BPD and Therapy

Written by Dr. Leland Heller

QUESTION:

I have been diagnosed BPD and I also was a crack user. I cleaned up for a while through NA on advice from my therapist. My psychiatrist put me on Trazodone (100mg at bedtime) I was doing okay . But recently I was terminated from My psychologist therapist abruptly (because of behaviors) and I am just completely devastated use drugs again (but want to stop) I go to NA but I was wondering if a different medication is needed because its doing nothing to help my crisis of having lost this therapist I saw her 3 times a week for a year and it seemed she was as intense as I was at times (she became teary and she allowed me to hug her and when I relapsed she slammed the door on me and the next session apologized saying she was selfish and she had gotten used to working with me too.

I saw her for the next 7 wks. and went to drug treatment staying in telephone contact w/her weekly for 4 wks.) she promised I could come back to HER. Then she terminated me because I was anxious to see her and she cancelled an appt w/ me. on my scheduled first appt back with her. She transferred me to a LCSW who proceeded to tell me I was "lousy at relationships" So I was terminated from him and the whole facility & am still looking for a therapist many won't take me I. ( I know this is too long .) Any way am I getting the right medication or should I be taking other stuff? I hate where I am at right now so depressed so much in pain that I am finding myself unable to function except for the most simple things I can't even clean my house I had to drop summer classes at the college (I am in my 40s) Please tell me your suggestions I am tired of hurting.

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

First of all you are very treatable. Trazodone will do very little for treating the BPD. There is ample information on medications for the BPD in this website. I recommend you read my instructions for patients - it explains what I use and why. The right combination of medications is generally miraculous.

Most importantly you need all your diagnoses made and everything treated comprehensively. You are probably treating medical diagnoses with the wrong drug - crack cocaine. Attention deficit disorder is a definite possibility.

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