BPDFamily.com

I'm sure this has been asked many times before but... Has anyone actually convinced their loved one to get help?

I'm at the end of my rope now and have tried to convince my DBPDw that she needs to be in therapy to no avail. Our marriage counselor also suggested she "find resources" to help her but she doesn't listen to him either.

I say that she is diagnosed with BPD but she will not acknowledge it even though a psychiatrist gave her a diagnosis of having "BPD traits". (she quit seeing the Dr after that visit, surprisingly)

Every time I try to talk about mental health specifically with her she says I'm "weaponizing it against her" even though I'm talking to her in loving and caring terms. She denies the diagnosis and says I'm the one who needs help even though I see a psychiatrist and counselor myself and take meds for depression.

She asked the other night why it was so important to me to know whether she was going to see someone or not. I told her that is the only hope I see for this marriage to continue. At least if I know she is working on this it might get better. I don't see this getting better on its own after 20 years of marriage.

She saw someone last year who she said was a counselor but they were actually a "spiritual advisor" who gave her the excellent advice of "trusting her instincts" which made my life a living hell for the next few weeks as my wife told me "her eyes had been opened" to how I had been abusing her for years (?)

I realize it's not my responsibility for fixing her but I feel like after 20 years I have to at least try to get her the help she needs. If she won't then that's on her but at least I will have tried.

Stop for a moment to ponder... haven't you been trying all along?  And more recently you've learned about Personality Disorders, more specifically Borderline PD?  And now, despite you being more informed and focused in your efforts to help her, she's even more oppositional?

Sadly, this is not uncommon.  BPD is a disorder most impacting to close relationships.  Others on the periphery may notice "something off" but the closest ones bear the brunt.  Unfortunately, Denial and Blame Shifting are strong traits in people with BPD (pwBPD).  Combine all that with another observed trait, that the history of your close relationship is just too much emotional baggage for many with BPD to truly listen to those close who are trying to help.


If she will not listen to anyone, accept that.  Maybe some year in the future she may decide to seek meaningful help, but odds are you're not the one to do it.  She would have to want to fix herself.

Normally I would emphasize that your priorities are to protect yourself and your parenting.  However, you haven't mentioned having minor children so perhaps you only have to protect yourself, especially legally and from false allegations.  As has been mentioned in years past, "If it has been threatened or even just contemplated, it will happen, given enough time."  There is almost no limit to what your spouse may do or attempt.