Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment?
I’ve been diagnosed as being Bipolar and also having traits of Borderline Personality Disorder. I’ve been hospitalized six times over a period of six months and have nearly given up hope of recovery. I just don’t feel like I’m getting anything out of counseling, or not enough. I’m surviving, but barely.
I’ve been doing lots of research the past few days, for treatment options for Borderline/Bipolar. One of the options I’ve found is a residential treatment center in Illinois. Instead of being a quick in-and-out like my previous six hospitalizations, this would be for a month or more with daily therapy and regular visits with the psychiatrist. It has a holistic approach that includes mind, body, spirit, emotions, and social relationships - all things I desperately need.
I guess I’m just trying to decide what to do and needed to be able to get it out. I’m hoping that maybe if I can get into the program and learn how to live, I might be able to better deal with the junk in my life. One thing I like especially is that they offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (in other words, counseling using horses). I love all sorts of animals, but especially horses. As much as I want to get better, I’m still hesitant, I know how much work it will be and it would be sooo much easier just to stay in bed and hide. It is going to be long, painful, and difficult. Part of me is scared.
Anyone been in a facility like this? What was your experience? Anyone willing to take a look at the facility and tell me your opinion? The web site is http://www.timberlineknolls.com/
Posted in psychotherapy office
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August 10th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
This looks to me like an excellent place, with an ethos and approach that I would thoroughly recommend. My ONLY concern is how long you’d be able to stay. This sort of work really needs a long-term approach, so if you were financially not able to stay as long as needed (which is likely to be several months, at least), I’d want to ask how they help you establish a post-discharge programme, building on what you have achieved while a resident.
It IS scary, doing stuff like this that makes for real change. Your behaviour patterns aren’t just a whim - they’ve been a response to how you’ve experienced the world and are designed, in your internal understanding, to keep you safe. So it is absolutely bound to feel difficult, and there will always be a part of you that would rather hide away in bed. But I’m hearing a strong and healthy part of you that wants to recover and lead your life more fully - I hope you can let this part guide you through.
Wishing you all the very best - and if you do go, I’d love it if you told us about your experience….
August 10th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Hi - well, the facility sounds and looks lovely.
How EFFECTIVE is really is, when the patients return to real life, is quite another matter.
I think I would probably go into it with my eyes wide open, and treat it as a Retreat, not as a place where people can recover fully from mental illness through holistic approaches.
I don’t personally believe that the two illnesses you suffer from can be ‘cured’ fully and naturally and permanently, just through holistic approaches. Even with traditional meds and therapies, they will need reviewing and renewed care-plans made as you go through your life.
Wish you well; keep your expectations realistic about the facility. Good luck.