First Post

[birdparent]

Hello,

This is my first post. I am a parent who has a teenager with BPD.  My child has been hospitalized 2x in the past 5 months for suicidal attempts and ideations. She also self injures. She is in a DBT program and it has helped, but progress is slow and daily life is difficult. I am hoping this message board can help me learn from others how to cope.

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

[wendydarling]

Hi there birdparent 

Welcome to the community and making your first post, yes! 

I'm glad you've joined us, talking with other parents and their support (you amazing people!) and the resources here really helped me cope my way through what sounds like a similar situation to yours from what you share.  Those hospitalisations, attempts, ideation, self harm are just so overwhelming, the rug's pulled our lives from under our feet. How are you feeling, coping, do you have support of family, friend?

My 29DD completed 14 months out patient DBT last September, so I know when you say it's slowwwwwww, it is - there is a lot for them to learn and practice and it's HARD work, my second name is now patience  . What worked for my DD is me standing back and letting her move on at her own pace, she knew I was always there to listen when she wanted to talk, and she did come occasionally, I did not push it asking how it was going cos to be honest she did not know till later in the treatment when she's worked some things through, or shared a skill that had worked for her. It's small steps as there were setbacks from time to time as can be expected, one forward, one back, two forward, one back - for me it felt like sliding doors. My DD is managing her BPD, she also got her meds right for her depression and anxiety - that took sometime too.

We are here with you. How's your day been?

WDx