Borderline Personality: A Scriptural Perspective

The Gospel for Real Life #3

by Cathy Wiseman

Frantic efforts to avoid unpleasant feelings. Perceived abandonment. Profound depression or extreme rage. These symptoms control sufferers of borderline personality disorder, as their intense feelings rule their hearts and choices, fill their relationships with disunity and strife, and seem more real to them than God's Word or his Spirit.

But Cathy Wiseman shows us, in this detailed, thorough, and helpful study, that God's Word holds the solution and his Spirit alone can heal the havoc of borderline personality disorder. She maintains that the loving assistance of a team of believers is also crucial, and she provides a wealth of information for biblical helpers, including an analysis of the disorder and its symptoms, exercises to use in counseling, and a list of references and resources.

The Gospel for Real Life booklet series by the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) applies the timeless hope of Christ to the unique struggles of modern believers.

Genres: Counselling, Nonfiction

56 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2012

Reviews

[Sadhbh Rubinson]

A brief overview of Borderline Personality and what hope can be found in scripture for those diagnosed and their friends and family. I learned a lot and it was a quick read. It was comprehensive and easy to understand. I would recommend this!

[no rating]

[Ana Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful, but I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone

This book has very helpful tools for those who want to help people diagnosed with BPD. I liked how the author used the symptoms from the diagnosis to provide tools to help those who are struggling with this disorder. Unfortunately, I felt the tone of the book frequently undermines much of what psychology and psychiatry have to offer. I understand that BPD may have fewer evidence for biological origins that other mental conditions, but I fear readers who “don’t believe” in mental disorders as something that could require medical assistance will take some of the statements of the book and stop people from getting the medical help they could need.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise & Up to date!

This writer emphasises the importance of teamwork and full disclosure among themselves i. e. NOT keeping the sufferer's secrets, to prevent the subject causing division. This support is a long-term commitment!! I have seen success when psychiatric and Chritian teams have worked together. A very wise writer!

[Robin Laber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a bit weak and not too memorable actually. I read it a while back and have little recall of anything from it. I gave it three stars because I found it neither good nor bad per se, just not really memorable.

[Mandy Biedenweg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!

An unpopular truth, but truth nonetheless. Thank you for your bravery to share this perspective. I have found it to be true in my own life.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful

[Rebeccah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review is coming from the perspective of someone who is not only a Christian, but also someone who has studied psychology and neuroscience extensively. I also live with BPD.

This book is VERY basic and one must remember that it is written by someone with ZERO psychiatric or neuroscience credentials. Her only 'expertise' in this matter is a MA in Counseling; a program that teaches next to nothing about brain disorders such as BPD. The author herself that she is 'anti-psychiatry' because she's a Christian. Many Christians are in the psychological field and know that the tools learned in therapy are invaluable for living a better life. The fact that she is anti-psychiatry would be enough to make any sane-thinking, logical person put down this book. She is biased right from the beginning based on her own misguided religious beliefs.

Borderline Personality Disorder does, indeed, have a biological component to it..as anyone can clearly see on an MRI or a PET scan of the brain of someone who has it. This book makes it sound as if BPD is simply a 'spiritual sickness' and that is just not true. The author is uneducated about this topic and chooses to shame/blame those of us who suffer by making us believe that if we were simply better Christians, we wouldn't be having these problems.

The truth is that BPD is biological in nature and that people who suffer with it do not choose to behave in the ways they do, unlike what the author would have you believe. Yes, prayer helps and so does a strong, foundational faith but BPD also requires ongoing therapy, social skills and sometimes, medication to help relieve the symptoms.

The author does not live with Borderline Personality Disorder, does not have an M.D behind her name nor does she have a degree in psychology or psychiatry. I live with BPD. I understand it. My undergrad major was in Psychology and I am studying towards my Ph.D in Neuroscience.

[Leandro Dutra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very short, it delineates a Biblical counseling approach to borderline personality disorder (BPD). Even if short, it is useful if you have BPD, or knows someone who have, and is wondering how a Biblical counselor would approach it; also if you suspect someone has it. But it is not a guide to get rid of it; one still need a team of helpers.