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life: How Dialectical Behavior Therapy Can Put You in Control (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)" by Scott E. Spradlin (Paperback - Feb 2003) all of which you can order at amazon.com
And ofcourse in order to let go of one behavior (destructive) there has to be something to put in its place (constructive). Best of luck to you!
March 31st, 2007 at 9:36 am
wellbutrin helped me…
but what helped me most was THE RIGHT kind of therapy… Dialectical Behavioral Therapy…in which i learned skills to help make my life better…
if you read my profile you'll see that while i am still plenty mentally ill…i do not have BPD anymore… i still meet about 3 or 4 out of the symptoms..but not the whole 9 anymore….
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is the most widely known help available……
talk therapy doesn't really do much for borderlines….
traditional therapies do not really do much for borderlines and psychoanalysis can be particularly bad for borderlines….
DBT is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy…. (CBT)
but still DBT has been proven to be far more beneficial….
DBT was created by Marsha Linehan… just google her and find her website… you can even call her office and ask if there is a DBT therapist in your area…
the only drawback is that DBT therapy can be hard to find…
more and more hospitals are using it these days which is good..but to find an individual practitioner can be hard.. i was very lucky…and i will always thank Norma Albanese who was my DBT therapist.. she helped me more than she will ever know…..
good luck! i wish you all the best….. BPD is hell to live with….
ps…i was hospitalized three times for BPD….but i have managed to avoid the hospital for years now……. i have gotten bad enough that i needed to be in it…but…i have made it through those episodes and come out all right…..
References :
March 31st, 2007 at 9:55 am
Lamictal along with Effexor XR is a great combo for some. But it all depends on the severity of your condition and how your body responds to the drugs. Good luck
References :
April 1st, 2007 at 11:36 am
I have a past Dx of having BPD (along with many other Dx) — today I am virtually free of all symptoms. It takes a great deal of patience. I found that integrating many forms of therapy together helped the most - CBT, DBT, expressive therapies were very helpful as well. I have also been on alot of meds in the past - medication is difficult because everyone has a different chemical makeup - so what may work well for one person, may be toxic to another. Also, just like any type of "drug" - we can build up a tolerance - which is why it's important to not start/stop medication often. It makes finding the right one/ones more difficult. Personally, I found the most helpful meds to be Cymbalta, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, and Buspar. Talk to your psychiatrist, and do your own research too. I would research into some IOP programs that specialize in DBT, in a group setting. There are also good books & workbooks on BPD. "Mind Over Mood" is a great one. Some other good ones are
"Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Living with BPD" by Robert O. Friedel, Perry D. Hoffman, Dixianne Penney, and Patricia Woodward, and also "Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life: How Dialectical Behavior Therapy Can Put You in Control (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)" by Scott E. Spradlin (Paperback - Feb 2003) all of which you can order at amazon.com
And ofcourse in order to let go of one behavior (destructive) there has to be something to put in its place (constructive). Best of luck to you!
References :