Anastignosia

[How to communicate after a contentious divorce...]

I'm "new" here but have been following you guys for some time now.  Thank you for "unknowingly" helping me get to the point where I felt comfortable enough to actually become a member.  I've smiled but mostly cried as I read your posts.  I was with my uexBPDbf for 5 1/2 years.  However, although I believe the illness was always lurking somewhere inside of him, he started "exploding" about 3 years ago.

I guess you could say I'm still in the early stages of detachment.  Can anyone tell me how they feel about the concept of anastignosia and co-morbidity? 

[LilMissSunshine]

I'm "new" here but have been following you guys for some time now.  Thank you for "unknowingly" helping me get to the point where I felt comfortable enough to actually become a member.  I've smiled but mostly cried as I read your posts.  I was with my uexBPDbf for 5 1/2 years.  However, although I believe the illness was always lurking somewhere inside of him, he started "exploding" about 3 years ago.

I guess you could say I'm still in the early stages of detachment.  Can anyone tell me how they feel about the concept of anastignosia and co-morbidity? 

[mango_flower]

I googled it but couldn't find that word - can you explain a little more?

Welcome, by the way. (it still makes me sad every time there's a new member though, as they're here because things are bad!)

[LilMissSunshine]

I'm sorry.  I spelled it wrong:

Anosognosia and how it may relate to BPD.

Basically, it's a symptom of a disease.  A physical condition (frontal lobe) which prohibits people insight into their mental illness.  Often confused with denial.

The projection with my uexBPDbf is so severe that I think he honestly thinks he has no issues. 

Co-morbidity is usually means a person suffer's from a combination of personality disorders.

[mango_flower]

That would make complete sense - hence the projection and never being able to see their role... .always the victim!

But I'm not sure that it 100% has to always be physical frontal lobe damage - I think that for many, it's a cognitive distortion... .

[LilMissSunshine]

Wow.  That's a new term for me.  But that makes sense too, thanks.  He is so socially awkward that we never did anything with anyone else.  The thought of interacting socially with other people freaked him out.  (I brought him to a party once and he totally couldn't handle it.  He was so worried about what my friends thought of him and if he was behaving correctly).  The only situations he seemed comfortable with were one-on-one interactions with females.  His one and only "friend" is a former gf of his, whom I suspect is just as ill as he is.

[Turkish]

 I've come across literature which implies physiological differences in brain development.  it may be related to a  possible genetic component to the disease.  in combination with childhood traumas, BPD  our other PDs  become activated.  while certainly a complex issue,  it may help explain differences in personality  between people who experience identical traumas,  but don't develop pathologies in reaction. I think it would be worthwhile for someone to do scientific brain studies of BPDs  similar to what has been don't with sociopaths and others.

[doubleAries]

Anosognosia is generally associated with stroke, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders (and really quite common in those issues). In fact, there is a really good book called "I'm not sick and I don't need help" that deals specifically with anosognosia and schizophrenia. I have never seen it officially associated with personality disorders.

I was married to a schizophrenic with anosognosia for many years. My mother is a personality disorder. The 2 really do look pretty different to me.

In fact, in much of my own research, it is apparent that schizophrenia and bipolar are truly brain chemistry disorders. There is quite a bit of research and studies relating personality disorders to hormonal imbalance problems (combined with psychological issues). Hormones, of course, are commonly linked to emotions, and most personality disorders seem to involve out of control emotions. And yes, hormones are found in the brain, but not in the same way strokes, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and bipolar are clearly, directly brain disorders.

While some studies have shown differences in the brains of personality disordered people from non-mentally ill people, other studies have not, and many of the ones that have seem to show EFFECTS on the brain, rather than causes from the brain.

Psychotic breaks cause brain damage the same exact way strokes do, just in slightly different areas of the brain. Often with a stroke, the speech area of the brain is effected. Obviously, that's not the exact spot of the brain schizophrenics experience problems with.

Google "personality disorders and hormones" for more information--there are lots and lots of links, studies, and information tying these things together, while usually also carefully pointing out that not everyone with hormone imbalances has a personality disorder, and that there is a psychological component.

Anosognosia and denial do look pretty similar on the surface. But anosognosia is more easily ferreted out as a brain disorder itself, through pretty simple cognitive tests.

