What Can I Do to Make Me Feel Better?

Written by Dr. Leland Heller

QUESTION:

I'm 20 years old. I was told I had BPD about a year ago. I had been going to a therapist and taking Paxil, then they changed it to Effexor and also Risperidol. But everything that I have been trying doesn't help me at all. For the past almost 3 years I have been so depressed that I can't seem to go to school or get a job and keep it all I really want to do is

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stay at home or go out with my friends. I have mood swings all the time one minute I'm happy and then the next I'm so sad and thinking about suicide. I also was cutting my self but I don't do it that much anymore. I really want help and I don't know what to do. I want to know how to get on with my life because I don't want to stay in my house forever. Please can you tell me why none of these things have helped? I am currently not on any medications or going to therapy and my parents have basically given up on me and are throwing me out of the house. I just want to know what I can do to try to make me feel better.

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

Getting on the right medications is the key. All the diagnoses must be made and the treatment approach must be comprehensive.

Some individuals and the literature say Effexor is very effective for the BPD, but that hasn't been my experience. High doses are usually necessary, but side effects and cost become a problem at those doses.

Risperdal is very effective as a crisis medication, but I haven't found it to be particularly useful on a regular basis.

Paxil is a fair second choice after Prozac.

I encourage you to read as much as possible on this website. Not only does your suffering not have to continue, but you can have a great life.

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