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I used to have trouble remembering to take my meds but over the years it's gotten easier. I used to keep my meds in a locked toolbox to keep the kids out of them when they were still living at home. A few weeks ago I went to an arts and crafts store and got a cute tote to put them in, which I keep on the kitchen table. Out of sight out of mind, I guess.

I never thought about the fact that if I wasn't doing okay, I couldn't relapse... TRUTH

Hey Alex, I didn't get the answers to the riddles... The only thing that helps when I'm really in a bad way is my hubby asking what he can do to help. If I tell him that I need to be alone, he respects that. If I tell him I need him to just sit and chat, he does that too. I can't abide people asking me why I feel "that way" when I'm depressed.

October is also domestic violence awareness month and April is sexual assault awareness month

Did you have camera issues on this video?

I'd like to be able to leave my home without being in fear. Is like to go to a public place and not have the amount of people there be too overwhelming to stay.

Hi Cheryl, hi Alex! You two are such a lovely couple. You work together so we'll💚

Would the son be willing to have a therapy session with his parents? All of his parents, or maybe just his Mum? It could help. Talking to a teenager can be like beating a dead horse, but don't give up on him🙏

Being dismissed when it comes to our symptoms is maddening. You always hit the nail on the head, Alex

I'm so glad that you're getting alot of support on Twitter👌

You look a wee bit tired...

Another great post Alex. I'll DM you with a couple of suggestions

Kindness is a quality that seems lost on the world as a whole. Idk if there's any way to get things back on track. I hope that you & yours are well. Take care

Hey Alex, You're really progressing with each podcast you do. You speak clearly & deliberately while choosing how you phrase things carefully. Great job

Hey Alex, This was your best podcast to date. Very well thought out & well worded. It's obvious that you put alot of thought & work into it. I didn't know the criteria for being diagnosed with BPD until now. 5 outta 9, it makes sense. It's strange how a mental illness diagnosis can change over time, isn't it? Keep up the great work x

Thank you

Hi Sarah, I'm so glad that you did this guest vlog. It's ridiculous that it's a 2 yr wait for DBT but from what I understand the healthcare system is very different in the UK than here in the US. Our diagnoses are different but we still face the same struggles, don't we? BTW, you're so beautiful!

I also have a difficult time leaving my house alone. I schedule my appointments for my husband's day off. In May I drove myself to therapy once and in June I drove myself to physical therapy bcuz Rob got called into work. It wasn't easy, but I'm still here! It didn't kill me! There's such a big difference between pain we control (self harm) and pain outside of our control such as needles or cutting yourself on a broken glass. Needles don't bother me except for when they "fish" for a vein... particularly while placing an IV. I hope you've regained feeling in your hand

My go to when I'm having a difficult time is "I'm fine". I'm not on Facebook anymore and will never join again due to family drama. My brother Steve said t just block whoever I don't want to have access to my page but I prefer to just stay away from it. When I do become a patron, can you guarantee that you will not mention my name anywhere? Your shoutouts are great, I just prefer to stay in the shadows.

I have a mental picture now of you playing with your daughter and it's fabulous. 4 is such a fun age. This was one of my favorite videos to date

You'll always be you; just you with a diagnosis/label. It's nice to be able to put a name to what's going on with us. I'm fortunate that in the area I live in, there are so many resources for people with mental illness. I have a great support system, although I sometimes push them away. Take care of you

I was dx'd with bipolar a month after my 16th birthday. 3 months later, my psychiatrist changed it to bpd due to cutting. When I was 25 it was changed to schizoaffective disorder, in addition to the other dx's I have of PTSD, anxiety and agoraphobia. I've been on a slew of medications over the years. I'm on a great combination now, Vraylar, Venlafaxine ER, Clonazepam and the occasional Xanax. I'm 41 now and haven't cut since January 2017. Self care is something I suck at but have been working on. I have a great therapist, who I've only been seeing since February but is amazing. I've been seeing the same psychiatrist for 18yrs and she's amazing too. BTW, my daughter is a HUGE Dr Who fan! Take care.

It always brightens my day to watch your videos and listen to your podcasts. You should have Cheryl on the videos sometimes! ( Or podcasts, if she's camera shy)

Wow, it's amazing that you've lived in 3 countries! I've only lived in one country & 2 different states. I'm glad to see that you are wearing your glasses, you handsome devil

Keep it coming, your podcasts are great 🤗🤗🤗

Hey Alex, I was initially dx'd with bipolar disorder when I was 16. Borderline personality disorder when I was 17, due to the cutting. My current diagnoses are as follows: schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety, insomnia. I've had most of these since I was around 24/25yrs old. I'm now 41. It doesn't change who I am, it's just a label & labels aren't for people. Being dx'd with BPD won't change who you are, it'll just help the puzzle pieces fit better.

