Are You Learning To Survive With Borderline Personality Disorder?

While this disorder is recognized amongst psychiatry as a very big and severe problem; society does not want to know about it; even doctors mock it and don't believe in it and you feel like you're always going down hill. There are no support groups in certain areas of Australia and if you have a history with a hosptial you're eventually told to go away. Has anyone else like me been able to learn to cope on their own and not rely on anyone to help them? I'd like to hear opinions on the disorder and what to do to make yourself feel better and ways they have helped themselves cope.

Here is an answer I have given several times before on this website but it is still very relevant, so apologies for copying and pasting it, but that does save me typing out all this again...

I was diagnosed with BPD many years ago... oddly enough when I was told the diagnosis I took little notice of it at the time because I thought they meant I was on the borderline of having a personality disorder, oh well... I did eventually figure it out but as there is little that can be done for me from medical point of view as the doctor's medication only make me worse and not better, and yesssss I have tried the new drugs with the same results... I had to figure out what works best for me...

Find a good counsellor attend sessions weekly for three months... take a break then do it again... repeat as long as is required.. (Possibly for life)

Exercise: This is not the 101 situps ten mile run kind of exercise..... Just simple exercise like walking swimming or cycling for at least 20 minutes each day... do this every day... do not push yourself too hard at first walk powerfully enough to start tofeel your heart working and then slow dow a bit then build it up again..Do not hurt yourself or push yourself too hard or fast...be kind to yourself even if it takes you a year before you can exercise steadily for 20 minutes that doesnt matter it is just important that you do this daily and do it with gentleness towards yourself.

Eat fresh foods as much as possible. include grains fruit and vegetables in every meal... be creative when preparing meals and use a lot of colourful foods to make eating a true pleasure. Prepare and eat your food while listening to some pleasant music. Make eating a wonderful gift to yourself.

Minimise smoking, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, white flour products.

Drink more water: Water flushes toxins out of your system drink lots of water...

Take up a creative pursuit: this can be gardening (nothing fancy here stick a geranium cutting in some dirt and add water) drawing ( a pencil and paper and away you go) music make music with whatever you have, paint, write anything that gets the creative energy flowing,

Learn to pray, meditate and or contemplate.... there is lots of info on the net about prayer and meditation and contemplation means just being quiet with yourself... noticing little things, allowing your mind to gently explore things..

Join an interest group... real time gatherings are best rather than net groups... spending time with other people who have a common interest is an easier way of being with people as the focus is not on you or them but rather on the topic at hand, there are interest groups for many different kinds of interests, lapidary groups (gemstones rocks etc), writers groups, local history groups, motor cycle clubs, land regeneration groups, photography groups, parenting groups, walking groups (bush walking, power walking), pet care groups, charitable groups and organisations. Find a group that you share an iterest with and get involved.

Listen to music that you enjoy and explore a whole range of music like indigenous music from various countries, classical music, opera, rock, blues, listen to many kinds of music and build your cd collection.

Spend time sitting on the ground leaning against a big old tree.. feel the earth supporting your weight, notice how the tree supports your spine allow yourself to feel safe and supported by the universe.

Spend time outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air... the sun interacts with your body to create some happy chemicals in your body. The fresh air allows your lungs to breathe in and circulate more oxygen.

Laugh! Get some comedy cds or dvds or go out to comedy shows and funny movies. Buy a good joke book and read it. Learn a new joke each week and share the joke with others. Spend time allowig yourself to build up to a good belly laugh. Hang out with people who are funny.

Keep a daily journal. You dont need to record everything. Just record some of your activities, thoughts and ideas for each day.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF
There is no point in being hard on yourself, being negative about yourself, putting youself down.... trust me there are enough people on the planet who will do that for you so don't you do it too.... Instead find the good things about yourself and remind yourself about all of the good things about you.. When you think of good things about yourself record them in your journal...

You can of course combine several of these things.... be outdoors with a group of people that are exercising and you will achieve several of these points in one go... So don't fret about this list seeming long... just introcude one or two of these things to your daily/weekly routine at a time and get used to doing it... don't make it too hard on yourself it is more important that you do these things than how well you do them... just add one and get used to it then add another...

Best of Luck with it all and I am sure you will find a way that suits you..

i have narcissistic personality disorder.yes it is a big problem.

i have been diagnosed with BPD and i am no longer on medication or in therapy. i'm not really coping very well on my own...i cry all the time and i have problems with relationships with my friends and stuff. i try to be with people i like all the time so i don't get depressed and stuff..sorry i don't have much information. i do recommend the book I HATE YOU, DON'T LEAVE ME (i forget the authors name). it explains the disorder very very very well in layman's terms and in depth

Actually, there is a huge push going on in the USA to get BPD moved to Axis I, so managed care & insurers will have to provide payment for it's treatment. (i.e. I don't think doctors "mock it.") Some of the symptoms can be alleviated with medication(s). But, for the most part, it requires the individual to take control of their own actions/reactions. If you can find a therapist trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), this might be helpful. 'Homework/assignments' are given in CBT, which will assist the person in managing the disorder.