Originally posted by ElizaJ:
I feel I need to apologise again as it feels as if my hurt feelings and previous trauma over being misdiagnosed and mistreated 20 years ago is being viewed as I have a problem with those with BPD.
That really really isn't the case, it isn't.
AG: I totally agree with you - the problem in my case, when all of this happened to me all those years ago is that the 'label' of BPD DIDNT result in treatment at all. You're right in that the label doesn't matter
as long as you're helped and supported to get better. But that's not what happened to me.
IF I'd been told I had BPD and THEN had support, offered medication for my severe depression dissociating and flashbacks, as well as helped to heal and get better, I too wouldn't have given a "flying frigg" about the label given to me. But in my case, the label itself meant I was put to the side, deemed untreatable, with the future being I'd either learn to manage it, or I wouldn't. But don't "encourage" the illness by acknowledging distress in the meantime!
To have any serious mental illness and be denied medication for years, to be treated as if I was highly manipulative, attention seeking; to have my distress ignored whenever I reached out; to NOT be offered the support I desperately needed - was so wrong. Regardless of the diagnoses
Can you see how my experience was more than 'the label'? That if I had been supported, offered real cafe and treatment, it wouldn't have clouded my views as to 'labels'?
I guess that is the point I have been trying to make. That in a perfect world, no matter the label, you are supported and cared for and treated. But 20 years ago where I lived, BPD was seen as untreatable, and the 'treatment' was to ignore distress and hope the person grows out of it, so that by the time they were in their 40s, they'd have 'learned' how to manage things.
It was mentioned that why is it I won't accept the BOD label but CPTSD when CPTSD is especially the same thing? Hmmm good question! I suppose in that case if they are seen as the same thing then I probably don't have CPTSD either.
Why? Cos as i explained on my other thread,
BPD is constant over time and context. And that is far from my experience. I was unwell from ages 18-25. That was when I was diagnosed as BPD. (Even though as it's been pointed out, diagnosing someone with a personality disorder aged 18 isn't accurate). BUT
then I had 12 years of being well mentally. During that time I was fully functioning, no symptoms of any mental illness . I did not have PTSD, did not have any 'traits' of BPD, no eating disorder behaviours at all, and aside from a brief episode of depression (when I moved cities and started a new job) I had no involvement with the mental health systems at all.
my being unwell only came about just over 3 years ago when I experienced another major trauma. Since then, I've struggled with severe eating disorders, depression, anxiety and PTSD.
So - in order for me to have had BPD, that means it came, completely went away for years and years and then a new mental illness developed. But the DSM V states BPD is 'consistent over time and context'- it can't be present one day, disappear for years at a time and then re-emerge
I think what I related to about the CPTSD theory is that having prolonged childhood trauma at the hands of caregivers has a very different effect on someone compared to if they had a single trauma as an adult. So I believe the presentation of PTSD in cases of complex trauma will be quite different (with some overlaps) to that of someone who experienced trauma as an adult, not at the hand a of caregivers, and a one off incident.
But that's just me
When it comes to 'labels' - as I said on the other thread - the ONLY reason why it's even vaguely important is so you get the right treatment approach. someone diagnosed with bi-polar would probably have different treatment needs to someone with obsessive compulsive disorder. A T would adapt their approach in working with the client based on the 'label' but yes - FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY - the INDIVIDUAL client's needs.
And I'm a bit worried people still think I have a problem with people who happen to have been told they have BPD
that is absolutely NOT the case. I think if anyone on here had been treated (or not as it turned out) like I had been, then no matter what 'label' they had been given at the time that
directly lead to the mistreatment and neglect, would also do everything in their power and ability to run from that label for fear the same trauma associated with it will happen again
.
To phone for help and support when feeling suicidal, unsafe, having dissociation and flashbacks and be told by trained mental health professionals 'well if you want to kill yourself, that's yr choice - we can't and won't be stopping you' - if it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't believe it could happen
).
