BPDFamily.com

I stumbled on this article in the New York Times that specifically mentions mood and personality disorders. I thought you'd all be interested

www.nyti.ms/2dKcVTP


I had a terrible birth experience and now I realise that my baby BPDs was traumatised too. Unfortunately it took about 6 months for me to bond with him. The seeds had already been sown and his behaviour in childhood was challenging - we didn't know what we were dealing with.

That was then, this is now. It's never too late to try and change.

I'm heartened to know there's advancements in potential treatments.

Great article.

I'm very interested in neuroplasticity and have been specifically looking at how the brain deals with memories - our early formative experiences that leave traces long into our adulthood.

This kind of research fascinates me. Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for sharing Lollypop

Really interesting. To my mind I think this kind of science will probably become the most effective for treating PDs and other mental health conditions.

BBC made a very good Horizon a few years ago which explored the subject. They also looked at the rat study that explored into the impact of lack of maternal affection during infancy. It's a fascinating subject

Reforming

Thanks Lollypop!

As said "But this window of opportunity is finite. Eventually it slams shut. Or so we thought."

My 28yr daughter texted today, she is opening her window, small steps, it's not slammed shut, it's been a challenge like everyone here for sure.

"I had my first very rewarding DBT session today, I finally took something valuable from it. Just wanted to share with you as it is very important to me that something has made a huge difference . Love you."

I'll reread the article, it's late, thanks for sharing.

WDx 

I have 4 kids and to be honest my son with BPD's birth was the calmest and easiest of the first 3. But, I have often wondered if any damage was done concurrent with the preterm labor at 28 weeks that probably caused his cerebral palsy. He was born at 38 weeks and appeared absolutely fine and we had no bonding issues at all.

Now, whereas I was born 7 weeks early and taken away from my mother immediately and didn't go home until I was 3 months old due to siblings having measles and I have no BPD issues at all.

The brain is a very mysterious thing. I hope one day all these theories will help us understand mental illness so much better.

I think we're still trying to understand the balance between nature and nurture.

From what I've read some of us are born with a genetic predisposition that makes us more vulnerable to certain life events that other are unaffected by.

And there are clearly parents who do their verb best to parent children very challenging personalities and needs

There is no black and white and the interaction or balance between genes and environment varies hugely.

If these new drugs can offer ways to help people with PDs overcome their challenges then that is great news for everyone.


Reforming

Yes, I read a great paper recently on how genes can get switched on by certain environmental factors. Some genes are more strongly expressed from the get-go, while others are latent and responsive to the environment in ways we don't fully understand at all. (Environment, in this case, can be things like cigarette smoke put into a person's system, or the nurture of a little person.)

I'll see if I can find the paper and post a link here, if it's relevant overall. I'll need to re-skim it to see :)

A very hopeful article!
I agree with McLean - it is a biosocial model. I have five kids - all raised absolutely the same way. However, my oldest has BPD. No trauma, no abuse. But we somehow  invalidated her environment and that triggered her BPD (IMO). I invalidated my three middle children the same way (and with no ill intention) and they do not have BPD. My youngest is now exhibiting many of the same characteristics as her older sister. So she is now practicing DBT skills. I totally believe in the genetics of the disorder.