Medications

I am a male with BPD (25 y/o) and I have been struggling. Mainly with alcohol, drugs, and feelings with impulsivity. I can have an unstable sense of self (shifting from narcissism to extreme self hatred), self destructive behavior, and an ability and hatred to capitulate to authority. I have been an off and on alcoholic, benzo and cocaine addict for the past seven or so years. I also feel out of step with the world, possibly because very few people realize that MEN also suffer from BPD. I used to have recurrent suicidal thoughts and would (unfortunately) gesture these to my loved ones but thankfully I have grown out of that. I don't hate myself, in fact I think I'm pretty awesome in a lot of ways but I get in the own way of myself. Recently one of my best friends told me that we couldn't be friends anymore if I keep self-destructing and I realized that I really want to become a better person. I am very creative and intelligent but I feel that my self destructive behavior, substance abuse, and unending obsession and insecurity (mostly with those I admire and the opposite sex) has limited my potential in regards with my life goals. I feel like I should be much farther in life than I am right now but do to my personal issues I still struggle greatly. I should be moved out of my home by now, have somewhat of a steady career (or at least some sort of job), and I should have released more music and art. Instead I'm still working on my first album,working on writing a book I'm working on an independent film but have no way to release it, and I haven't had a real intimate relationship with the opposite sex since high school (I've had my share of hook-ups but that's about it).

I have had a long time aversion to medications for a long list of reasons but I'm starting to think that this is what I may need in my life. I think that I need to be more in step with society to be able to function in it, because I have no other choice.I can't continue to live like this, I'm 25, I'm not a kid anymore. I know that medications don't fix everything but I'm asking you guys what you think the best ones would be to help with my situation. I know I have it somewhere in my psyche to be a great person, but my angry, emotional, self destructive phases keep me from doing this in any real way. I already see a therapist, use DBT and CBT but it's just not enough.I really just wanna be a better person and I want someone's advice. I met a woman recently (who has quiet BPD, I have it much LOUDER) and I wanna be a good man for her and she's honestly made me feel the inspiration to become a better person. If there's any medications, or coping mechanisms that can help please, please help me.

12 Step Programs & abstinence from substances.

Continue with one on one with them making your use of DBT skills more effective and present situations and ask for coping technique suggestions as opposed to spending a lot of time venting or ruminating.

Learn different types of meditations, yoga,

Nature and exercise

Antidepressants or Mood stabilizer(s) if you feel they're necessary if possible avoid double use antipsychotics such as abilify or seroquel.

If you're not psychotic then avoid any antipsychotics (trust me!)

Benzos and all minor tranquilizers are also a no go even if you weren't abusing them unless you want a perpetual bandaid with a rotting wound underneath

DaturaInnoxia wrote:Antidepressants or Mood stabilizer(s) if you feel they're necessary if possible avoid double use antipsychotics such as abilify or seroquel.

If you're not psychotic then avoid any antipsychotics (trust me!)

But isn't abilify an antipsychotic? Among other things?

I wanna thank you guys for your information, I've been going outside, working out everyday, using DBT more, trying meditation. etc. Good news is, is that the friend who left me called me today, we had a heart to heart, he said he's gonna try to help me through everything and that's he's been really worried about me and never wants to stop being my friend. Feels good man, feels good. I feel like I can get my life back on track. Not so sound arrogant, but I've realized that no matter how much of a mess I can be, how much of a jerk I can be, and how impulsive I can be, that when we "split" the friendship pretty much always comes back. I believe that is because I can have a very magnetic and fun personality and tries to be a really good friend. It also helps that I have some of the best friends in the world. I think it's interesting how people who have BPD can have extremely terrible qualities, yes at the same time have some really great qualities too. I feel that I can really move on with my life now and become the person that I've always wanted to be, always had the potential to be, and that I don't have to stand in my way as much anymore. It's just that a lot of people who have BPD never learn to respect themselves, never learn how to take a step back and realize they don't haver to act on their emotions and impulses, and spend their time whining and feeling sorry for themselves rather than take responsibility for themselves, I wanna help these people as much as I can and I think I'm gonna come here more often to try to do that for others as it helps me break out of my self absorbed shell and use my empathy which I have a lot of deep down inside.

-Thank guys

PamalaPerijil

Yeah it's an antipsychotic.

I classified it and seroquel separately because they're most often used off label or even labeled forms other things as well. It's a trend right now.

Seroquel
Antipsychotic but also used mental health for
Anti anxiety
Sleep
Drug Withdrawals
And even occasionally mood stabilizer on the manic end etc

Abilify Antipsychotics but also used occasionally as
Antidepressant
Mood stabilizer etc

Even though abilify is likely to create the least amount of severe side effects - no antipsychotic is worth it unless it's a last resort or psychotic disorder.

I just got prescribed lexapro and lactimal (or something like that), anyone here have any experiences with those?

Results will vary from person to person.

I react well to both of these.

Escitalopram (Lexapro) is a decent antidepressant that shows promise for anxiety (social phobia & GAD & even possibly OCD)

Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is a med for epilepsy but can be an extremely effective mood stabilizer for people who tend to dip into deeper depressions than manias. Thus, also used as an antidepressant to those who dont respond to typical ones. Or augmentive therapy on top of technical antidepressant.

I like this moodstabilizer the best out of all that are out there, although it's not so great for people who experience severe manias.
For me it seems to make me willing to live. I don't really understand it but if I take it, I'm up for living and if I don't spend my time in dread of being alive and wishing for death.

Easier on your system than stabilizers like Lithium or Devalproex/Depakote/Valproic Acid .... aside from the potential rash.

In the extremely Unlikely event you develop a rash while talking Lamictal (most likely around time of dose increase or the first year of stabilized effect dose) the go to your doctor ASAP! It can be life threatening. Steven Johnson Syndrome or something that mimics it.

Well I just started taking these meds, haven't noticed any real effects yet, i'll let y'all know