Posted by Sarah S on March 21, 2003, at 20:17:36
My boyfriend is quite obviously mentally ill but I can't tell what the @#$% his diagnosis would be, and he can't get in to see a therapist for a few more weeks, so I'm trying to tentatively figure out what it MIGHT be just so I know how to cope until then. I was hoping y'all could help.
He is often depressed and has low self esteem, but this goes beyond depression. He has uncontrollable fits of violent self-hatred in which he tears out his hair, hits himself, screams how much he hates himself, etc. When this happens, he does not seem to recognize me (except when he incoherently begs me to hit him or kill him) or hear anything I say, and he is incapable of being physically restrained from hurting himself. I try to tell him how much this is devastating me but he doesn't stop, and afterwards he explains it by saying that he "just couldn't stop himself." I don't understand what's going on.
Does anybody here do this, and if so could you better explain what it is and how I can deal with it? I myself suffer from depression and anxiety and this is about to drive me over the edge.
poster:Sarah S
thread:211273
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030310/msgs/211273.html