new here...

[lindsayloo]

  I am new here. Looking for support. I am a mental health professional and yet here I am, struggling with my relationship with my mother. From my clinical impressions and her previous treatment (she has been in a DBT program), I am quite certain she has BPD. I am also pretty certain it runs in her family. My knowledge and experience doesn't make coping any easier. I know what I am suppose to do when she becomes hostile, and yet I still struggle with the emotional repercussions. I am here to learn more from others in similar situations, especially mothers with BPD who maybe had a time in their life where they were reluctant to this (or perhaps any) diagnosis. Thank you.

[schwing]

While it's great that you have the professional training and knowledge to help deal with your mother's issues, you are still her daughter.  And she has had all your life to become familiar with your vulnerabilities and disposition, which she has probably used all your life to push you in the ways that benefits the way she manages her disordered thoughts/feelings.

I have never been successful at persuading my undiagnosed (but suspected) BPD mother to see a mental health professional much less engage in a DBT program.  I am glad that your mother is at least willing to do so.  I wonder if it might be helpful for you to become familiar with the exercises involved in DBT (unless you are already familiar with such) so you can better understand what kinds of distorted thinking your mother might have trouble with?

What are some of the emotional repercussions you are struggling with?

Best wishes,

Schwing