[iamzack]

Drugs probably wouldn't help your sister as much as just having someone to confide in would. Which, a psychologist might be good for. Sometimes they're competent and give good advice.

[Dilmah G]

Well my sister also abuses the hell out of my mum (which I step in and stop whenever I'm around, much to her disapproval), so I'm not sure how much confiding goes on these days.

[Mongoose]

There was a time in the very recent past when I would have scoffed at the very idea of psychiatry in general, even if it was to my own detriment.  Recent proceedings that I'm not entirely sure I want to elaborate on in this particular setting have rendered that viewpoint pretty much obsolete.  There are professionals out there who know what your brain's up to better than you yourself do, and there are ways of getting help if you need it, whether via therapy, medication, or some combination of the two.  Dilmah, if there's any possible way you can think of, talk to someone about what's going on.

[Kazan]

i missed the original post.. but is your sister self harming?



in fact



Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, DSM IV-TR, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders, defines borderline personality disorder (in Axis II Cluster B) as:[2][16]

    A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, as well as marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

       1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5
       2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
       3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
       4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., promiscuous sex, eating disorders, binge eating, substance abuse, reckless driving). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5
       5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats or self-injuring behavior such as cutting, interfering with the healing of scars (excoriation) or picking at oneself.
       6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
       7. Chronic feelings of emptiness
       8. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
       9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation, delusions or severe dissociative symptoms



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderline_personality_disorder


if she is a strong match for this then i would suggest finding a therapist that knows what the STEPPS program is (And the said therapist will most likely refer to the condition as Emotional Intensity Disorder).   your sister also needs to be ready to change.

[Dilmah G]

She admitted to self-harming tonight.

And she matches >5 of those. (9,8,7,6,5,3). My mum says she's got a doc for tomorrow, so I assume she'll be referred to a psych sometime during the appointment.

[Davros]

At the age of 7 my son developed a habit of running around in circles why screaming his head off, this would continue for several hours.
In the end I got fed up of his behavior and said to him if you don't stop it I will nail your other foot to the floor. 

[perihelion]

 

That was in poor taste.  I've heard it before, and I thought it was in poor taste then too.  But really; in a thread about someone who is genuinely hurting and in need of help?

[iamzack]

Enough teenagers self harm that it makes me wonder why it's not considered a normal coping mechanism.

[Nuke]

Enough teenagers self harm that it makes me wonder why it's not considered a normal coping mechanism.

yea probably, but i wouldn't go so far as calling it normal. though it does seem to have become more common in the last few years (i blame the emo movement).

[Herra Tohtori]

She admitted to self-harming tonight.

And she matches >5 of those. (9,8,7,6,5,3). My mum says she's got a doc for tomorrow, so I assume she'll be referred to a psych sometime during the appointment.

Based on what you said about her both confiding in and abusing your mother, I would say that

2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

Might be close as well.

I hope she can get and receive the help she needs.

[iamzack]

Avoid the borderline label if you can. It only makes finding a good doctor harder.

[Nuke]

i only have all of the symptoms of that particular disorder. but getting help is damn near impossible without insurance or doing something rather drastic.

[Dilmah G]

* Dilmah G head-desks.

My mum knew my sister was self harming the entire year, and didn't tell me, or my father, or anyone about it. And she believed all the half-assed lies my sister told her to cover up everything. ****, I'm mad.

[Nuke]

self harming is harmless. i find simple things like gravity (that gash i got falling down the stairs at my sister's place a month ago still hasnt healed 100%), or work related forces such as swinging a hammer/axe/pic, or screw ups with the soldering iron to cause way bigger wounds on accident and with greater frequency than actually trying to hurt yourself. then i started drawing pictures with blood. like pentagrams and band logos and stick figures having sex.

[General Battuta]

Just in case it's not clear, ignore Nuke.

[Dilmah G]

Got it, man.

[Nuke]

are you serious, pain is the new orgasm