QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I am curious to know your opinion as to whether borderline personality disorder can develop from or be linked to a chronic pain syndrome?
I have suffered from chronic pain for thirty years, and in that time I have found myself becoming dependent upon authority figures (doctors), fearful of the future (more pain?), self-deprecating (apologizing for not being able to keep up with others like I used to ), projecting the worst (will everyone abandon me as they get sick and tired of hearing about my health?), and so on.
If so, can cognitive therapy help?
ANSWER:
I've never encountered a person who developed the BPD from chronic pain, but it
seems reasonable that this can happen.
You absolutely should see a therapist, and cognitive therapy will likely be extremely
helpful. I'd also strongly recommend that whatever psychiatric diagnoses are present
get treated.
