Diagnosis + Treatment
The Big Picture
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? [ Video ]
Five Dimensions of Human Personality
Think It's BPD but How Can I Know?
DSM Criteria for Personality Disorders
Treatment of BPD [ Video ]
Getting a Loved One Into Therapy
Top 50 Questions Members Ask
Home page
Forum
List of discussion groups
Making a first post
Find last post
Discussion group guidelines
Tips
Romantic relationship in or near breakup
Child (adult or adolescent) with BPD
Sibling or Parent with BPD
Boyfriend/Girlfriend with BPD
Partner or Spouse with BPD
Surviving a Failed Romantic Relationship
Tools
Wisemind
Ending conflict (3 minute lesson)
Listen with Empathy
Don't Be Invalidating
Setting boundaries
On-line CBT
Book reviews
Member workshops
About
Mission and Purpose
Website Policies
Membership Eligibility
Please Donate
May 01, 2025, 10:42:50 AM
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
5 Hours
1 Day
1 Week
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
Board Admins:
Kells76
,
Once Removed
,
Turkish
Senior Ambassadors:
EyesUp
,
SinisterComplex
Help!
Boards
Please Donate
Login to Post
New?--Click here to register
Books most popular with members
104
Stop Caretaking the
Borderline or the Narcassist
Stop Walking
on Eggshells
Journey from
Abandonment to Healing
The Search for Real Self
Unmasking Personality Disorders
BPDFamily.com
>
Relationship Partner with BPD (Straight and LGBT+)
>
Romantic Relationship | Conflicted About Continuing, Divorcing/Custody, Co-parenting
> Topic:
What to do?
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
« previous
next »
Print
Author
Topic: What to do? (Read 522 times)
Elmira
Fewer than 3 Posts
Offline
What is your sexual orientation: Straight
Who in your life has "personality" issues: Romantic partner
Posts: 1
What to do?
«
on:
November 15, 2016, 08:51:15 PM »
Looking for advice. My husband of 33 years was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia, but his dr told me he's likely also BPD. He's been emotionally, physically, mentally abusive. I've been living apart from him, again, since March. I think it's time to divorce, but suffer extreme guilt. He flip flops between ranting via text that I should divorce and let him find a companion, to blaming me for not being willing to reconcile and give love a chance. It's been going on for 4 years and two hospitalizations. Our family is in tatters. I feel selfish to want to put my needs, my health, my happiness first. He's sick. It's not his fault. How would I feel if I got sick and my family abandoned me? This thinking is driving me nuts!
Logged
sad but wiser
Offline
Gender:
What is your sexual orientation: Straight
Who in your life has "personality" issues: Ex-romantic partner
Relationship status: divorced
Posts: 501
Re: What to do?
«
Reply #1 on:
November 15, 2016, 10:00:31 PM »
Hi Elmira,
It is a very difficult situation and too bad they don't say, "By the way, I have a long list of mental disorders you will have to deal with. Is that ok?" before we agree to marry them.
The first rule in a bad situation is, ":)on't become another victim." In other words, you cannot help anyone if you are not safe and strong yourself. From what you have said, I think you must take care of your needs, regardless of his manipulations. He is very afraid, but then, so are you! Change always takes courage.
Logged
whirlpoollife
Offline
Gender:
What is your sexual orientation: Straight
Who in your life has "personality" issues: Ex-romantic partner
Posts: 641
Re: What to do?
«
Reply #2 on:
November 16, 2016, 08:14:00 AM »
Welcome to bpdfamily, Elmira. This site has many resources to read and learn.
A couple of book recommendations to start out with... ."Why Does He Do That" inside the minds of angry and controling men , by Lundy Bancroft. And "Splitting" by Bill Eddy and Randi
Kreger.
Beside articles , books , and workshops, read back to the start of some of the posts of members, including mine, to see where we were to start out with and where we are now.
After a 27 yr marriage, with young kids , the FOG was heavy. Fear, Obligation, Guilt. Xh is a blamer to this day. ( 4 1/2 yrs ago of filing for divorce and lengthy divorce).
Marriage is not a right for one spouse to hurt another spouse with the excuse that they are mentally sick so it's allowed.
After 33 yrs for you, it is time to realize he is not going to change.
Logged
"Courage is when you know your're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." ~ Harper Lee
ForeverDad
Retired Staff
Offline
Gender:
What is your sexual orientation: Straight
Who in your life has "personality" issues: Ex-romantic partner
Relationship status: separated 2005 then divorced
Posts: 18696
You can't reason with the Voice of Unreason...
Re: What to do?
«
Reply #3 on:
November 16, 2016, 08:39:10 AM »
Excerpt
He flip flops between ranting via text that I should divorce and let him find a companion, to blaming me for not being willing to reconcile and give love a chance.
This is typical, the switching between two extremes. My Ex did that more and more toward the end of our marriage. I would leave home for work with her either raging or normal and have no way to know what sort of person I'd come home to that evening. BPD is considered a mood dysregulation disorder. Emotional instability is a hallmark trait. Many of us here stuck around, longer than others would have, for some deep reasons. We typically are inclined to be fixers, co-dependent, etc. The ever-changing moods were so confusing and left us confused and stuck as "deer in the headlights".
Whatever his reasons - and you cannot discount manipulation and gaslighting to make you doubt yourself - you have to deal with
What Is
. Wishes and hopes are not practical ways to plan or secure your future.
Have you watched the 1944 movie,
Gaslight
? An innocent bride is manipulated and confused by her (nefarious/criminal) husband as he convinces her to doubt her own sanity. That's where the term 'gaslighting' comes from.
Logged
Can You Help Us Stay on the Air in 2024?
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
Print
BPDFamily.com
>
Relationship Partner with BPD (Straight and LGBT+)
>
Romantic Relationship | Conflicted About Continuing, Divorcing/Custody, Co-parenting
> Topic:
What to do?
« previous
next »
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
Help Desk
-----------------------------
===> Open board
-----------------------------
Relationship Partner with BPD (Straight and LGBT+)
-----------------------------
=> Romantic Relationship | Bettering a Relationship or Reversing a Breakup
=> Romantic Relationship | Conflicted About Continuing, Divorcing/Custody, Co-parenting
=> Romantic Relationship | Detaching and Learning after a Failed Relationship
-----------------------------
Children, Parents, or Relatives with BPD
-----------------------------
=> Son, Daughter or Son/Daughter In-law with BPD
=> Parent, Sibling, or In-law Suffering from BPD
-----------------------------
Community Built Knowledge Base
-----------------------------
=> Library: Psychology questions and answers
=> Library: Tools and skills workshops
=> Library: Book Club, previews and discussions
=> Library: Video, audio, and pdfs
=> Library: Content to critique for possible feature articles
=> Library: BPDFamily research surveys
Our 2023 Financial Sponsors
We are all appreciative of the members who provide the funding to keep BPDFamily on the air.
12years
alterK
AskingWhy
At Bay
Cat Familiar
CoherentMoose
drained1996
EZEarache
Flora and Fauna
ForeverDad
Gemsforeyes
Goldcrest
Harri
healthfreedom4s
hope2727
khibomsis
Lemon Squeezy
Memorial Donation (4)
Methos
Methuen
Mommydoc
Mutt
P.F.Change
Penumbra66
Red22
Rev
SamwizeGamgee
Skip
Swimmy55
Tartan Pants
Turkish
whirlpoollife
Loading...