Other Ptsd and emotionally unstable personality disorder

[MEW9]

I've struggled with PTSD for some time now so much so to the point where I was referred to a psychiatrist for constant suicide attempts etc. Turns out I have Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) as well... it seems that my psychiatrist was very quick to "diagnose" me... anyways just wondering if anyone has had success with DBT or has been diagnosed with EUPD also? Would love to read that I'm not alone in this.

 

[Ronin]

Once upon a time I was misdiagnosed with that.

I don't think I'd be very helpful, as not quite applicable (I'm D.I.D. and my early raising wasn't typical empath socialization, not BPD spectrum). But I think learning the DBT skills can be useful for many types of instability, outside of those diagnostic boxes. It's a rather well thought out approach to tackling emotional instability that's complex, so it wouldn't harm to learn as a toolkit.

 

[Sarahlou611]

I have DID and have also previously (incorrectly) been diagnosed with EUPD. I also have a lot of friends with ptsd and EUPD diagnoses.

I personally found parts of DBT helpful, particularly the distress tolerance module. I also know a lot of my friends have found dbt useful. Although I would say from experience, personal and friends, that it is also important to address the trauma too.

Dbt can really help, but without addressing the underlying cause of problems, they will probably resurface over time.

Best wishes xx

 

[EveHarrington]

Did the personality disorder issues start before the trauma? If not I'd get a second opinion.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

anyways just wondering if anyone has had success with DBT or has been diagnosed with EUPD also?

I don't have EUPD (nor have I ever heard of it) but I do have PTSD along with Borderline Personality Disorder which, amoung other things, is being emotionally unstable or disregulated. DBT was made for BPD so yes, it works if used at it's fullest.

I agree about a 2nd option. I was diagnosed with BPD fast and did self diagnose it before then but it was very obvious and apparent. But I can see something like EUPD and BPD being mixed up. Not saying they are, just saying I can see that and Id want 2 Drs to tell me I had EUPD before accepting it. But thats just me.

 

[EveHarrington]

OP

I think it's good to clarify that EUPD is another name for borderline personality disorder. Had to look it up myself!

I guessed they wanted to destigmatize the name?

 

[Werewoman]

@EveHarrington
It's my understanding that it was deemed the word 'borderline' was too confusing for everyone, patients and doctors alike. Having been raised by a mother with that particular disorder, I'd say emotionally unstable is a waaaaaay better description. I call her "Tornado Mommy" because of the way she can be out of control, screaming, and extremely violent one second and have a normal phone conversation with someone else a minute or so later. It's truly amazing to watch...and absolutely terrifying.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

It's my understanding that it was deemed the word 'borderline' was too confusing for everyone, patients and doctors alike.

Nope, Borderline Personality Disorder is in the DSM 5 and the ICD 10. I am also dignosed with it, and it's being managed pretty dang well now as compared to a few months or so ago.

ETA: Sorry, I didn't realized I had answered that in here. Sorry, didn't mean to repeat myself.

Also @Werewoman, if your mom did have BPD, it was unmanaged and BPD doesn't always look like that. There is a large missunderstanding of what BPD looks like and for whatever reason lately it is being given some weird bad name. So just wanted to add that.

 

[Sideways]

They've thrown the book at me for having traits of different personality disorders, and relevantly, I've struggled a lot with emotional regulation and emotional stability.

Personally, I've found the strategies from DBT to be immensely helpful. I went through years of serious suicide attempts as well, and I put it down mostly to the tools I got from DBT that suicide has been pretty much off agenda for a long time now. That's a really big deal, because it's really hard to make progress on any front when you're trying to manage chronic suicidal intent on the side.

I definitely agree that DBT alone is not the one holy grail solution to alll ptsd problems. And it takes time and practice. But it has given me the skille I need to make real progress with my recovery now. I floundered for years getting pretty much nowhere while I was dealing with the suicidality; but now, I can see myself ticking off therapeutic milestones, which blows me away, and makes it worth it.

 

[Werewoman]

Nope, Borderline Personality Disorder is in the DSM 5 and the ICD 10. I am also dignosed wit...