We're going to be in the 90's all week...idk if I consider that good or bad weather! Hey, at least it's not gonna rain... There are good days & bead, my good days haven't been as often as I'd like but also not as severe as they had been. (If that makes sense)

Hi Alex, how? I enjoyed your podcast and will keep an eye out for you on social media. Too bad we're so far away, I have so much to share with you. *BPD is not a death sentence.* *BPD (ONCE APPROPRIATELY TREATED) is not any big deal that warrants such an ominous introduction. *The symptoms listed are indicators of crooked opinions (namely about oneself, the world, and one's place in it) identifying one as requiring treatment. 👉🏿BPD symptoms are Not lifelong.👈🏿 ☝🏿IMHO, this fallacy serves only to strengthen the stigma surrounding BPD. If I may, *Get into DBT, 2-year therapy. ASAP. *You will find out what unfortunate parenting techniques contributed to the emotional disregulation portion of the disorder, and your eyes will be opened. *Prepare to become a master at controlling your emotions through the masterful control of your own thoughts. *Diagnosis or not, you'll eventually be the one totally holding it together under intense pressure. *Eureka! Explanations usher in healing. 👆🏿There are things that went improperly learned as the personality was developing. Now you get the do-over necessary for a normal life with yourself as your greatest support (rather than as a constant hindrance). *You will obtain tools to deal with everything. *You will hopefully learn how to develop your own tools, streamlined for your personal circumstances, based on DBT principles 👉🏿 omg, it does not get much better than that. Your therapist will surely agree. *BPD will be revealed as a ragged quilt of self-defeating beliefs (AND the resultant deep-seeded/seated, extremely self-limiting, destructive behaviours accompanying those erroneous beliefs). *You will be set free. IMPORTANT *Too late for you, you live out loud, but unfortunately I would NOT advise others to disclose this diagnosis publicly for risk of targeting. 👆🏿*Being completely comfortable in one's skin without reservation is key to well-being, however disclosure opens doors to bullying. Pray medical records are secured. *Excellent books, online ressources available. *One day at a time. 👉🏿Once familiar with the faulty thinking/reasoning patterns responsible for the behaviours, both can be forever changed. *BPD is NOT something to be struggled with.* (Eventually you won't even think about it, but improperly-informed onlookers may use it against you - not 'you' as a public figure, but Mr Everyman better be advised). *You will eventually so deeply integrate your tools, learning to immediately redirect unhealthy negative thoughts to those which honour and support you, thus transforming your emotions to healthy ones along with your relationships and your life. Best of everything to you 👍🏿 Your stuff appears well done, with social media links so neatly presented, it just spells "care taken" and is appreciated. P.S.: Popped back in for some most crucial points. *It is your responsibility to obtain the correct diagnosis. Continue to evaluate the BPD 'fit' with your partner, friends, and family. If not convinced, second and third opinions are in order. *NO MEDICATION EXISTS for BPD (inconveniently self-defeating coping strategies based on less than optimal thinking patterns & beliefs). *RUN 🏃🏿 from Anyone offering medication for what can only be resolved through 2 years of intensive dialectical behavioural therapy (which then resolves it For Life). *Also, we do not unnecessarily label any things. (This is just a day. I need not make it harder on myself by assigning descriptive labels designed to make myself feel anything difficult. This hill I climb is simply a hill, I need not define it as "steep;" I reach the top in no time flat, etc.) However Therapy may appear 👉🏿confrontational.👈🏿 Decades of defeatist thinking to be derailed. New and improved core beliefs to be eyed suspiciously, scoffed at, attempted, and finally established, cemented within. Those hopefully well-trained mental health professionals are there to help guide you. None are vilains. As you progress, you will be assisting them in group therapy, just as those almost done when you arrive will be doing. It's an awesome experience, challenging. Please, never give up during DBT. Once completed, you are *free*. 🕊 *Last one: don't be surprised to be recognizing BPD in many of those around you. Once you learn this BPD thingie, there are things you can no longer miss. Thank you.

When I first read the title, the first thing that came to mind was "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". My parents were boxing fans, particularly my Mom. I try to do something productive daily regardless of how small it is. It helps me feel like I'm contributing to society in some way. You made alot of valid points and I won't touch on them all but I appreciate what you do.🤗🤗🤗

Good stuff, very important.

