- Is The Goal To Achieve Balance?
QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I was wondering if the medication is just to help with “balance”. Really, there is no “cure” for borderline…..you have to just learn how to live with it and the goal is to achieve “balance”. Is that correct? If you can find “balance” without the meds then is that what the ultimate goal is?
ANSWER:
No. The goal is not to achieve “balance”. My goals are very high when treating the BPD. The symptoms I want to see gone with medication are: a) Inappropriate mood swings b) Chronic anger c) Emptiness and boredom d) Emotional pain – feeling like your best friend died e) Chronic dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair) and dissociation f) Control of dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair) and other stress induced symptoms. I’ve never encountered anyone with the BPD who was able to achieve these goals without medication.
