First day here.

[Clear skies]

After many years of struggle and concern have recently been given a diagnosis of BPD for my daughter. It's been a long journey through OCD, anorexia, substance abuse, self-harm, years of therapy and crisis episodes.   I am hoping that this diagnosis puts it all together at last as the over arching reason for her condition and a way forward through DBT training.  How long did it take other parents to finally arrive here? For me it's been about nine years. Did any of you feel that the psych professionals kept you in the dark?  Hoping to share/ hear your stories.

Thank you, am most grateful to be here at last.

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

[esmaine]

hello and welcome clear skies    you have certainly come to the right place to share stories and to gain advise to help you through the minefield of BPD.

I am waiting for DBT for my dd but have been told she needs to be in a better place emotionally and mentally before this can happen, so I fear its going to be a very very long wait!  In the meantime she is on olanzapine 10mg a day and continues to lurch from one crisis to another, I am at the point of  being afraid to answer the phone when she calls.

This site has been a god send for me, it helps no end that other parents can totally relate to how you are feeling.

[wendydarling]

Welcome Clear skies    hello, I'm sorry for what brings you here.  Yes, we have also had a long journey to diagnosis with individual treatments over 10 years recommended through our GP. My daughter was diagnosed last July, following her first hospitalisation and assessment by the mental health team, she is 27 years old, bulimic, self harms, depression, alcohol abuse ... .She was attending an informal DBT skills session for a number of months (she found it very helpful) while on the waiting list for DBT, which has just commenced. 

How old is your daughter and does she accept the diagnosis, my daughter was relieved but that's not always the case for all.

Glad you found us!

Wdx

[michmom]

Hi,

My 16yr old D has not been officially diagnosed as I requested suspension until she is an adult.  She is classed as BPD traits.  She has had three hospitalizations in one year. It has been four years since she began self harming.  I found this site as recommend by a private practice DBT Therapist last fall.  During the last four years my Daughter and I have felt many times like test rats running a maze that seemed to be going no where.  D was on DBT waiting list since last Sept.  Group Skill training for her and I starts next week.  D is skeptical.  I am looking forward to it.  The day I read on this site that I might be  grieving mental illness was a turning point for me.  That was exactly what I have been doing for the last four years.  I disengaged from everything and cried endlessly for days.  I was finally able to acknowledge that I cannot change what is. I wish I had all the endless hours of my life back that the mental health system took from me and my daughter while they presumed to make conclusions with very little information.  Mental health needs reliable science, testing, gene identification.  Drugs are dangerous and I found many that made my daughter worse.  It is very much like Alice in Wonderland.  I was so naive.  I hope this site helps give you some comfort and knowledge.  You are not alone.  There are thousands of families who are having similiar experiences just like yours. We don't judge.  We are here to tell you, you are going to get through this.