Hi Cheryl, Alex and Hope! I've never personally been anorexic or bulimic. I went to other direction and I binge eat. Idk if that's an eating disorder or not. This was so very informative, thank you all for taking the time to upload this

Thank you for a look into your grey matter, it's all confusing to me bcuz I've never dealt with it personally. Alex, thank you for bringing awareness to eating disorders & mental illness in general

So many medications have multiple uses. Trazadone is used to help people sleep, but it's classified as an antidepressant. Amitriptyline is used for sleep and restless leg syndrome but is also classified as an antidepressant. Celexa and Lexapro are antidepressants but can help with anxiety. Clonodine is prescribed off label for kids with ADHD to help take their hyperness down a notch, it's not even a medication for mental health at all. It's for high blood pressure. I respect your opinion and what your doctor told you what Seroquel is for, and what you have read about it. I'm just saying that it's not a mood stabilizer it's an atypical antipsychotic.

Quetiapine isn't a mood stabilizer, it's an atypical antipsychotic. It's used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and can help with depression. I was on quetiapine for several years, 800mgs. I went off of it very slowly, down to 600mg for a week, 400mg for a week, 200mg for a week then 100mg for a week. I'm completely off it now, last Monday was my last day taking it. My psychiatrist put me on a low dose of Vraylar while I was ramping down on the quetiapine & increased the Vraylar once I was done. Yes, many meds for mental illnesses cause side effects. You have to weigh the benefits against the temporary (sometimes permanant) side effects. Atypical antipsychotics run the risk of tardive dyskinesia. That's a scary prospect. I think you need to learn a little more about the different classes of medications.

Hi Alex, how old are you? I was 34yrs old when my daughter was 16yrs old. I love watching your videos, they really lift my spirits. Idk if it's the accent or the pleasantness of your tone. I love the content of your podcasts. Can't wait to learn more about eating disorders! Have a great rest of your weekend

Hi Alex! Really enjoyed this podcast. I'm happy for you, Cheryl and the kiddos about moving from an apartment into a house, very exciting stuff. The kids are going to LOVE having a yard. Personally, the people who's approval/disapproval I care about are my hubby Rob, my daughter Alex, my son Cody, and my in-laws. I could give a shit less what anyone else thinks. Take care man

I missed your mug! I love your videos, you have such a pleasant voice and great content

I would love to see the rest of your shirt! Thank you for uploading this, every time I watch one of your videos I feel less alone in the fight with mental illness.

Psychiatric medication is not an exact science, it's a trial and error process. Everyone reacts differently to different meds. Therapy works only if you're completely open and willing to put in some hard work. I started seeing a new therapist a few months ago, she's actually a psychologist. To be perfectly honest, she's helped me more in that short time than any other therapist I've seen. I'm in the process of weaning off Seroquel and have started taking Vraylar. I also take effexor xr and Clonazepam. I take an occasional Xanax. I take many more needs, but we'll leave out the ones for my physical illnesses. Alex, I appreciate what you do. I find it so helpful and think it's amazing how you put yourself out there. Take care

Diagnosed depressed and went to therapy w/antidepressants for 2 yrs. Still felt awful. Saw psychiatrist who diagnosed ms bipolar. Went on meds. Felt so much better. Quit therapy. Still have symptoms, but can function much better.

cool I'm the 20th sub this video is actually accurate I'd say I've had ppl try to guilt trip me into stopping self harming and all it did was make me feel worse and made me want to hide it even more because at the time I felt it was the only way to express my pain while I don't do it anymore I do have to admit to being tempted from time to time because some ppl don't understand that self harm like cutting what I did it triggers a craving from me like how u take an alcoholic to a bar it's just cruel yes but that's the only way ik how to describe it for me and how it felt for me it truly was an addiction and even though I haven't cut in years there r still times to this day where I don't see a knife and have the thought of cutting pass through my head even for a moment even years later there r still times like that ppl don't understand how addicting self harming is but sadly it is an addiction but the good news is u can overcome it and can beat it u will struggle but u can keep above it if u try

When my ex-husband and I were in court while I was seeking one of the 8 orders of protection I've had against him, he brought up to the Judge that I self harm. The Judge in turn told me that if I continued down my path of self destruction, she would have to seriously consider limiting my access to my children. It didn't help me stop cutting, it just made me make sure that I cut high enough on my legs that I could keep it hidden with clothes

Great video, but could have done without the gaydar comment

Good to see you!😊😊

I support this.

Thank you for this podcast. I really needed to hear about hoping for the best. This is a rough time for me and I really appreciate hearing your view.

Thank you, Alex.