BPD Diagnosis with Alcohol and Drug Addiction

Written by Dr. Leland Heller

QUESTION:

My niece was recently diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. She is American Indian and has received care through the mental health clinic who felt she did not have a mental health problem and now the clinic has diagnosed her. She also has a water intoxication problem where she drinks water until she vomits. She takes HOT showers and drinks HOT water, not feeling the effect of the HOT water. She says it never burns her. She also has a history of alcohol and drug addiction since the age of 13 (now is 32), and has not had any for the past 6 months, but then the water problem started and she has been in the hospital and ER probably at least 10 times in the past 6 months. Does this go along with the borderline personality disorder?

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

Definitely. She should be evaluated and treated for this possibility before it gets worse.

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