Topic Tuesday// Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Week 2022: 'See The Person'// Tues 27th September 2022 7-8:30PM AEST

[kellee]

Hi

[BPDSurvivor]

I hear you @M_P90 - you're right about many not being about to access treatments due to their financial status. It is so unfortunate.

[Alex_Spectrum]

@TideisTurning This is something that can be particularly frustrating for those with a diagnosis of BPD but also for those of us who are wanting to support people!

It can be challenging to find the right help. The first starting point generally is having a discussion with your GP about different options for treatment.

If looking at private psychology it can be helpful to try to find people who have a specific interest in working with BPD. Often Psychologists may not directly reference BPD but may speak about working with trauma or emotion regulation difficulties.  

[BPDSurvivor]

There can be a lot of barriers to accessing or engaging with treatment, like trouble finding the best therapy or provider, costs involved or long wait lists. How might we be able to get through or overcome these barriers? 

I have to say, I think I was one of the lucky ones. As mentioned, it is very challenging to find therapy for those with BPD. Frankly, a lot of services ‘run away’ from people with a BPD diagnosis. I’ve felt that many times in the past.

When a hospital or clinician sees BPD, they tend to sort of usher you out of the hospital or service. That’s my experience anyway, and it was certainly very frustrating – it felt like I didn’t matter, and I was a waste of space and resources.

Over the years, I’ve learnt that there are therapists who thrive on working with people with BPD. I never knew these people existed, but they do! So I’d encourage you to go out and ask specifically whether they are ready to work long term with someone with BPD.

I know for a fact that BPD is a slow-moving condition. It takes years to build up (hence diagnosis is generally seen in late teenage-hood or early adulthood), and months/years to return to a functional state. Recovery doesn’t occur overnight.

My suggestion: find a therapist you ‘click’ with and stick with any group/individual therapy. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

Group therapy had the greatest impact on my recovery. But boy, was it a hard trot!

[TideisTurning]

Welcome @kellee. Great to have you here with us! 😊

[BPDSurvivor]

Hi @kellee - Welcome to our conversation tonight 🙂

[kellee]

Hi Thank you

[BPDSurvivor]

@puzzlingdino , For me, I tried many different therapists, but only until I receive BPD-specific therapies, did I see a change in my condition.

And you are right in saying that with my other therapists, they could only help me through what I was experiencing there and then. 

However the 'program' of treatment during MBT, particularly the group sessions, was where the marked difference was felt and seen.

[Alex_Spectrum]

@puzzlingdino sounds like you've found a Psychologist who fits well for you. That's great to hear! It's nice to hear that you are being asked about what has/hasn't worked for you in the past as well as what is/isn't working in the current sessions. I would encourage everyone to have these conversations with their Psychologist. 

[M_P90]

As someone with too much previous involvement with MH professionals - I think a lot of people don't know their rights when it comes to therapists. If you're considering therapy or new to it, you should know that your safety should be paramount. If you're feeling unsafe in a session, that's an indicator you should follow. If you feel like you can raise your concerns and be heard, have things reasonably adjusted by your therapist then that's a good sign. If you feel uncomfortable or invalidated by their response, the problem is them, not you. Also, you can choose female or male, even someone from your cultural background. That's ok, it's about your best interests. And also, because it's about relationship, you just might not 'click ' with a therapist, totally valid too.