Q. Dear Doctor Heller,
I understand you are an expert on BPD. I would very much appreciate your help.
I was diagnosed with BPD just over a year ago. At the time I was very relieved to have a label as this meant ‘the thing’ was a known, measured and therefore understood and treatable condition. After this, I did a little research and found out more about BPD and the stigma and difficulties associated with it. I was horrified and denied it for a while. Now I am really ambivalent and confused! So I am again on the search for information to help clarify the chaos!!
This is just a general note to begin with, to ask for ideas or information you think may be useful to me (I’m not sure where to start at this stage). Later I will ask more specific questions. I live in New Zealand and there is little information available and no support groups that I am aware of.
A. Please read as much of this website as you can.
The BPD is a medical problem that can be overcome. I’ve treated over 2700. Many are doing far better than 95% of our population.
The principles are:
1) diagnose all conditions and treat them medically
2) use a neuroleptic like haloperidol whenever stress is present
3) do everything possible to train your brain to be happy.
Most borderlines don’t have support groups or doctors who can help. If you genuinely want a happy life, most of what you need to know is available here.
Your prognosis can be excellent, you neither asked for nor caused your problem, and life can be dramatically better.