always swinging between self destruction and recovery

[offbalance]

i think I have BPD symptoms or some shit cuz I never know what I want. Yayyy any medications you have found that help with this? I've tried sertraline, Abilify, Effexor, risperidone, Prozac and haldol and nothing has helped so far

 

[MissAbyss]

Not knowing what you always or never want doesn't necessarily mean you have BPD symptoms. This could have many different underlying causes. Have you already followed therapies that specializes in the area of borderline personality disorder? Like, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), schema therapy, mentalization-based therapy (MBT) or transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP).

There is no specific medication for BPD, but meds can help manage depression, anxiety, mood swings and impulsivity. But they're best used alongside therapy, not as a replacement.

I could recommend giving Lexapro a try as it is one of the strongest SSRI's on the market, but it comes with a big warning! Preferable don't use it for years, taper off very slowly if you decide to stop, or switch immediately to another medication otherwise you will probably unlease hell due withdrawals.

 

[offbalance]

Not knowing what you always or never want doesn't necessarily mean you have BPD symptoms. This could have many different underlying causes. Have you already followed therapies that specializes in the area of borderline personality disorder? Like, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), schema therapy, mentalization-based therapy (MBT) or transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP).

There is no specific medication for BPD, but meds can help manage depression, anxiety, mood swings and impulsivity. But they're best used alongside therapy, not as a replacement.

I could recommend giving Lexapro a try as it is one of the strongest SSRI's on the market, but it comes with a big warning! Preferable don't use it for years, taper off very slowly if you decide to stop, or switch immediately to another medication otherwise you will probably unlease hell due withdrawals.

No I haven't tried those therapies, just regular talk therapy. And you're right, not knowing what I want could just be a trauma response, not necessarily BPD. And I'll talk to my psychiatrist about Lexapro then. I also hear Lithium can help?

 

[flowerbomb]

as you saidy this feeling of having two opposite sides within you could also be trauma-related. Perhaps you could mention it in your therapy and ask what your therapist thinks about the BPD diagnose in your case?

 

[MissAbyss]

It is wisest to discuss one of the therapies with your psychiatrist first. Yes, it could also be trauma-related.

Lithium is very effective for mood stabilization.
It's mostly a standard treatment for bipolar disorder, especially mania and mood swings but it also can reduce depressive episodes when other medications aren't enough.

Lithium is one of the few medications proven to lower suicidal thoughts and behaviors, independent of its mood effects compared to Lexapro, where it actually increases the risk of suicidal thoughts. So this needs to be moderated well by a psychiatrist.

Cons of Lithium is that it requires regular blood monitoring for lithium levels, kidney function, thyroid function. It's also more prone to overdose or sudden level changes which can cause nasty side effects.

Which medication works best is ultimately a mather of trial and error, which can take quite some time.

I wish you the best of luck with the choice you make.