I have been in therapy for 10 months now. I was going to treat my Borderline Personality Disorder. I attended sessions twice a week, every week. It has made a dramatic difference in my life, I am a lot happier and my relationships with people are more stable. At the moment I am currently working fulltime so am able to fit the therapy around my work, but I am considering going back to university in 2 months time. I originally stopped studying because I couldn't handle the stress of doing both things at once, but I feel that I am ready to continue studying. If I do go back to study, I will not have the time to go to therapy because my course has to be done full time and lectures fall on the days when I am meant to go to therapy sessions. I feel that I am in a better place in my life and that I may not need therapy anymore, but my therapist and partner think that I should finish the last 7 months of the therapy. Does anyone have any suggestions about whether I should continue my therapy sessions, or any advice about what they have done/would do in a situation like this one?

Thank you.

This would be a good question for your therapist.

You feel better because you are going to therapy and it is still helping you.

If your medical doctor says take these antibiotics for your infection for ten full days, will you stop taking them after three days because you feel better and then risk that the infection is still in you? Or, even if you feel better, will you obey the doctor's orders to take the antibiotic for ten days total?

Continue with the therapy and finish it. There are still some things for you to learn about during the next seven months.

At a few points in time I also asked this question to my therapists.Like most,they cautioned me against rash decision making.Once I convinced them I felt strong enough we began the process of finalizing the sessions.

Was I ready to end the therapy.

Was I able to see the red flags that bring on my specific moods(I am bipolar)And if I can identify them,how can I cope with them without seeking immediate help.

I remember going to therapy on a regular basis,like you have been,it became a way of life,a routine,a comfort to know that I was going to be with others who suffered as I did.Are you prepared to go it alone?Do you have plans for returning if things get too out of hand?Are you leaving for the purpose of moving forward or are you leaving because of something else,like studies are going to take priority over your mental health.

Leave yourself an out,if studies and life get too much,make sure you can go back to therapy if you need to.

Maybe allow for returns to therapy sessions on a not so regular basis.Seek alternative means for support other than these sessions.

I think you are right to ask this question,at some point we have to ask if it's time to move forward with our lives, just make sure it's not too soon.

Ken

I think with these sorts of things it's easy to tell ourselves that we feel better, our relationships are better and it's going to be inconvenient to continue.

Surely you can change the times of the sessions to fit in with your study?
BPD is a serious personality disorder. Don't cut corners now with something that may affect you and the people around you for the rest of your life.

Continue with the therapy.

BPD is not something that has a quick fix. Nor is the therapy. You are very lucky that you have a therapist who is trained and familiar with the specific therapy needed for Borderlines, many more do not.

Consider the therapy as an investment in your future. You are already seeing the benefits, seeing yourself differently, understanding your thoughts and reactions. This is a wonderful step to see progress.

But like all therapy, there will be ups and downs, confusion, difficult issues to address, and profound changes in how you see yourself, and how you change your life.

Please don't stray from the path you are on, until you reach the end of therapy. Invest in the time you need to complete it, put all your effort into facing your disorder and learning how to live without it.

Then, you will be ready to take on new challenges.