BPDFamily.com

I have heard that Mental disorders often have co-morbid mental disorders. My other half has BPD, Chronic Pain, PTSD, GAD, Clinical Depression, and Addiction. And while she will admit to the anxiety, ptsd, and chronic pain, she is in denial about the others. I recently heard of "Bellman Syndrome", named after Eric Bellman. Though I have read several articles on the relationship between BPD and Chronic pain, few take into account the other disorders. Is the subset too small?

If I only had to deal with BPD, I think my life would be so much better, but I am so completely overwhelmed. (It also doesn't help that I have ADD.

MyFathersSon

PS, This year has been the worst Christmas of my 53 year old life.

My W has had all of these and was getting these dx before she got the BPD dx.  I look at them as expressions of the underlying BPD.  She is much more comfortable with these other dx than the BPD dx and she prefers to look at it all as some sort of gimish induced by trauma.

Could you please explain your last post? or if the information is too specific please pm me.

Often people get multiple MI dx before they get dx with Bpd.  The illness has characteristics which overlap with several other illnesses, so the BPD dx frequently emerges over time as a fuller picture of the person develops.  My W initially got dx with general anxiety disorder, which eventually became PTSD.  Then she then got dx with MDD after a few serious suicide attempts.  Overtime she also developed addictions to substances, food and spending, as well as developing a plethora of hypochondriasims.  She seems chronically in pain, also being dx with things like fibromylgia, IBS, ect…. (maladies and complaints too long to list) and is overly sensitive to temperature and air pressure.   I’m sure this sounds very familiar to many on these boards.
 
While it is possible these are distinct morbidities apart from BPD, I think rather that they are various expressions of the underlying BPD with its inherent sensitivities and emotional instability.  The various individual MI dx never quite squared with what I was observing overtime in the marriage, which matched BPD very well.

I think treating the comorbidities and getting them under control is very important, because then the underlying BPD can be more effectively treated.  In this regard, the best results my W has gotten have been through meds and DBT.  For the family and the marriage relationship getting the behaviors under control has been most important.  In this the best results I’ve gotten has been through 1) putting myself and my welfare first, 2) boundary enforcement and consequences and lastly 3) validation, particularly of the positive.

There is no recognized disorder called Bellman Syndrome. Bellman is a clinical social worker - its not clear where he went to school or if he has a graduate degree.

Bellman Syndrome was listed on Wikipedia and removed for lack of substantiation.

Thank you teapay and skip,

For one it is good to know that I am not the only one that has my problem, though I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I found Eric Bellman's website and it had his email adress. I emailed him and he responded. He is currently on holiday but will be back in the office early January. He stated that he wanted to talk to me about my SO. I'll keep you informed.

MyFathersSon