Question:
Dr. Heller,
My cognitive-behavioral therapist
believes that I very well may suffer
from BPD.
I would like to ask you two questions,
if I may:
1. Is there a book, video, etc., that
is especially for children on the topic
of a parent with BPD or on the topic,
period? (I have a thirteen-year-old
daughter that I would like to enlighten
on the topic, as gently as possible.)
2. If I have been taking Prozac,
(after Zoloft wearing off with time),
for roughly a week, and am still having
some very low lows/mood swings, is it
possible that I may need to check in to
a hospital for mental illnesses? (I
have suffered with these symptoms all
of my life and I am really starting to
lose hope/give up...I have read
motivational books, listened to various
tapes, been to see multiple counselors,
and done my best on my own. I have
tried Paxil, Zoloft, and now Prozac,
and, still, can not seem to get a grip
on things for more than a few weeks at
very most.)
Thank you so much for any help at all
that you can possibly give me,
I truly appreciate it.
Dr. Heller's Answer:
1) "Stop Walking on Eggshells" is an
option. My books and video were
designed to be used by the individual
with the BPD and their loved ones as it
explains the disorder well.
2) The best thing that can happen for
family members is to get the
neurological symptoms under control and
for them to understand that it's an
illness, not the person. When an
individual with the BPD is feeling
sweet, kind and loving - that's who
they are. The rest is a neurological
disorder and poor psychological
defenses.
3) Prozac alone is rarely enough.
Making all the treatable diagnoses
(http://www.BiologicalUnhappiness.com/screen.htm)
and treating them
comprehensively is crucial as
everything we have wrong with us makes
everything else we have wrong worse.
The Prozac/Tegretol combination is
usually the most useful for the BPD.
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