Getting Started

[kajabace]

Hello,
My therapist  who does EMDR recommended me to your sight. I have used Facebook & Instagram, but truth I have never used a sight like this before. How does one choose where to start? I'm a 40 yr old women who  has  mild cerebral palsy , a small seizure disorder and borderline personality disorder. It's been a lonely journey through  life. The BPD has been a result of childhood trauma. I believe that for my own survival there have been horrible things that have happened to me (sexually) that I have block out of my  memory.
Inorder to keep myself going I take care of  a group of neighborhood goats. And I do some office work for a neighbor.
Thanks,
Kaja

[Three Roses]

Hello and welcome, kajabace!

This community has been the first group I've been connected with that I can tell my experiences to, and be understood and accepted instead of being shunned or minimized. I'm in my 60s and was diagnosed with PTSD about six years ago. It certainly answered a lot of questions for me. I've been in and out of therapy since my 30s but this is the first time I have felt like my recovery has progressed any measurable amount.

Thanks for joining, glad you're here.

[Blueberry]

Welcome to the forum, kajabace 

I've moved your post over to this board so that more current members can see you're new!

[Not Alone]

Kaja,
Welcome to OOTS. I hope you feel less lonely on your journey as you read what others have posted and as you share according to your comfort level.

[Kizzie]

Hi and a warm welcome to OOTS Kajabace   

I noticed you mentioned having BPD and wondered if you're aware it's not quite the same thing as Complex PTSD (although there are similarities)?  I ask b/c trauma survivors are often misdiagnosed as having BPD when what we really have is Complex PTSD.  It may be something you want to clarify w/your T and for yourself b/c BPD is a personality disorder and CPTSD is a stress disorder and the treatment for each differs. 

Here's an excerpt from a research article about this:

BPD is characterized by fear of abandonment, shifting self-image or self-concept, shifting idealization and devaluation in relationships, and frequent impulsive and suicidal behaviors" whereas in Complex PTSD "the fear of abandonment is not a requirement of the disorder, self-identify is consistently negative rather than shifting, and relational disturbances highlight chronic avoidance of relationships rather than sustained chaotic engagement.

Reference:  Cloitre, M., Garvert, D., Weiss, B., Carlson, E. & Bryant, R. (2014). Distinguishing PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder: A latent class analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5.

There's also some discussion about the similarities and differences here.

I hope this is helpful 

[kajabace]

         bonding and feeling excepted  by strangers behind a keyboard. It has seemed like it has worked for you. I am willing to give it a shot.
         I have studied social work so I am aware of  the clinical terms one can get diagnosed with. I have been but in 100 different  boxes. As  I mentioned I was  referred to this sight by by an EMDR therapists. I think he may be using both diagnosis for me. I once learned a very important message  that the term Diagnosis means 2 people don't know. wouldn't it be lovely if we were just people.

[Boatsetsailrose]

Hi you are starting in the right place it seems ! There is no right way . i just looked around the site at a manageable pace for me and felt my way with it ...posting where i felt i wanted to

[kajabace]

Thanks Boatsetsailrose ,
I've been  going back and forth about  peer therapy groups. Truth I end up feeling like I get corrected for others mistakes.  I won't give up on this sight  yet. Thanks for responding to my second segment of this thread.
From, Kaja

[Jdog]

Hi, kajabase-

Welcome.  I wanted to respond to the bit about diagnoses.  One reason I (and probably others) do not always find diagnoses 100% credible or helpful is that here in the United States at least so much is based upon what insurance companies will reimburse therapists for in treating patients.  So since CPTSD still isn't in the DSM as a "thing" in and of itself, many times it is not listed as a condition in a someone's file.

Not even sure this applies or is even of help, just my 2 cents worth.  Oh, and I love goats and am smiling thinking of you tending the herd.  How wonderful!

[BeeBeen]

Welcome, I am new here too

[kajabace]

JDog,
the remark about insurance is right on. For  me people forget that I have CP so all else doesn't matter sometimes. I sometime think I need therapist more hours in this week....than I go to the goats and realize I am ok.

[Jdog]

  to goats and finding some peace.

[Blueberry]

  for the goats. They seem to have a good effect on you. So you've found some of what you need anyway. That's resilience.

[kajabace]

 
silly question? Is this peer therapy worth doing. I wrote an inquire looking for feedback. Someone moved it somewhere else and I don't think anyone saw it. Does won wait for days? or do  people make friends  in smaller groups,

[Three Roses]

Hmm... I think I saw that question but I didn't understand it. I looked it up just now and I still really don't understand the question....sorry 

Peer therapy, is that like group therapy? I am kind of interested in group therapy but there are no options where I live...