BPDFamily.com

I keep reading different opinions about the prognosis for BPD
Some seem to think many people improve enough over time that by their 30s or 40s they no longer meet the diagnostic criteria. Even though they still struggle with some symptoms, they do improve. Others say it is a lifelong illness. My DS24 dxBPD and cannabis addicted is one month out of the psych hospital where he was involuntarily admitted due to cutting and other SH behavior. Since then he has been participating in a drug and counseling program while awaiting admission into a local DBT program
 I don't kid myself about the severity of his illnesses but I DO see improvement even now. He is weathering a traumatic breakup of an 8 year relationship. He is growing very close to his father and is not blaming me as much as he used to. He is not SHing. He is still using and selling lots of weed (how he makes most of his money) but all in all seems to be moving in the right direction. I know there may be set backs on the way but I think he may well recover. Do you think my hope is realistic?

The key to helping your son is hope, and recognizing he is a unique individual. No two people with BPD are the same. Your son is in treatment and his family is supporting him, probably the two most important factors for a more positive outcome. He is also 24 years old, which means his problems are being treated relatively young, and he has many years ahead of him to lead a more productive, happy life. Usually a serious diagnosis like BPD, means there are other underlying problems. In your son's case, this is drug addiction. Often, after a person has been clean for awhile, it becomes more apparent what is the main underlying problem: Did his behavior while under the influence make him seem like he has BPD or was he using drugs to cover up the uncomfortable symptoms of BPD? Time and good treatment will tell. Keep hoping for the best for your son, as you and his father are probably the two people that care the most about him and will do what it takes to see him succeed.

Thank you for your reply. My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5. He seemed to do well on adderall and by the time he started HS stopped taking meds. That is when he discovered weed. He says it "helped" his ADHD which may have been the case at first. Then his drug usage (mostly but not exclusively weed) spun out of control. So I would say he was self medicating which means it is the BPD that underlies the addiction not the reverse.

His father and I will keep hoping