Presentation

[Giovilela]

I am from Brazil and I am a 17 years girl mom. She has been diagnosed as Bipolar since she was 7. And It wasn´t sound a perfect diagnosis for me. I am a doctor also, pathologist. Npw a new doctor diagnosed BPD. It has been a strugle because now she abandoned school. I am here for reading about other's experience and learn how to cope with her in a better way. I am really tired at this moment. Obs: My mother was a BPD also. Thanks!

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[NorthernGirl]

Hello Giovilela and 

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles with your daughter. It is exhausting, isn't it? There are many others on our site who can share their experiences. And we have some great resources that will help you cope.

Was your mother diagnosed as well? Is she still alive?

A great place to start is reading What can a parent do? You can connect with other parents here:  Parenting a Son or Daughter Suffering from BPD board. You'll find great tools you can use.

You've come to the right place. Please keep reading and posting!

[maxen]

hi Giovilela and i join Northerngirl in saying 

as Northerngirl says, raising a child with BPD is an exhausting experience. i have the greatest admiration for parents who look to their childrens' interest when things can be so difficult at the Parenting board link she provided there are truly heroic stories and there is a community of posters who are dedicated and who are ready to listen and to help. please go over there too and tell your story. welcome again!

[lever.]

Hello and welcome

I am glad that you have found this site. On the right of the page there are a series of links to tools to help in responding to a young person with BPD which I think you will find helpful.

If there are any specific issues that you would like to discuss we are here to try to help as we all know how difficult and exhausting it can be to parent a child with BPD

I was also wondering if your mother is still alive and how much contact you and your daughter have with her.

I have found this board to be very supportive and helpful and I hope you will too.

[HealingSpirit]

Hello Giovilela,

I want to join the others in welcoming you to the Parenting Board.     You came to the right place for the support you need to help you with your dear daughter (DD17).  My DD is also 17, so I understand how exhausted you are!  And I understand how sad and disappointed you must feel since she quit school.  My DD17 was diagnosed with BPD after a cutting incident that landed her in the mental hospital for a 3-day hold.  It was a very stressful time for our family.  But, I am glad to finally have this diagnosis because NOW I finally know what my DD's problem is and I have already learned ways to help her AND help MYSELF in dealing with her.

I agree with NorthernGirl that a good place to start is by reading the article she gave you, What Can A Parent Do.  In addition to that, I have found the "TOOLS" and "LESSONS" to the right of this board to be very helpful... .especially the ones about Validating and S.E.T.  I recommend you look at them too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

I think you will find the other parents here to be very supportive and helpful.  We are all dealing with similar issues, even though our children are different ages.  A few young ones, several teens, and many adults.  Please tell us more about the problems you are having with your DD17.  The more you share, the more we can help.

One of my biggest challenges lately with my DD is she wants to move in with her boyfriend (BF) who lives halfway across the country.  My dear husband (DH) and I are very worried that moving away will send her into a downward spiral of depression because she will be leaving everything and everyone she knows to live with a man she's only known for 6 months.  She has stopped taking her medicine and she has been skipping her therapy appointments.  So we are trying to let her go, knowing she will probably fall pretty hard.  But, we are also hoping it will be a good learning experience for her.

What are your biggest challenges with your DD17?  This is a difficult enough age for parents without BPD being part of the problem.

Hang in there and take good care of yourself.