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Perhaps this is the time to turn away from Psychiatry to the more fundamental and curative practitioners .. called a Psychology.
Psychologists tend to have CURE in mind by training the mind to 'overcome' issues.
I have the dx of bipolar I disorder (along w/acute anxiety) & heard from a fellow in my DBSA (Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance) support group that DBT was the only thing that helped him w/his treatment-resistance depression. Since my bipolar meds had helped, but I still had emotional over-reactions to just about everything & my husband was still "walking on eggshells" I looked for a DBT therapist in my area (the fellow from the support group lived quite a distance) & when I contacted her, I described my diagnosis & symptoms & asked if she thought DBT could be helpful for me.
When I went in for the intake, she explained what DBT was & on my insurance form she had put the dx of bipolar I & then borderline as a dx she was "investigating." Well, on the form there wasn't really a place for an "investigative" dx, it just showed up as another dx so I asked her to take it off due to the stigma involved. And at a certain point, I don't really care what the dx is as long as I'm able to get help for bothersome symptoms.
I've been in therapy w/so many different therapists for about 40 years!
For the first 3 mos. of DBT I just cried every week. I started indiv. therapy w/the therapist who "taught" the DBT group/class. I really think it is more like a class as we learn so much from each other, have homework & a lesson or skill we are learning about each week, as well as a manual & many handouts.
I have many of the symptoms of the other ladies (all women in my group) in the group & a couple of them also have the dx of bipolar. All but me have the "official" dx of borderline, but I tell you, I fit right in!
From my manual I got this info.:
If there is no DBT group in your area, search for a "Recovery, Inc." group (I have been to their meetings & they do learn & practice many of the DBT skills for emotional regulation). No charge.
Web sites:
www.dbtselfhelp.com
www.TARA4BPD.org (has a reading list) or call 1-888-4-TARA APD
www.behavioraltech.com
One of my therapist's former clients also has a great web site she started w/all sorts of DBT skill sheets she designed & I can't find the info. right now. Will try to find it!
I also have the book the previous poster mentioned by McKay, Ph.D; Wood Psy.D; & Brantley, M.D. (The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook published by New Harbinger Publications, Inc.).
Several other books that may be useful:
Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder by Marsh M. Linehan, Ph.D. She also has some videotapes out that we have watched at our DBT group.
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder by Sheri Van Dijk, MSW
The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide : Everything You Need to Know About Living with BPD by Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D & Kim L. Gratz, Ph.D
I Hate You--Don't Leave Me: Understanding the Borderline Personality by Jerold J. Kreisman, M.D. & Hal Straus
Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder by Rachel Reiland
Then there are the Stop Walking on Eggshells book & The Stop Walking on Eggshells Workbook (for family members, but informative for eveyone) by Randi Kreiger who also runs the web site. www.bpdcentral.com.
Hope this helps & will try to find that other web site!
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I certainly look forward to your posts on BPD. I was diagnosed with it as far back as the 1980s (along with several other problems, depending on which doctor I was speaking to - pick a diagnosis, any diagnosis. It was their lack of consensus that led me to believe psychiatry is more of an art than a science). I spent $70,000 of my own money and lots of insurance money on therapy, but have never had any relief and now, being $95,000 in debt and unable to afford insurance, can no longer afford therapy - which didn't help, anyway. How I wish that DBT had come along when I was still in treatment! Do you know of any self-help books or resources on the subject?
Hi, Gale. I'm looking forward to your comments (and your guidance) as I post on this topic. There is a lot of controversy and a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding. By contrast, bipolar is a lot more clear-cut. So if I say something that either resonates with you or that you think is inaccurate please speak out.
As far as I'm aware, the books on borderline seem to be directed at people living with those with borderline rather than actual patients.
The good news is there is a lot more awareness now of borderline. NAMI, for one, has made borderline a focus. If you can get to San Francisco this summer, Marsha Linehan, the founder of DBT, will be a featured speaker at the national NAMI convention.
More good news. Opinion has shifted from you can't change to change is possible. Indeed, that the prospects of recovery are excellent.
And you know about DBT. I'm a big believer in mindfulness, which is the backbone of DBT (check out my articles on this site by clicking "Manage" >"Recovery/Wellness."
Let's keep the conversation going ...
Thanks for your response. I've actually just found a book by McKay, Wood, and Brantley in "workbook" format that looks promising - haven't started it yet, but it promises "practical DBT exercises for learning mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance." I'm normally kind of bad about buying books and then not reading them (since I have a touch of OCD hoarding behavior) - but I've got several days off for the holidays, so my plan is to get started right away.
I've intermittently been in denial about the BPD, and since I've been untreated for years it's relatively easy to pretend all that didn't happen, but recently I have been struggling with intense anger and in looking on the Internet for articles on anger management, came again across the definition of BPD. Of course I have it. The isolation, feelings of rejection, overwhelming feelings, crazy relationships, eating and drinking too much. I never had mutilation behavior, but everything else fits. I have high hopes for some improvement with my new attitude of acceptance, the use of this workbook, and helpful websites like yours. Thanks again.
Hi, Hope. Sounds like you're on your way. I get the impression that the acknowledgement and acceptance of BPD is 99 percent of the battle. In some cases, I would venture to say that once someone acknowledges they have BPD then they no longer have it. Let me explain:
What I tend to see is people diagnosed with bipolar who may have been told - either by their doctor or by acquaintances - that they may have BPD. The individual tends to find a different doctor and cuts off all contact with the acquaintance. So the acceptance - once it occurs - constitutes a major behavior change. The person finally acknowledges his/her life is a mess. The blame game stops. It's not other people's fault. It's not the fault of bipolar. It's all about their own behavior.
We tend to think of mental illness as "no-fault" and biologically-based. Certainly, BPD has the same no-fault biology as other mental illnesses. But my guess is that it pays to act as if fault is attached. That way, you can work on changing your behavior.
For instance, if you have been fired from three jobs in a row, chances are it's not because you have had the singular bad luck of encountering three bosses who are bastards. A lot of us would like to blame bipolar, then spend the rest of our lives unemployed waiting for our doc to get our meds cocktail right.
So - bingo! - the common denominator is you, biological illness or not.
Changing one's behavior, of course, is never easy, but you've already made the big change. A mega-change, a life-changing change. You've identified your behavior as the reason your life is a mess, and now you can get to work changing things. Overnight, power is in your hands. Congratulations!
Wow, thanks for the affirmation and encouragement. I feel more powerful already. I'm so glad to find your writing. Hope you have good holidays.
We brighter people do not like CONTROL .. if your Boss is an "arseole" - just go find another job ... but when you interview the next Boss .. make sure you check him/her and TEST him/her out !!
Read "Finding Your North Star" and only connect with 'positive' people.
Changes life - big style !