Does anyone here live in suffolk/ Norfolk England?

Hi to all...
I live in Suffolk, England and have been recently diagnosed with BPD. I've heard that the most effective therapy for the condition is DBT but from the reasearh I've done so far, it would seem that this is not available in my area. Does anyone know if this is the case or not?

Hi there,

I'm not from Suffolk, but I am from England. I haven't been offered DBT either. I had CBT before I got my dx of BPD, but I hated it and felt it didn't help. I've been offered CBT again, even with the same clinical psychologist. I've been seeing a psychiatrist who said the only other option is group therapy, which makes me shudder as I don't like talking much about it. All I will do is be very BPD and start judging the others

So pretty much my only option is to do something that didn't work before and I don't feel will work this time. I mean, I haven't forgotten what he tried to teach me

Let us know how you get on in your mission.

Thank you for your response...
I was given my diagnosis in 2010 and offered nothing but Lithium which at the time freaked me out (being 'diagnosed' and prescribed Lithium!) So, I decided to make it my mission to 'go it alone' which needless to say, hasn't worked! Although the private therapist I paid to see and the Hypno I had was useful I have now realised that it's not enough and 'going it alone' is no longer an option as things have difinately gotten unbearable at times. So, here I am, awaiting my appointment from the Link Worker to get back into seeing a Phyciatrist, hopefully a different one from last time. And this time, I am seriously considering medication because quite frankly, I need something! Do you mind if I ask if you take medication and if you find that it help's?
Something I have also done is contact ESAN who are an Advocate service, basically somebody who has a good knowledge of the mental health system to assist me with getting the help that is available, attend my appointments with me and generally 'fight my corner'. Mind you, even she said as far as she knows, last she assisted somebody with BPD, DBT wasn't an option.
Is there anything else you have found helpful? I get what your saying about 'group 'therapy', not sure that'd work for me either, mind you, I'm going to take ALL the help I can possibly get my hands on because I really aren't coping well with the 'low's' at all!

I live in England. I attend group therapy and am finding it really helpful. It is called DTC (democratic therapeutic community). It was designed for war veterans suffering from PTSD! Everyone in the group has BPD! There are about 5 people in the group. It depends on work commitments because it is one day a week for two years. It's free too! I know there are lots of groups running throughout the UK! There are not many places and it's hard to get accepted but worth a try! Hope you manage to get the help you are looking for! If you want any more info feel free to PM me.

mystic

Im open to all the help I can possibly get and will give anything a damn good try! The group therapy you are speaking of sounds like it MIGHT be an option... apart from the fact that I live in the arse end of nowhere, scuse the crudeness! lol. I would like to know more though, for sure.

And to be honest, ive probably got a bit of PTSD going on too anyways! lol

The therapy is really good. We are all each other's therapists. There are also two service users and two members of staff. I was referred by my MHN and was lucky I didn't seem to have any difficulties getting in. It's helped me so so much. I've been attending for about 6 weeks now. Could you google DTC in your area or if you have a mental health nurse or care co-ordinator they may be able to offer you help to find groups in your area.

It sounds like you're really open to the treatments, and that's what all talking therapies require. You can't succeed if you don't want it! That's where I went wrong with CBT. When I was being told I kit change how I think, and that I'm supposed to think that I'm wonderful and clever and good-looking... All I would actually think is, "This is stupid". Not the CBT, but what I was supposed to say to myself.

Of course, at the moment I take 40mg citalopram and 100mg quetiapine (Seroquel, Sondate). Yes, I think it works. My moods are more stable. I still have all my BPD traits, but I don't have a near-breakdown if I'm 'abandoned'. However, like most people, it took a while to improve with drugs. I started off on fluoxetine (Prozac) and had CBT. Then I took myself off them and was offered citalopam but refused. Then I had amitriptyline and ended up in hospital because I had really bad lows and took too many. Then I had nothing (just sent on my way from hospital), then citalopram, then saw a psychiatrist and got cit and Seroquel.

So what I mean to say is that drugs and talking therapies go well together, but it can take some time to find a drug that suits you. In my case, it was the bog standard go-to pill that was best all along. Getting offered only lithium seems a bit rubbish when there are so many options.

I hope you find the right course of treatment for you! You're an individual, so what suits some of us may not work for you. But the right combination is out there, you just have to ask.

Best of luck!

Thank you Snap Dragon... How do you find 'going it alone' as apposed to taking med's and engaging in therapies?

^ I agree with snapdragon regarding CBT! For me it was too much! You love yourself, feel positive about life, challenging your thoughts. At the time it didn't work for me because I thought nothing but negative about life and myself. Maybe now things might be different I don't know! Regarding meds it's helped me a lot. I'm on 200mg citalopram and 200mg promazine. Sometimes it makes me a bit zombified but I'd rather that than feeling as crappy as I felt. It's stopped the flashbacks and does relax me. Group therapy is the best support I have found. I was sceptical at first but it has been so beneficial! I really hope you find the support you need!

mystic