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Bipolar Disorder/How to tell if someone has BPD

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Expert: - 5/12/2006


Question
My girlfriend and I have been together for over 2 years and have a 10 month old son together.  During that time there have been more ups and downs than I can count or remember.  She has been seen by several psychologists and psychiatrists in the past for her turbulent mood swings and have been on several medications, her most recent being zyprexa.  Recently she had gotten upset about something I did and she blew it so out of proportion that it ended up with me going to jail for domestic assault even though I would and could never strike her or any other woman.  A therapist that we have seen together recommended books on Borderline Personality Disorder, and everything in these books remind me of her.  Now my other half gets extremely upset whenever I mention that I'm reading a book on BPD or that she's showing tendencies of BPD.  I try not to speak in a way that belittles her, but she takes it that way.  Now she's insisting that she will not go back to the Psychologist we are currently seeing until I start reading books about her "real" disorder. (Bi-Polar)  Is it possible, or is it even something that I should be attempting to do, to open her mind enough to read one of these books or be evaluated by a doctor for BPD.  

Answer
Hello David,

You seem to be in an extremely difficult situation. I do think this needs to be  handled by a counsellor.  All I can say that I look upon these kinds of problems from a biological point of view, rather than a psychological point of view.

Most people with extreme mood swings are found to be hypoglycemic. This is an illness related to the absorption and metabolism of the sugars we eat. This is the source of out biological energy. If we lack this energy or if we have unstable supplies of this energy we will experience wild mood swings.

The trouble can be overcome by going on a hypoglycemic diet.

Please read:

What is Hypoglycemia? at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/what_is_hypo.html

“The Serotonin Connection” at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/serotonin_connection.html

Depression: a Disease of Energy Production at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/depression_energy.html

and discuss this with a therapist.

Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych), Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr.
Author of "Getting off the Hook" (Google Book Search)
For more free articles
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au  

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

Have worked as a psychotherapist for overv twenty years, dealing with many personality disorders

Experience

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Organizations
Editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia. Its web site is at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Publications
Author of the book "Getting off the Hook", It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Health Association's Newsletters

Education/Credentials
BA (Psych) (University of Sydney), Post Gad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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