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Relationship Partner with BPD (Straight and LGBT+) => Romantic Relationship | Detaching and Learning after a Failed Relationship => Topic started by: wchi on November 23, 2010, 03:11:20 PM



Title: uBPDw: diagnosed with "mood disorder" and given lithium prescription & DBT?
Post by: wchi on November 23, 2010, 03:11:20 PM
Recently, my uBPDw (stbx, hopefully) saw a new psychiatrist at the recommendation of her therapist. This person has diagnosed her with a "mood disorder" (she would not give me specifics) and has given her a prescription for lithium. Her therapist also gave her a BPD workbook (that she also did not share with me, but I saw in her bag). I know pwBPD can be very hard to diagnose, but does any of this make sense? I know also that I should not concern myself with any specific label or diagnosis, but I am curious about it.


Title: Re: uBPDw: diagnosed with "mood disorder" and given lithium prescription & DBT?
Post by: 2010 on November 23, 2010, 03:17:18 PM
Excerpt
does any of this make sense?

Yes. Emotional dysregulation can also be coined a "mood disorder." The Lithium is for mood stabilization and the Dialectical therapy is to teach role playing interpersonal interactions with regard to the emotions they create. She'll then discuss the emotions in the therapy. She's in good hands- now your job is to let go. If she's a soon to be ex- you have no worries- someone else is in charge. Time to concentrate on your next step away from her with the divorce requirements.


Title: Re: uBPDw: diagnosed with "mood disorder" and given lithium prescription & DBT?
Post by: wchi on November 24, 2010, 11:27:23 AM
Thanks 2010!

That makes sense to me.

Have a happy t-day!


Title: Re: uBPDw: diagnosed with "mood disorder" and given lithium prescription & DBT?
Post by: Matt on November 24, 2010, 10:18:17 PM
Excerpt
does any of this make sense?

Yes. Emotional dysregulation can also be coined a "mood disorder." The Lithium is for mood stabilization and the Dialectical therapy is to teach role playing interpersonal interactions with regard to the emotions they create. She'll then discuss the emotions in the therapy. She's in good hands- now your job is to let go. If she's a soon to be ex- you have no worries- someone else is in charge. Time to concentrate on your next step away from her with the divorce requirements.

Yeah, I think 2010 is spot on.  This is good news, but you have to let it be, and not try to "help".  Any input from you is more likely to do harm than good.

The alphabet soup is a little confusing.  DBT (dialectic behavior therapy) is the latest-greatest type of therapy for BPD.  I think if someone with BPD gets into DBT, and stays with it, and takes it seriously, their chances of getting better are very good.

The problem is, when someone is diagnosed with BPD, they often don't accept it.  They may lash out at the doctor who diagnosed it, or blame someone else.  Then they don't get better.  Also, it can be hard for someone who has been diagnosed with BPD to get help, because many therapists don't want to see them.  (I guess it ain't fun.)  So doctors often call it something other than BPD, and try to get the person help without slapping the label on them.

The lithium is probably the doctor's way to help her get her behavior under control while she gets therapy.  I don't think there is any medication that treats BPD but helping her cope with stress might make talk-therapy like DBT possible.