Real Name: Susan Stewart Member Since: March 14, 2006 Last Signed In: May 25, 2008 Profile Views: 27 Blog Views: 316 More on Budgets Cuts The Cost of Illness My World In Texas Where's a Family Member to Go? Is Recovery Possible? What Do You Fear? Welcome to My World March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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Is Recovery Possible?
I thought it might be good to give you some details about our situation. My son is 26. He was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and paranoia when he was 21. He was diagnosed in a military hospital, but the diagnosis has been confirmed by other doctors as well. (Please no comments about military service and mental illness. In his case, the two are unrelated.) He became symptomatic when he was 13. My husband and I can point to one incident and say, "That was the beginning." We had no clue to his radically changed behavior and no one we sought help from ever mentioned the possiblity of a mental illness. What a difference in our lives it would have been to have an earlier diagnosis. When he was initially disagnosed, he went to a psychologist because he was under orders to do so. Once discharged, though, he said he could handle it himself. It wasn't until last year that he sought treatment. He has noticed the change in his life. He has taken the first steps on the road to recovery. The road to recovering from a mental illness is not easy, and it is so different from any other illness. Some people are able to navigate the journey with few difficulties. For others it is a continuous up and down roller coaster of relapses and re-starts. We have already seen some relapse and re-start. It's our hope that he won't become discouraged and quit the journey.
4 comments from 4 users
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posted by
blognroll
on Mar 28, 2008 at 01:50 PM
With this particular disorder, a cure can only take place in incremental baby steps and sometimes you end up taking one step forward and two (maybe even three or four) back. As a psychologist, I see the anguish in the faces of parents whose children suffer from this disorder. It takes a lot of courage to face something like this, but it involves team effort and the whole family needs lots of support to endure this battle. I commend you for raising this issue. It needs to be a topic that's out in the open. Best wishes to your son and to the whole family. posted by
bakobornnraised
on Mar 28, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I developed Anorexia two years ago. Although it appears to be a physical disorder, it affects my mental stability in more ways than one. At first, I had weekly visit with a Psychologist and Nutrtition, but that just aided stress into my already busy schedule. Then I spent 42 days in a treatment facility in Los Angeles- the worst month of my life. Today, two years later, I hate to say that I still suffer but am in no means where I was then. I am eating six meals a day, get A's in college, and have a great job. Mentally I stress over meals, over calories, over wieght, over everything it seems like. With all the various types of treatments I have recieved, I have come to learn that the biggest success to my recovery is family and their love. As long as you have those two elements, the road seems much shorter. For me, I live my life everyday with my parents-two people who think completely differently than I do and it's hard because no one understands my disorder but me. Everyday I wake up and ask myself the question you ask, "Is recovery possible?"...and everyday, some harder than others, my family looks out for me. Recovery is possible with determination and the support of loved ones.
posted by
OldBlue56
on Mar 28, 2008 at 02:19 PM
skstewart, does you ADULT son know you are sharing these personal details all over the internet? posted by
skstewart
on Mar 29, 2008 at 06:12 AM
OldBlue56 asked an appropriate and important question. I should have noted it in my blog.
Yes, he does know that I share these personal details. Our family believes that if being open and vulnerable will help others, go for it. Thank you for pointing that out.
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