[ucmeicu2]

Co-morbidity is usually means a person suffer's from a combination of personality disorders.

hi, not necessarily other PDs altho i see from the list below that it isn't unheard of.  and the other illnesses or disorders are aplenty.  here's a (short?) list from wiki:



Lifetime comorbid (co-occurring) conditions are common in BPD. Compared to those diagnosed with other personality disorders, people with BPD showed a higher rate of also meeting criteria for:

    *mood disorders, including major depression and bipolar disorder

    *anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

    *other personality disorders

    *substance abuse

    *eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia

    *attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

    *somatoform disorders (*such as hypochondriosis)

    *dissociative disorders



i found out, over time, that my xBPDgf had just about everything on that list AND was so arrogant, ranted abt how incompetent everyone else was, said she could do a better job than them, etc (especially professionals in her field:  mental health <yikes> so yeah maybe mine had anosognosia too.  and i'll throw unDxNPD in, too.  <shrug>

oh, just for fun, this site gives us an idea of prevalence, www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/comorbidities-borderline-personality-disorder

"Mood disorders prevail with Axis I comorbidities: 96% of patients with BPD have a mood disorder during their life, and lifetime depression is reported at 71% to 83%.  Anxiety disorders are also extremely common: 88% of patients have an anxiety disorder, 34% to 48% have panic disorder, and 47% to 56% have PTSD. Alcohol and substance abuse or dependence are reported by 50% to 65%; eating disorders affect 7% to 26% over a lifetime"

gosh, looking at those numbers, i almost feel guilty for ever feeling anger or hatred towards my ex... . 

[santa]

It would be difficult to hear from anyone that you have a mental illness. I'm sure that would be really hard to deal with. I'm not defending BPD people, but it would be devastating news to hear. I think most would probably be in denial about it.

[Turkish]

It would be difficult to hear from anyone that you have a mental illness. I'm sure that would be really hard to deal with. I'm not defending BPD people, but it would be devastating news to hear. I think most would probably be in denial about it.

mine has said she knows she is " sick" I  want to scream, "BPD!",  but I  know that it's not the right thing to do.  She also has diagnosed depression,  social anxiety,  and a  borderline eating disorder,  no pun intended.  such a  beautiful person in some ways,  but very damaged... .

[santa]

It would be difficult to hear from anyone that you have a mental illness. I'm sure that would be really hard to deal with. I'm not defending BPD people, but it would be devastating news to hear. I think most would probably be in denial about it.

mine has said she knows she is " sick" I  want to scream, "BPD!",  but I  know that it's not the right thing to do.  She also has diagnosed depression,  social anxiety,  and a  borderline eating disorder,  no pun intended.  such a  beautiful person in some ways,  but very damaged... .

Yeah. All those are pretty socially acceptable things though. There aren't really stigmas associated with those. Borderline personality disorder is an entirely different animal.

[Johan]

It would be difficult to hear from anyone that you have a mental illness. I'm sure that would be really hard to deal with. I'm not defending BPD people, but it would be devastating news to hear. I think most would probably be in denial about it.

When I mentioned her emotional regulation at breakup, even though she was diagnosed with it and had therapy...

I was told there is no need to label it... (even though i was called a schizophrenic and needed therapy, 3 times by her the month before)

When I said mental illness, I was told not label it, i said i never wanted bring it up, but said we talk about your therapy, and I said how know the stigma in society involved with labels such as "mentally ill" etc. Told her I love her and knew from start since she told me certain issues, so she had to admit that as it was actually in writing to me. But she then said "there is no stigma about any mental health in society"

It's like she had to agree with the proof of her diagnoses. there but then denied the next part that their is stigma. Her friend who knows nothing about this refused to speak to me a few hrs later. Which I can only assume one thing. (Bare in mind the conversation between us was a lot more delicate and not as harsh as it sounds above.

[DragoN]

mine has said she knows she is " sick" I  want to scream, "BPD!",  but I  know that it's not the right thing to do.

I recall yelling at my exH that " You are driving me crazy!" Because he was. Then off to therapy. PTSD another kind of crazy. But one that is curable.

Before the bitter end, he mentioned about me telling him he was BPD, but not once did he look it up. Even I showed him long time before, then told him about PTSD, and how the years had finally taken their toll. He didn't look  up that either.

Were I to be diagnosed BPD, minimum I would have an excuse. But I don't. Nice little get out of jail free card, but I would not ever want it.