Lived Experience Forum

[Bubbles3]

does anyone else have cluster B. 

what are your thoughts about it.

how long have you had it for

how do you cope 

[MaryMahem]

Hey.

I have BPD that was diagnosed early this year, but suspected by me for many years.  I'm 45 and I believe I have had this since my teens.  Now I have a name (and label) for it, I'm not sure that it helps, but it does help to know I'm not jusy generally crazy, that there is an identifiable illness.  Not may people know about personality disorders so it is hard to talk to anyone about it.

I am finding it diffcult to get the help that I need.  I am too old, too poor and in the wrong suburb.  If I lived 5kms south or 25kms north there would be free/cheap help available.  So, I'm a little cynical.

Luckily there are people on here who have had many positive experiences with treatment and self-care and I would seek their advice (and I will "listen" in too)!

Is this a recent diagnosis?  Are you able to get some help?

[BambiFawn]

dear @Bubbles3,
Hey how's beautiful Gizmo, your sweet birdie?
Hope he is learning to say a few words.
I also hope your Psychologist is really nice. Remember if you don't have a connection with them, you can always be referred to another one.
All the best with your treatment dear lovely Bubbles.

[Maggie]

Hi @Bubbles3 Have you looked at the info about it on the top left hand of this page. Mental health and illness. I thought it might help with some basic info. I don't have BPD but do have DID and found the info really good.

[BambiFawn]

@Maggie.

Hey, no I don't have a personality disorder dear Maggie.  But the info would be interesting to read.

I was just trying to give some support to @Bubbles3. 

Hugs and God bless

[Phoenix_Rising]

Hi @Bubbles3,

I have BPD. I was diagnosed in 1996. I am very ok with having BPD and passionate about breaking down the stigma around it. I don't really subscribe to the medical model of mental illness, particularly as it relates to BPD. Instead, I tend to conceptualise things more in a trauma-based framework. For me, the issues I have which earnt me the label of BPD are a normal reaction to an abnormal situation, rather than an "illness" as such. This is just my view and I respect that others hold different views.

The most useful thing I've ever done was work through the DBT skills training manual. I see no point in spending thousands of dollars on a DBT program when I could buy the manual for less than the cost of a single therapy session. @CheerBear and I are about to start working through the manual together-but-not. We just need to have a bit of a think about how to best do that in Forum Land. You are extemely welcome to join us if you want to.

[Bubbles3]

That would be good @Phoenix_Rising. I would love to join in. I have done dbt work but mostly have bought books to read through and i get more out of that.

I was first diagnosed with bpd a few years ago but a few months i was diagnosed with cluster B.

Where do i look for the info @magie

[Phoenix_Rising]

Hi @Bubbles3,

I am hoping to have time over the weekend to think about how we might best set up a thread to work through the DBT skills training manual, so I will keep you posted on that upcoming adventure.

I'm not sure what you mean about being diagnosed with cluster B. BPD is one of several personality disorders that are classified as a cluster B personality disorder. Thus, you don't really get diagnosed with cluster B in addition to BPD, but rather BPD (and several other personality disorders) fall under the category of cluster B. Does that make sense?

[Bubbles3]

well first i dignosed with BPD and then i was dignosed Cluster b which has it in it.

[Bubbles3]

which means i have the other 3 in it too @Phoenix_Rising