Oh, it was definitely not managed, and still isn't. She has always refused to admit she has a problem. I know a lot of people diagnosed BPD, and I do not equate them with my mother. Since she technically has never been diagnosed - she also refuses to seek help - I suppose technically, she's correct, but I'm pretty sure my medical records from day one would prove otherwise. Anyway, at this point, regardless of the words used to describe her, the outcome would have been the same.
I also think it is one of the most misunderstood conditions, which is why it's being given a weird, bad name. My hope is that changing the name will make more people WANT to understand it better.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I definitely agree that DBT alone is not the one holy grail solution to alll ptsd problems. And it takes time and practice. But it has given me the skille I need to make real progress with my recovery now.

It is also does amazing at helping to manage BPD (otherwise in this thread as "EUPD")!

Oh, it was definitely not managed, and still isn't. She has always refused to admit she has a problem. I know a lot of people diagnosed BPD, and I do not equate them with my mother. Since she technically has never been diagnosed - she also refuses to seek help

I don't get BPDers that don't get help. Ok, I was forced into therapy due to "rage" (anxiety driven/filled) explosions, but that was due to extreme fear. And i did try to get help by the way of free counselors before then. But it is hell to live with that much of a roller coaster of emotions. It is so far up and down intenisty wise (what outsiders see as an emotional tornado) that it is literally hell to live with.

If someone helped me with that orginal fear of the therapy field i certianly would have welcomed the help and repreive from that emotional storm.

I suppose technically, she's correct, but I'm pretty sure my medical records from day one would prove otherwise.

It is likely correct. It sounds like it, or at least the emotional ups and downs anyway.

I technically self diagnosed years before i was actually diagnosed. It was obvious to me. I mean, i didn't self diagnose the way most see it. I didn't go around saying I had it or anything. Was just something I highly suspected I had.

I also think it is one of the most misunderstood conditions, which is why it's being given a weird, bad name. My hope is that changing the name will make more people WANT to understand it better.

I don't really think it is so much the "borderline" name as it is just bad experience from people refusing treatment and management. Like your mom. I've been seeing "all BPDer I met were like XYZ so now avoid all BPDers" or "oh god, those people that are like emotional tornados? No way". Stuff like that. Most especially recently. It's like the pitbull of mental disorders, a few bad means all bad. A few like that means all are like that and it's so not the case. Soon into DBT it was being managed a lot better and soon into medication a ton better. So was once an emotional tornado here on the forums and am today rather leveled. As much as one can be at this point in my therapy I think.

I just wish people would stop judging all by the bad experiences of a few. No one likes it for PTSD. So why BPD?

 

[joeylittle]

I just wish people would stop judging all by the bad experiences of a few. No one likes it for PTSD. So why BPD?

I think you're confusing judging with describing.

In the supporters' section, sometimes there are posts that supporters make that can seem extremely judgemental of PTSD. That happens because they don't have PTSD, so they don't fully get it.

But, we PTSD-ers can look at those posts and generally say.."yeah, that's what PTSD looks like for me" while also saying "understand, it's an illness and when it's unmanaged, it can be really hard for everyone, both sufferers and supporters".

So, when people who don't suffer from Borderline post about it (or any other personality disorder) and say "I grew up with a borderline sufferer and it was hell on earth" - that's their reality. From the outside, looking at how it affected them - it was hell on earth. No amount of understanding will ever take that away. They are relaying what they know.

And it's OK for a person with BPD to both say, "yeah, that's what BPD looked like for me" while also saying "understand that it's an illness, and when unmanaged it's hard for everyone, sufferer and supporter alike."

I don't get BPDers that don't get help. Ok, I was forced into therapy due to "rage" (Anxiety driven/filled) explosions, but that was due to extreme fear.

Lots of people with BPD are suffering and don't get help unless they are forced into it. Same is true of many mental illnesses. It doesn't matter what the source of your rage explosions was - the fact is, they were there. I don't have less empathy for you because it was anger; I get the impression that you think it's bad if it was anger, but it's OK if it was fear. It's really OK if it was anger, too. The point is, the rubber finally met the road and you got into help with a good therapist, and you've stuck with it.

But unmanaged borderline - like any unmanaged mental illness - is very, very hard on the people who are around it. They can have empathy and
express how damaging it was for them. When they talk about how damaging it was for them, it doesn't mean that they are talking about you; and it doesn't mean they don't also care about the people in their lives who were/are ill.