BPD- How long before you became med free?

Hello!

I was wondering how many of you diagnosed with BPD were on med's for depression and/or anxiety and have been able to come off them? If so what was the course of your treatment, how long on meds, how long in talk therapy before doctor decided to allow you to wean off meds?

I don't take any medication for head stuff. I'm as borderline as it gets

i'm not ready to come off meds...i've been on them for at least 10 years and couldn't function without them at this point. i'm a slave to big pharma.

[quote="littlearcher"]i have never been on meds so i can't speak to coming off them but, i can speak to managing my emotions without medication.[/quote]


Please do!!! I would like to come off soon.

I have never been put on meds and I don't think I would accept them at this time. I see people struggle as I do, and worse, both medicated and not medicated. I think I am capable of coping with my sickness(es) without running the risk of becoming sicker. If I ever believe it'll help to go on medication, I'm willing to try but now is not the time.

I want to learn how to properly utilize the resources and coping methods already available to me before trying anything that risky (for me).

I was prescribed a lot of different medications over the course of a year. First, for Bi-Polar which was a misdiagnosis, and those meds really messed me up. I was an apathetic zombie for months. After i received a more accurate DX, I went on meds for depression, anxiety and insomnia. Nothing helped, so every couple of months they were changed to something else. Against y pdoc's medical advice, I stopped because I was just so sick of taking pills like candy and feeling like an experiment. If the meds help you, I would personally advise you to follow the instructions of your doctor. When I stopped taking mine, I experienced a massive increase in paranoia and I couldn't even leave my house for months. (This happened during my favorite time of year and I'm a little pissed that depression season is swinging in right when I'm starting to feel normal.) Depression and anxiety got even worse off meds and I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was so apathetic that I let my husband have sex with me without birth control and I faked enjoyment just to get it over with. That got me pregnant by the way! With a baby on the way, reality slapped me in the face and I started working harder toward recovery. I am FINALLY getting to the point where I can leave my house again and I am in my second month with a new therapist/counselor. My husband still has to drive me everywhere. I stopped using drugs and alcohol but started cutting again, which I hadn't done in almost 6 months. I haven't cut in a week but it hasn't been easy at all. A couple of weeks ago, I started having flashbacks again (PTSD) and some memories are coming back that I had repressed/forgotten about. They are really upsetting.

Gee, I guess, to sum it up, the best thing to do is probably to be as open and honest with your pdoc as you can and listen carefully to his/her advice. I would DEFINITLEY not recommend you stop cold turkey or you will likely go through hell worse than you're already in.

I do wish you the best of luck and give you my support and understanding. This is a difficult time but keep in mind you are most likely stronger than you think. If the meds work for you, I implore you not to view them in a negative light. I wish they worked for me!

We can get meds?!

MuddyWaters -- "We can get meds?!"


You are both right. Comorbid issues of sleep, depression, anxiety, PTSD.

MuddyWaters wrote:We can get meds?!

I have a prescription for SSRI drug, for overbearing anxiety.
And I can say, when I was at my worst, I wouldn't have coped without it.
But this was due to break up with NPD person. With that drug I kicked him out.

I stopped taking those after 2-3 months, and even before that was on half a doze.
Side effects were, I became too careless and reckless about things. And if had bigger troubles, the result was panic attack. So I guess without properly handled due to medication, my feelings would pile up resulting something worse.
But yes I also felt good, no anxiety, slept well, and no bad mood swings.

I think I m going to have to get back taking like half a doze every now and then. This is just awful right now.

Still, stay out of them if you can!

I am learninng DBT, and have some books on MBSR so I'm trying. I guess with the anxiety and depression easing I am more aware of the BPD symptoms I've never seen them so clearly-thanks all for your responses.