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Suggest Treatment For Personality Disorder

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Posted on Thu, 30 Jun 2016
Question: Following on from our conversations a couple of days ago, I am aware that people who have been diagnosed with personality disorders are well known to have difficulties in relationships and as a result of this, relationships they tend to enter can and often are turbulent/unstable rocky. Due to suffering with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, I really could do with finding a way to stabilise my relationship with my partner/getting on with him better more frequently. I know every relationship has its ups and downs, but having been diagnosed with personality disorder, I seem to have more downs than ups and more downs more frequently than people without a personality disorder.

I have been told that I carry a lot of anger in my head these days towards people in my past and the way they treated me. I definitely agree with this, subsequently I feel I have a lot of work to do to work on that anger/or at least manage it better when dealing with interactions around people now.

It has been suggested that I have something called Reactive Attachment Disorder. Have you heard of this diagnosis? If you have, knowing what you know so far regarding my mental health issues, do you think they are correct and there is a possibility that I have got it? What do you know about this diagnosis? Sorry to ask you so many questions.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Private Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX I'm very glad to hear from you.

First to your question about reactive attachment disorder. This is a pediatric psychiatric diagnosis, so does not currently apply to you. You may have had it as a child, but the superceding diagnoses you now carry as an adult are borderline and dependent personality disorders.

I can certainly help you manage problems in your current relationships. There are two parts to this. First, as you already know, getting a better grip on intense emotional experiences in childhood and early life helps us understand the patterns that you have since developed in interacting with people. By examining these patterns and applying it to current specific relationship problems, you can act with more rational knowledge about yourself in place.

Tell me more about your childhood, particularly your parents and your relationships with them.

Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (15 hours later)
As I was adopted at age 5 (on my 5th birthday) I don't actually know a lot about my biological parents. I know they have two other children, my younger brother and sister.

My Mum found the process of giving me up extremely distressing/upsetting; subsequent to this my Dad had to deal with a lot of the meetings/conversations with the authorities. I have also fairly recently been led to believe that my Mum's Mum had something to do with my parent's giving me up for adoption. Not sure about the details of this as Dad hasn't given me any details and as I can only imagine this is still a very distressing time for either Mum or Dad to revis, I don't want to push the questioning if I don't have to.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Private Followup

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for this information, it really helps me get to know your situation better. I totally agree that digging into the details of why you were given up for adoption is not all that necessary, and might even do more harm than good. I'm actually more interested in your upbringing from the people who were involved in your care. I'm guessing you had adoptive parents? What were they like?

Dr. Sheppe
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2014

Answered : 2236 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Personality Disorder

Brief Answer: Private Consultation Detailed Answer: Hello again XXXXXXX I'm very glad to hear from you. First to your question about reactive attachment disorder. This is a pediatric psychiatric diagnosis, so does not currently apply to you. You may have had it as a child, but the superceding diagnoses you now carry as an adult are borderline and dependent personality disorders. I can certainly help you manage problems in your current relationships. There are two parts to this. First, as you already know, getting a better grip on intense emotional experiences in childhood and early life helps us understand the patterns that you have since developed in interacting with people. By examining these patterns and applying it to current specific relationship problems, you can act with more rational knowledge about yourself in place. Tell me more about your childhood, particularly your parents and your relationships with them. Dr. Sheppe