Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Borderline Personality Disorder
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Borderline Personality Disorder
by Crystal, Sep 25, 1999 12:00AM
I am currently in therapy for depression and believe that I also suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder. Although I do not consider myself shy, I have a very hard time establishing and keeping friends. I find myself jumping from thing to thing and have lived in three different cities in three years. I have never had a long-term job nor kept friends very long. I feel guilty and depressed about my withdrawal from people and social situations.
My question is -- how does Borderline Personality Disorder manifest itself and how does one begin to feel good about oneself? Is it normal to want to be alone and to not want to be put into social situations? Once I get out and am forced to be with other people I am happy and have fun, but if I were to have my choice I would not do it.
I had very distant, cold parents growing up. I also suffer from migraines and my depression (crying spells) aggravates the migraines in severity and number.
Could you please give me more information about this disorder and what the best medications are for this? I had been taking Zoloft and am now taking mood stabilizers -- Neurontin and Trazadone. Thank you.
My question is -- how does Borderline Personality Disorder manifest itself and how does one begin to feel good about oneself? Is it normal to want to be alone and to not want to be put into social situations? Once I get out and am forced to be with other people I am happy and have fun, but if I were to have my choice I would not do it.
I had very distant, cold parents growing up. I also suffer from migraines and my depression (crying spells) aggravates the migraines in severity and number.
Could you please give me more information about this disorder and what the best medications are for this? I had been taking Zoloft and am now taking mood stabilizers -- Neurontin and Trazadone. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD-JM, Sep 28, 1999 12:00AM
Crystal,
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by a long standing, pervasive pattern of unstable relationships, unstable self image, unstable mood and poor impulse control. Feelings of emptiness and fears of being abandoned are also common. Recurrent suicidal and/or self mutilating behavior are usually present. This topic has been addressed on many different occasions in this forum and I suggest that you search the archives using borderline personality disorder as a keyword.
It also is apparent that you suffer from depression and tend to isolate yourself from social situations. You deny being shy, which could signify a social phobia if present. Antidepressants and mood stabilizing agents can be helpful for borderline PD. I suggest that you discuss these issues further with your treating clinician/psychiatrist.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
Keywords: Depression, Borderline PD, Social phobia
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by a long standing, pervasive pattern of unstable relationships, unstable self image, unstable mood and poor impulse control. Feelings of emptiness and fears of being abandoned are also common. Recurrent suicidal and/or self mutilating behavior are usually present. This topic has been addressed on many different occasions in this forum and I suggest that you search the archives using borderline personality disorder as a keyword.
It also is apparent that you suffer from depression and tend to isolate yourself from social situations. You deny being shy, which could signify a social phobia if present. Antidepressants and mood stabilizing agents can be helpful for borderline PD. I suggest that you discuss these issues further with your treating clinician/psychiatrist.
Sincerely,
HFHS MD-JM
Keywords: Depression, Borderline PD, Social phobia
Member Comments (2)
by Michelle, Sep 28, 1999 12:00AM
Hi -- I have BPD -- it can be very distressing, because it mimics other mental health disorders. Right now, I'm going through a hard time, but I do encourage you to get a good therapist. I couldn't make it without mine, and the Lord. There is a place on the net -- I'm not sure of address which actually gives a "test" lol for BPD. A big part of BPD is having unstable relationships, and a very brittle ego boundary.
