Alcoholism and BPD

[madison1101]

I am a former borderline, and current alcoholic. I have been in therapy and AA since 1989, when I first started psychotherapy, and was confronted by my therapist of my need to be in AA. My therapist and I have been together since then, and I have learned, the hard way, that I must stay sober and work my AA program in order to keep my borderline traits at bay. During my last relapse, I acted out terribly, and really crashed and burned big time.

I was wondering if there were any other people who are dually diagnosed.

Trish

 

[ThunderStormGirl]

Hi : )

I'm diagnosed as borderline......I can't remember whether I was actually "diagnosed" with alcoholism but it's been pretty obvious. (I no longer drink, though, and I remember why that's so necessary when I slip up.)

I'm sorry to hear about the troubles you've had.....I can remember when I still drank and it was a VERY bad combination. It made my life....or I should say "I" made my life quite miserable until I stayed away from alcohol.

I hope that everything is going better for you now. One thing that is super hard for me is moving on after I've "acted out," become destructive to myself, or basically done anything I really regret, once I've got myself together again. But it's all you can do is pick yourself up, move on, and try not to be hard on yourself.

~Sarah

 

[madison1101]

Thanks for the reply, and the encouragement. Yes, when I slip up with any acting out behaviors, it is hard not to beat myself up.

I find that I must participate in AA meetings and work the 12 steps in order to stay sober, and get better. Do you attend AA also?

Hugs,
Trish

 

[julado]

I was diagnosed BPD some years ago and each day I manage to stay well without any medication....its part of my addiction - not to become addicted to anything....if that makes sense.

However I have spent the last year with a man I love to bits...he is also BPD and an alcoholic.....he is abusive and aggressive and yesterday I took all of the things he has at my home back to his and dumped them on the living room floor....his home I might add here resembles a war zone....doors kicked off their hinges....cans and bottles littering the kitchen....no-where to sit down because of all the mess.

He got angry with me and was violent.....but I walked away and last night once again he littered his facebook account with abusive filth about me and our relationship.

And this man calls himself a Christian.....and tells me he wants to stop drinking. I don't think so!!!!!

Praying isn't enough and Lord knows how much he has had of that.....actions speak louder than words. He has to want to truly give up the drink....but he doesn't want to.

I just hope God forgives me for walking away from him....I cannot support him any more.

 

[spd63]

God always forgives us.

 

[madison1101]

I was diagnosed BPD some years ago and each day I manage to stay well without any medication....its part of my addiction - not to become addicted to anything....if that makes sense.

However I have spent the last year with a man I love to bits...he is also BPD and an alcoholic.....he is abusive and aggressive and yesterday I took all of the things he has at my home back to his and dumped them on the living room floor....his home I might add here resembles a war zone....doors kicked off their hinges....cans and bottles littering the kitchen....no-where to sit down because of all the mess.

He got angry with me and was violent.....but I walked away and last night once again he littered his facebook account with abusive filth about me and our relationship.

And this man calls himself a Christian.....and tells me he wants to stop drinking. I don't think so!!!!!

Praying isn't enough and Lord knows how much he has had of that.....actions speak louder than words. He has to want to truly give up the drink....but he doesn't want to.

I just hope God forgives me for walking away from him....I cannot support him any more.

Leaving an abusive relationship requires no forgiveness on anyone's part. It is called survival.

I take psychotropic medication. I also work in a psychiatric hospital. There is a huge difference between taking medication prescribed by a psychiatrist who monitors symptoms and dosages, and abusing drugs and alcohol. People who need psychotropic medication usually are lacking some necessary chemicals in the brain, and the medications help with that. What typically happens in dually diagnosed people is that we start abusing drugs and alcohol before learning of our mental health issues because we are self-medicating the psychiatric symptoms.

I liken it to a diabetic taking insulin. The body does not produce the insulin in the proper amounts, so it has to be administered. My brain does not produce certain necessary chemicals that help me remain stable, so I take the meds that the doc gives me. I discuss the symptoms with him regularly and we adjust accordingly.

Thanks for your reply.