Some hope for Borderline Personality Disorder

Deborah Gray is the creator of the Wing of Madness depression site Living With It Creator, Wing of Madness Deborah Gray lived with undiagnosed clinical depression, both major... Send Message Subscribe: Deborah Gray

Wednesday, June 06, 2007
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Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a personality disorder that is often accompanied by depression, is considered the incurable cancer of mental health, at least in its moderate to severe forms. However, I recently read a book that showed there may be more hope for successful treatment tha...

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spd
d wade
Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM
in november i was told that i had severe personality disorder i havent been able to find out alot about this disease i am also bi polar i ve tried to just block it out of my mind but i know i need more info about it....dwade

re: spd
Anonymous
Friday, June 15, 2007 at 12:52 AM
If you are haveing second thoughts about help don't it does eventually work... join a group and talk it out... Meditation helps alot too. that is if you can get 5 mins to your self...join a club that offers yoga or palaties...

teen depression
Laura Miller
Friday, June 15, 2007 at 12:50 AM
When is it a problem...I need some help if someone could contact me

re: teen depression
Deborah Gray
Sunday, June 17, 2007 at 02:59 PM
One of the best ways to tell if it's a problem is to decide whether it's affecting your life or not. If it's having a detrimental effect on your life, then chances are that it's a problem.

re: re: teen depression
Laura Miller
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:13 AM
Is there a way to get her any help through the government? Her mom thinks they make to much money for medicaid or Chips which is gov'n help for kids in Texas.. She Is 13 trying to be 30. showing signs of Bi-polar. Also started cutting some time ago...Thanks for your help...Laura

Government Assistance
Kimberly Tyler
Monday, June 25, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Dear Laura,

From what you have shared, I do believe the first step would be to contact your local (county) Department of Health and Human Services, and they will direct you to the local (county) Mental Health Services. Just about every county has one, but if yours does not, then you would qualify for services for the next county over.

County level Mental Health Services provide full psychiatric evaluations, as well as therapy and medication—all done on a scale determined by income. Considering she is 13, they will first go by the amount of money the family makes. In many counties, they do take into account monthly bills (car payments, mortgage or rent payments, utilities, medical expenses, etc.) Unlike Medicaid, it is not based on gross income or assets to qualify (an asset would come into play if it is rental property income, or something of that nature).

By going this route, the 13 year old will be able to start treatment. Further, when it comes to receiving Medicaid or Chips in TX, you can request that she receives support through a social worker for the county. In this way, the social worker can work with the 13 year old and her mom to see what other government programs they qualify for. Particularly, once the 13 year old receives a diagnosis, costs for treatment (therapy and medications) this will come into play to see if the 13 year old could qualify for other programs.

Lastly, I strongly encourage you when you go for your first appointment for assessment (to set up psychiatric and treatment services) that the personnel there are in FULL awareness that she is currently cutting herself and the severity of your concerns for the welfare of this child to receive the treatment she needs. This may speed up the process for her first psychiatric eval. It is okay to be persistent, and not take the first appointment they say they have available (if they say the first available is four weeks out). Let them know you see this as an urgent care concern, and her actions are showing the need for mental health intervention ASAP.

Because Medicaid is run by the individual state, each state has different qualification levels. This is why the county mental health services will get the most immediate assistance and support, while others, if need be, can be put into place with the aid of a social worker.

I hope this information may be a useful start for you, the 13 year old and the mom.

Please keep us posted.

Best,

Kimberly Tyler

re: Government Assistance
Laura Miller
Monday, June 25, 2007 at 11:36 PM
Thank You so much for your input...I'm sure her parents would greatly appreciate it...I hate she's having so much trouble and feels like she can't talk to her mom or dad...So I tried to help as much as possible...Thanks again...

About BPD
Anonymous
Friday, July 06, 2007 at 12:08 AM

I would just like to add that although most often the image of a certain type of person appears to most people who know about the disorder, there is a wide variety of symptoms and one borderline can be very different from another...

I have severe borderline personality disorder and am slowly winning this battle, but I have never threatened anyone or been violent towards anyone (except myself). I have also known many people with the disorder.

I walked into a Dr's office once, trying to find a new GP and after knowing him a whole 5 min. was told that I wasn't borderline because I wasn't lound, obnoxious, angry, and manipulative. We cannont put everybody in the same boat simply because they have the same diagnosis.

re: About BPD
Deborah Gray
Friday, July 06, 2007 at 08:09 PM
You're absolutely right. I think personality disorders are pretty complicated, and the criteria should be used as a guideline, not a laundry list.

Older Borderlines
Overwhelmed
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 04:54 PM

I have had BPD since the age of six. I am now 60. I had my first bout with cutting and rage at 19. I had no real diagnosis until I was in my 40's and BPD fit perfectly. While I am a tad better, I am by no means over it. Most of the symptoms are still with me and I am still in therapy. I am suicidal at times, but do not attempt it any more and I haven't cut in three years, though I have thought about it. I do not have much of a support system and people are tired of my complaints. BPD can get somewhat better, but it is a forever malady.