Borderline Personality Disorder

Welcome to the board Jo.

BPD as well as other mental illnesses has a genetic part, so yes it can run in families. Therapy is the first start to learning beter ways of dealing with unhealthy traits, meds can stabalize moods. There is  A LOT of info on BPD on the internet, some sites are helpful, others can seem to bash people with BPD, so do not let the bad ones scare you. If left untreated, obviously people do not get better, although some studies show that in the late 30's and on some parts of BPD do get less troublesome.

I am 34, a single mom, I was diagnosed in late 2004, and things are much better now. When I first read up on BPD, I was in denial, and couldn't believe what I read, but once I accepted it, it explained many things I just didn't know, and that was a great thing. I've been on this board since sept 2004, we are a small but helpful group. 

In the folder bellow there are many great threads on stuff that worked for our members, you should take a look. Another great site is http://www.bpdrecovery.com/ . I love how they define "recovery from BPD", simply put, Happt Healthy Living, I am in recovery. ;)

I hope this helps, feel free to post anything here, we share struggles, fears, bad days, questions, and good days. If you want to post about self injury, suicidal thoughts and any other "bad" experience all you have to do is add the word Triggers, or just TRIG in the title, so we all know if we are not in a good space (mentally) not to read those, also for yourself, if you are not feeling good, it is best not to read those posts till you are feeling stronger.

hope to hear from you soon,

Stephanie

The Basics of Recovery
1. Remaining hopeful and envisioning a future growth and development. 2. Having the right to choose – without it there is no motivation 3. Knowing that you are not a label or a diagnosis. You are a living, changing person, not an object. 4. Speaking for ourselves. When others speak for us we are devalued.	I don’t like negativity. I don’t like seeing myself as a victim. And I don’t believe misery loves company. I’m recovering from my illness because I know I don’t have to be this way. AMI-Québec member
5. Establishing our own homes in the community where we can choose our roommate or live alone. 6. Acknowledging the need for friends, peers and intimate relationships. 7. Realizing that peer support and self-help groups keep us grounded and connected. 8. Protecting and nurturing the spirit within us. 9. Knowing all things are possible and that to be alive is a miracle

Recovery, as we currently understand it, means growing beyond the catastrophe of mental illness and developing new meaning and purpose in one’s life. It means taking charge of one’s life even if one cannot take complete charge of one’s symptoms…. Recovery is a deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitude, values, goals and skills and or/roles.

Hi Stephanie,

 Thank you for your reply, and the information you have given me. It is confusing, knowing which sites to join, I joined another site last night, and today posted my life story, warts and all, only to realise that the site was aimed at 'nons' trying to cope with partners, or relatives with B.P.D. I felt very stupid, and also did not want my life story read by people who did not identify with my feelings.Thankfully, the site removed the posting for me. But I did not keep my 'epic' and feel too drained to write it all again.

 Hopefully i'll have better luck on here.   Thanks Jo

Jo, just know, we all have different lives, it is nice to "meet" folks who have gone through similar experiences, take your time to post as much or as little as you want.  On here there are singles, parents, students, young and old.

Welcome again!

Stephanie

The Basics of Recovery
1. Remaining hopeful and envisioning a future growth and development. 2. Having the right to choose – without it there is no motivation 3. Knowing that you are not a label or a diagnosis. You are a living, changing person, not an object. 4. Speaking for ourselves. When others speak for us we are devalued.	I don’t like negativity. I don’t like seeing myself as a victim. And I don’t believe misery loves company. I’m recovering from my illness because I know I don’t have to be this way. AMI-Québec member
5. Establishing our own homes in the community where we can choose our roommate or live alone. 6. Acknowledging the need for friends, peers and intimate relationships. 7. Realizing that peer support and self-help groups keep us grounded and connected. 8. Protecting and nurturing the spirit within us. 9. Knowing all things are possible and that to be alive is a miracle

Recovery, as we currently understand it, means growing beyond the catastrophe of mental illness and developing new meaning and purpose in one’s life. It means taking charge of one’s life even if one cannot take complete charge of one’s symptoms…. Recovery is a deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitude, values, goals and skills and or/roles.