Quote From: tammyo1973DID and MPD?
My daughter s 14 and was sexually abused for 2 years before she told a therapist. She has been diagnosed first with MDD (major depressive disorder) they put her on zoloft and she went manic so was dx with bipolar disorder. post traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Recently I was told that she has symptoms of borderline personality disorder but cannot be officailly diagnosed as our pdoc doesn't like to diagnose a teen with that because the brain is still developing. Anyways to make a long story short... I wonder how many of these illnesses are actually the effect of abuse? Would she have bipolar had she not been abused?
I am learning everyday about her and what sets her off. What the triggers are. I finally realized after 2 years that rubbing her arm to wake her up sets her off. I figured it out. The abuse took place while she was sleeping, probably started with him caressing her or something anways it is a huge trigger. Now I just poke her. Also wispering to her sets her off, maybe he wispered to her while she was sleeping I am not sure as I do not bring these things up. I just learn from my mistakes and figure out different ways of doing things so nto to trigger her. It is almost liek walking on eggshells because you never know what you say, where you take her, etc will bring back a memory.
I hope to be able to figure this all out and help her become a great individual as she grows up.
Thanks for listening... sorry my question turned into rambling
Tammy
Hi Tammy I think in answer to your question, is it hereditary or the effect of abuse? I have seen both. I was recently told though (as i have been diagnosed with BPD too) that 80% of BPD have experienced from mild to severe sexual abuse. On the other hand my mum has lived with Schizophrenia and her past suggests that she was more vulnerable to this illness as a result of traumatic experiences in her past.
As a survivor and now a Family Advocate for people with mental health issues, I have seen that aside from the labels we are given, we most importantly need support (unconditional), HOPE, knowledge and as always tons of love.
I know that the healing is a journey of self awareness, forgiveness (of self & perpetrator), acceptance & growth.
The journey for me of counselling,cognitive therapy and heaps of reading,also short self development courses, has taken 6 years so far , but I now have more good days than before. I cope with memories more constructively & I can see & feel a future.
And as for your rambling we all need to ramble at times, It's good for us....
What you are doing for your daughter is so wonderfully caring, but also remember to care for you too
God Bless .... And may both of your journeys bring understanding & inner strenghth
