What is your BPD treatment?

Hello, I am new to this BPD and have not yet seen my doctor after my psych appointment, so I have no idea what will happen from here.

Can you please share your treatment method with me... would especially like to know what meds you are on. Thanks so much

I'm new to this BPD thing as well, so my knowledge is limited. I'm not even officially a Borderline patient. I have Borderline behavior and thought processes and I fit all 9 criteria, but I have yet to be diagnosed with it.

Anyway, the most common therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder is called Dialetical Behavior Therapy(DBT). I personally haven't gone to a session yet, I refuse to until my therapist feels like diagnosing me. My understanding based off all the material I've read is that it's a group therapy. I've been told it isn't like most group therapies. They're isn't much talking about your personal issues, it's more about educating new ways of thinking and learning to regulate your emotions.

As far as meds; there are no meds that are specific to Borderline patients. Medication is usually prescribed for other diagnosis that typically occur with BPD. They might put you on anti-depressants, something like xanax or klonopin for anxiety. Mood stabilizers are also a common drug prescribed to BPD patients. Sometimes anti-psychotics if you dissociate. It really all depends on what is best for you. Some therapists might be reluctant to refer you to a psychiatrist at all; some people are against medicine for some reason.

Hmmm great, my psych didn't diagnose me either, I don't think anyway, he photo copied me some pieces of paper on BPD and Hysteroid Disphoria and basically shoved me out door and said will send report to my doctor ($350 later)

My doctor sent me there with a referral to be seen for ADD traits.

Looks like I will be wrongly diagnosed with depression AGAIN and continue to be "apparently normal"

YAY!!

Thanks for replying.. and then being subjected to my rant

Therapy, DBT, and I see a psychiatrist. Meds are below, but they're mainly to control symptoms of Bipolar which I also have.

BPD is what is called an Axis II diagnosis, that means that there's always an Axis I diagnosis before it, typically something like depression, or anxiety. That's what they usually medicate you for not the BPD. Though sometimes as Chainedlynx said, they will put you on a mood stabilizer to even out the mood swings that come with BPD.

I did three years of DBT therapy and mostly it just made me more aware of my thought patterns, my triggers, the way I react to things, etc. I can't necessarily control these behaviors now (sometimes I can), but I can at least notice when I'm doing them or (even worse) avoid situations that will trigger me. With the latter I say it's worse because I sort of avoid everything and everyone these days. That said, I feel more stable than I ever have. I used to meditate and that was helpful, but now I mostly garden and exercise instead - these things calm me. Finding things that calm you is important. I've been on wellbutrin a long time, as well as valium. Benzos are tough to get off of, so I wouldn't recommend them, except my bipolar friend is on colonepam (not sure how you spell it) and it's supposed to be not as addictive. I have a lot of depression - I will literally go to bed for a week, wellbutrin gives me a little jumpstart. I take valium as needed, usually every third day I'll take between 10-15 mg.

Good luck to you!

Treatment: Coping with BPD program (DBT Lite), thinking of getting a private therapist as well.
Meds: 20mg citalopram, 100mg trazodone (off-label, as a sedative)

20mg Citalopram (despite never having been a depressive person, these are having some positive effects).
Online CBT
Mindfulness exercises I have researched and those got from books
Awaiting confirmation for acceptance into group therapy for BPD

I really need something to sedate me during my worst episodes, so will talk to the doctor about this. I tried diazepam (valium) and I slept for days like a baby.

I'm under the (sporadic) care of a psychiatrist at the local mental hospital, but we've agreed that medication doesn't really work for me so I'm not on any. I did have a year of psychodynamic therapy once a week, and that was very helpful. You only get one year on the national health service here, and they've done away with the whole scheme now anyway (I think I was the last patient, actually).

My therapist told me she really thought I should be having therapy twice a week, so I'm considering doing that now, but it's very expensive. I really don't know. The therapy was really helpful, but do I really want to start again with somebody else?

-- Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:18 pm --

I've just remembered, I do have a prescription for diazepam, so it's not quite true to say I don't take any meds. I hardly ever take it though, and haven't for months. I still feel like I need to have it around though.

I got diagnosed, but I dropped out of treatment. I wasn't ready for it.

Now I'm just going through a DBT workbook, and I create my own mental health assignments.
Daily journal logs, letters to people that have hurt me, and I HAVE TO exercise daily to stabilize my
mood and get rid of nervous energy. I avoid caffeine and make sure to eat often.

It's not really working.