QUESTION:

Dear Dr. Heller,

My niece has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and drinks water until she vomits. She is being referred to Stanford/SF and I was wondering if you knew of a good physician there that specializes in this?

ANSWER:

I do not know anyone at any of the Stanford campuses.

You, your niece and the rest of your family need to take charge of her care. This website, other websites, and my books can be of enormous assistance to you.

Please do the screening test for additional information. You can tell her that she’s drinking the extra water and vomiting like a drug to treat dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression, despair). She’s correct in that she clearly needs a drug to treat this horrible sensation, and that safer alternatives are available.