h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Some of you may have missed the my first joural on what BPD is so I'm C&P-ing some data produced by Borderline UK.
email: [email protected]
web site: www.borderlineuk.co.uk

What It Is...

A diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is made when at least 5 of the following 9 criteria are present. It is important to take the severity and intensity of these symptoms in to account as well as their duration and their impact on day-to-day living.

· frantic attempts to avoid real or imagined
abandonment
· a pattern of unstable and intense
interpersonal relationships characterised
by alternation between extremes of
idealisation/devaluation
· identity disturbance; unstable self-image
· impulsivity in at least two areas that are
potentially self-damaging, eg sex, binge-eating,
alcohol or drug abuse, chronic
over-spending, gambling etc
· recurrent suicidal behaviour, gestures or
threats, or self-mutilating behaviour
· affective instability due to marked
reactivity of mood
· chronic feelings of emptiness
· inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty
controlling anger
· transient paranoia or dissociation

Whilst many people may experience some of these traits from time to time, a person diagnosed BPD will experience these symptoms severely, intensely and over a number of years.

Sattistics...

· Borderline Personality Disorder is the most
commonly diagnosed Personality Disorder
(it accounts for about half of the total
number of PD diagnoses).
· It is estimated that between 2-3% of the
general population are affected (over a
million people in the United Kingdom).
· 75% of people diagnosed with BPD are
female.
· People diagnosed with BPD will often also
have other psychiatric diagnoses.
· BPD is diagnosed in 11% of psychiatric
outpatients and 19% of inpatients.
· Over 50% of people diagnosed are victims
of physical and or sexual abuse.
· In the region of 8-10% of Borderlines will
commit suicide.

Treatment...

Treatment for BPD usually takes the form of some sort of individual or group therapy, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), or Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT) or psychodynamic therapy. Medications often used in conjunction with therapy include anti-depressants, anxiolytics (which may aid sleep and produce a calming effect) and anti-psychotics (which may improve impulse control and sleep).

What It Is NOT...

There are many misunderstanding and myths concerning Borderline Personality Disorder. A few of the most common are listed below.
· Borderline Personality Disorder does
NOT mean that a person 'almost' has
a Personality Disorder or that they
have 'half' a Personality Disorder.
BPD is a Personality Disorder in its
own right and was originally given this
name as it was considered to be on
the 'border' of neurosis and psychosis.
· Borderline Personality Disorder is
NOT impossible to treat. It is difficult
to treat as it involves challenging
ingrained beliefs and characteristics.
However, with the correct treatment,
BPD traits can be successfully
understood and managed. Also, as
more research is being done in this
field we can be optimistic that
treatment opportunities will both
improve and increase.
· Borderlines are NOT dramatising their
situation, nor 'attention seeking' or
'manipulative'. The intensity of
emotions that Borderlines feel are
extreme enough to interfere with basic
tasks in day-to-day life.
· People diagnosed BPD, in common
with the vast majority of other people
with psychiatric diagnoses, are NOT a
danger to others. Indeed, they are far
more likely to be a danger to
themselves.

A friend posted me a link to this this morning I was diagnosed as having BPD when I was 16.. but they didt bother to tell me what it was It was only by talking to another sufferer on here a couple of months ago I actually found anything out!..explained a lot it did
Anyway I think my point was going to be that its good to see information being posted..yeah that was it!

Hmm



This got me thinking...

did it hurt?

Seriously..what about Lou?

No, I just been feeling pretty down lately and a few of those *symptoms* hit home a bit...

I wouldnt worry too much Lou..with the link i was given one of the first things it said was that the majority of teens will experiene some of these symptoms at some point there has to be a certain amount of them for a prolonged period of time and stuff..

I'm not exactly worried... it's just, you know...

Confusing

*sigh* It'll be better soon

yup i bet it will

I hope so, I really do



*deep breath* Tomorrow should sort some of it out... English Lit will at least be sorted.

And I got free VIP cinema tickets for 2moro, which is nice

How are you Lou?

*Waves at Seriphina*

'waves'

Nice tongue!

thanks was nicer till my bar came out in my sleep though!

That's a shame, you didn't swallow it did you? Apparently the average person will swallow 8 spiders in the their sleep in a lifetime... nice that eh?
How are you?

I hate spiders

I think i may have swallowed the ball

Im ok thanks..just up to mischief as usual! not any where near london are you?

I can't say I'm fond of the 8 legged and 8 eyed creepy things myself...

Oh dear...

I'm not far from LOndon but a journey into London for a mini meet is out of the question, I'm saving all my meagre funds for a trip to Ireland in a months time...

I will be at the Wintermeet as I hope to see Suz...

Ahh the Dublin meet? I was hoping to get over with Genie to see Lord smooth but i wont be able to now

Awwww..i bet you will
im very perceptive y'know.
I'll definately be at the winter meet all being well ..and i shall endeavour to not get quite so drunk as at the summer one too..though im sure me n Tracey will end up giving a repeat performance

Nah, They Came and Shaved Us, the Sproutlore 10th birthday con. A long weekend of alcohol fueled madness, S&M, victoriana and the great Robert Rankin as MC...

I don't think it takes alot of persception to tell I still care for Suz a great deal. When it comes down to it, I just want her to be happy so for that reason I hope things with Justin work out well...

I shall be inbibing mightily at the wintermeet in an effort to actually get drunk as I failed to get even tipsy at the summer meet despite all the double malibu and tequila I put back... the perils of being able to hold ones drink.

I didn't do much mixing at the summer meet, my social phobia was playing up so I'm not suroprised I missed you... hope to catch you at the winter meet...

Im not exactly hard to miss being a 5ft 9ish Red head with an unmistakable laugh i think 'everyone'in the pub mustve heard it during the pub quiz actually
I can hold my drink too..but after 3 doubl whikeys n ten cocktails after being in the sun all afty n not reallly eating i was rata*sed I was a little shy myself too,but the drink put paid to that a little im a more than a little perceptive y'know.one of the reasons i became a witch is cos of my psychic ability n empathy.Obviously i cant speak totally freely here,n im not sure i would if i could.. but im very good at sensing when things are right or not. I will say..we can only make choices based on the information and options we feel we have..and somtimes we give someone an option what seems too late
nature n the goddess has a habit of putting everything where it n as it should be in the end though..we(people in general) just have to trust that n have a little patience

Hey

I'm alright now, v tired mind

I feel a bit better now I only have eight mucho stresso days to go

How are you both?

Lou