Lying, Cheating, Part of BPD?

Written by Dr. Leland Heller

QUESTION:

My 17 year old sister was diagnosed with BPD about two-three months ago. She has always had a problem with feeling left out and pitching hissy fits worse than my 4 year daughter does. I don't know much of anything about this disorder but I do know that my parents blame themselves and ever since she was diagnosed she has been worse and I think she is playing guilt games on my parents. If someone tells her "NO" for any reason at all, she starts pulling her hair and throws herself on the floor and screams that she hates us all and we are the ones that make her crazy. She has only gotten this bad since the doctors said she had BPD. Is this how people with BPD act. My father is falling for her games and neither am I. My mom lets her do whatever she wants now and if she killed someone tomorrow my mom would just say ok, it'll be alright. She steals, lies, cheats, runs off. Is this part of it?

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

There's more going on here than just the BPD. Stealing, lying, and cheating are not the BPD. She's likely very, very angry at some individuals, possibly her parents.

She needs medications ASAP! This is particularly so since she is still a minor and has no choice. Individuals like her that I see as patients usually see a miracle in a week by taking Prozac first and adding Tegretol a week later. Her entire situation needs to be evaluated, and she definitely needs counseling.

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