Post by Mea on Dec 23, 2015 5:44:09 GMT
If you think you have BPD, and you’re planning on getting a professional diagnosis, there are a few things you can do. First of all, Finding the Right Therapist. You want to make sure you find someone who is willing to listen to your concerns and is respectful of your research. In many cases, therapists find it helpful when patients have done homework! The more you know, the quicker they can do their job and get your treatment ready. Recovery take team effort, and you and your therapist are partners on that team.
Something you may want to do is keep a mood diary for a week or two and keep track of your moods to show your therapist. This way they can know how rapid your moods are and the nature of them. Be sure to include what triggered your moods, if they were triggered (or mention “no trigger” if not). Include how you dealt with the mood.
For a lot of people, I also recommend filling out the Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist and rating each symptom listed on a scale of 1 - 5, 5 being the most severe. You can fill out the checklist and hand it to your therapist or other mental health professional to communicate your symptoms and the severity at which you experience them.
You can also have someone close to you fill out the checklist for you and see how it compares with yours. Sometimes, your loved ones will notice symptoms you don’t.
Also, keep in mind that even if you don’t get a diagnosis, you don’t need the label to get treatment for your symptoms. Anyone can benefit from therapy, and you don’t need to be “sick enough” to deserve help. Try not to be afraid of whether or not you get a diagnosis. You can still receive treatment for your symptoms, and if you have a good therapist, they will work with you to get a treatment which works best for you.
-Mea
Something you may want to do is keep a mood diary for a week or two and keep track of your moods to show your therapist. This way they can know how rapid your moods are and the nature of them. Be sure to include what triggered your moods, if they were triggered (or mention “no trigger” if not). Include how you dealt with the mood.
For a lot of people, I also recommend filling out the Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist and rating each symptom listed on a scale of 1 - 5, 5 being the most severe. You can fill out the checklist and hand it to your therapist or other mental health professional to communicate your symptoms and the severity at which you experience them.
You can also have someone close to you fill out the checklist for you and see how it compares with yours. Sometimes, your loved ones will notice symptoms you don’t.
Also, keep in mind that even if you don’t get a diagnosis, you don’t need the label to get treatment for your symptoms. Anyone can benefit from therapy, and you don’t need to be “sick enough” to deserve help. Try not to be afraid of whether or not you get a diagnosis. You can still receive treatment for your symptoms, and if you have a good therapist, they will work with you to get a treatment which works best for you.
-Mea