Sad to be here, but grateful to be here

[Imhermom]

I have an amazing 15 year old daughter who has been officially diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, OCD and PTSD. It has also been suggested several times that she possesses many characteristics of BPD (9 of 11). While most of the professionals that have worked more closely with our daughter since she was 13 have eschewed the latter diagnosis, saying she is too young to receive such a diagnosis (and we have not shared it with her), my hunch is that she does struggle with BPD or at least BPT. After a year and a half of individual therapy (both child and mother), family therapy, interwoven with DBT for the whole family, our daughter admitted to cutting and began expressing suicidal ideation. Our home became a very difficult place to live in, though I don't place all of the onus of this on her. Since January of this year, my daughter has been attending a very good therapeutic boarding school, which is providing her with a milieu therapeutic environment (DBT group 3 times per week) and giving us time to do work ourselves (Emotionally Focused Therapy, reading, starting a mindfulness practice, etc). I'm very thankful for this temporary respite--only made possible by her grandparents. I am sad to be here on this forum, and very grateful for the opportunity to learn from others and perhaps share something too. My heart is simultaneously breaking and starting to heal--but I suspect this will be a continuous process. I don't really know what else to say other than thank you in advance... .

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

[saphirewidow]

Welcome to the forum.  My son is 16 and has had multiple suicide attempts.  The doctors believe he also has borderline traits and needs DBT.  He is in an acute adolescent unit and should be transferring to a residential treatment center that provides DBT soon.  It is a tough road to walk... .this group is a great place for support and information.