Ask the Therapist
Depression and BPD
Can a woman have both? How to treat if medications aren't helping. Are there clinics/hospitals/retreats with medical staff experts in depression/bpd?
I'm at the end. I don't know anymore what I have except that I have everything described for both conditions. My psychiatrist has never done anything to test me for illness/disorders. He did 17 ECT treatments on me and that didn't help. I have felt like I do since I was 16 years old, maybe even before that. I just feel like I want to die. I wish I could die. But I can't take my own life...I'm too scared to do that but I want to very much. I want to get over being scared to do it and just do it so I don't suffer anymore for an illness that has no treatment or help and my family doesn't have to suffer because of me. I'm 53 years old and live in Michigan. Divorced 2 times and on 3rd marriage. I feel like I don't want to try anymore and that feeling/thought scares me.
Who would know how to help me/how to diagnose what my problem is, and how to treat it effectively, whether that be with drugs and/or therapy?
Yes and no. Profound depression is a symptom of BPD, as are feelings of helplessness and suicidal ideation. The question is whether you are being treated for the right thing. BPD is a psycho-social disorder, meaning it's a learned behavior. Depression is generally considered organic and, unless it's episodic (which with you it clearly is not) is considered organic -- meaning a chemical imbalance. If your meds are not working and you've received 17 ECT treatments with no effect, something's not right. In my experience, therapists operate from their frame of reference. If your therapist, no matter how skilled, is not familiar with BPD, s/he may be overlooking the possibility or, more to the point, ignoring it. Follow your instincts. Maybe get a second or third opinion.
As for your second question, I am unfamiliar with the Michigan mental health community -- however, the University of Michigan is one of the top schools in the country for psychology and psychiatry. You may be able to start there as a resource. You might also go to
www.nbcc.org or www.apa.org and see if you can find a therapist in your area who specializes in BPD and BPD related depression, so you can get another perspective.
