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New Hope for People with Borderline Personality Disorder
Discover Exciting New Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder
Now you can overcome the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and develop a more positive outlook on life, starting today. Inside is a compassionate and complete look at the most up-to-date information on managing the symptoms of BPD as well as coping strategies for you, your friends, and your loved ones. This thoughtful book will teach you how to manage your moods, develop lasting and meaningful relationships, and create a fulfilling, happier state of mind. Your new world of hope starts now as you uncover:
·Effective methods for building self-esteem and minimizing negative thoughts
·Early intervention for children with BPD symptoms
·Information on how psychotherapy can help modify and enhance coping abilities
·Cutting-edge alternative and complementary therapies
·And much more!
Now you can overcome the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and develop a more positive outlook on life, starting today. Inside is a compassionate and complete look at the most up-to-date information on managing the symptoms of BPD as well as coping strategies for you, your friends, and your loved ones. This thoughtful book will teach you how to manage your moods, develop lasting and meaningful relationships, and create a fulfilling, happier state of mind. Your new world of hope starts now as you uncover:
·Effective methods for building self-esteem and minimizing negative thoughts
·Early intervention for children with BPD symptoms
·Information on how psychotherapy can help modify and enhance coping abilities
·Cutting-edge alternative and complementary therapies
·And much more!
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2002
16 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 20, 2015
This is a well written book with good information on Borderline Personality Disorder which would be helpful for both families and those suffering with BPD. I often find myself scanning most of the overall BPD info since this is my 10th book on the subject, but I really enjoyed the sections on Mind-Body Therapies, Alternative Approaches, and Nutrition and Exercise which I have not found much of in other books. I did like the story woven through part of the book about friends, Carol and Alexis, which gave great context and hope that BPD can be managed successfully as well as the importance of having close friends and practitioners who understand what the individual with BPD is going through.
May 21, 2025
If you're looking for a general insight on BPD—both as the patient and the "outsider"—this book is pretty inclusive. It has quite the bit of everything: types of therapies and drugs that may alleviate the symptoms, and even how outsiders must manage their loved ones who have BPD.
All in all, it's a good introduction. I'll now have to look for a book that specifically targets on BPD patients like myself.
All in all, it's a good introduction. I'll now have to look for a book that specifically targets on BPD patients like myself.
July 9, 2016
Ever in pursuit of answers to the source my family of origin's non-fun-dysfunction, this book provided insight into some, though certainly not all, of the dynamics at work.
Biologically-genetically based, BPD is characterized by impulsivity, mood dysregulation (switching moods at alarming frequency), desperate attempts to avoid abandonment, unstable and intense relationships, chronically unstable self image, suicidal gestures or self-injury, feelings of emptiness, paranoid or dissociative symptoms, anxiety, exquisite sensitivity, unusual reactions to pain, cognitive distortions (facts filtered through emotion rather than logic—a different part of brain), suspiciousness, rejection sensitivity, inappropriate intense anger, depressive mood crashes, and splitting (black or white thinking, such as one parent of divorce is all bad and one is all good).
The most effective means of treating BPD combines specialized therapy, mood stabilizing medication, and the patient’s own commitment to self-care. While traditional psychodynamic psychotherapy (Freudian, etc) is not recommended as it emphasizes negative thinking, leading to worsening symptoms, Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT), in which the therapist affirms the patient’s feelings and thoughts without judgment yet redirects the patient toward more healthy and helpful behaviors, has proven remarkably successful. The therapist guides the patient in his own goals of distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
“An invalidating environment is the main cause of borderline symptoms {not the disorder itself}…People with BPD need someone to hear them, someone who can speak their language, someone who can enter into their world and articulate their unverbalized behavior or emotions. This may explain why validation, a key component of DBT, is so effective in communicating, decreasing volatile reactions, and developing trust with people who have BPD.”
Contractual agreements must be made ahead of time regarding length and goals of treatment, payment, missed appointment policy, and predetermined consequences to negative attention-seeking behaviors. Even with a specialized therapist (a must), it is important for a person with BPD to not idealize the client-professional relationship, playing into the “fantasy that someone else can, through round-the-clock care and nurturing, make you well. The reality is that you must do most of the work; your therapist is only a guide.” Self-help is therefore essential: mindfulness exercises, appropriate physical exercise and rest, proper nutrition (addressing common vitamin deficiencies associated with BPD), avoiding excessive alcohol or caffeine, balanced relationships, de-escalation techniques, soul care, and the use of support groups. Though only addressed in the introduction of this book, self-care should, in my opinion, also address a more limited intake of the unhealthy sexual and violent media that is so prevalent and influential in society.
Family support is vital to continual improvement; therefore it is important to become educated in order to enter empathically into the very real world of the patient’s pain, rather than reacting in ways that exacerbate outbursts. Stigma/shame will remain an issue until loved ones understand the physiologic nature of this disorder, rather than considering symptoms moral failings. BPD sufferers deserve compassion and need it in their healing process. Recovery is possible!
Biologically-genetically based, BPD is characterized by impulsivity, mood dysregulation (switching moods at alarming frequency), desperate attempts to avoid abandonment, unstable and intense relationships, chronically unstable self image, suicidal gestures or self-injury, feelings of emptiness, paranoid or dissociative symptoms, anxiety, exquisite sensitivity, unusual reactions to pain, cognitive distortions (facts filtered through emotion rather than logic—a different part of brain), suspiciousness, rejection sensitivity, inappropriate intense anger, depressive mood crashes, and splitting (black or white thinking, such as one parent of divorce is all bad and one is all good).
The most effective means of treating BPD combines specialized therapy, mood stabilizing medication, and the patient’s own commitment to self-care. While traditional psychodynamic psychotherapy (Freudian, etc) is not recommended as it emphasizes negative thinking, leading to worsening symptoms, Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT), in which the therapist affirms the patient’s feelings and thoughts without judgment yet redirects the patient toward more healthy and helpful behaviors, has proven remarkably successful. The therapist guides the patient in his own goals of distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
“An invalidating environment is the main cause of borderline symptoms {not the disorder itself}…People with BPD need someone to hear them, someone who can speak their language, someone who can enter into their world and articulate their unverbalized behavior or emotions. This may explain why validation, a key component of DBT, is so effective in communicating, decreasing volatile reactions, and developing trust with people who have BPD.”
Contractual agreements must be made ahead of time regarding length and goals of treatment, payment, missed appointment policy, and predetermined consequences to negative attention-seeking behaviors. Even with a specialized therapist (a must), it is important for a person with BPD to not idealize the client-professional relationship, playing into the “fantasy that someone else can, through round-the-clock care and nurturing, make you well. The reality is that you must do most of the work; your therapist is only a guide.” Self-help is therefore essential: mindfulness exercises, appropriate physical exercise and rest, proper nutrition (addressing common vitamin deficiencies associated with BPD), avoiding excessive alcohol or caffeine, balanced relationships, de-escalation techniques, soul care, and the use of support groups. Though only addressed in the introduction of this book, self-care should, in my opinion, also address a more limited intake of the unhealthy sexual and violent media that is so prevalent and influential in society.
Family support is vital to continual improvement; therefore it is important to become educated in order to enter empathically into the very real world of the patient’s pain, rather than reacting in ways that exacerbate outbursts. Stigma/shame will remain an issue until loved ones understand the physiologic nature of this disorder, rather than considering symptoms moral failings. BPD sufferers deserve compassion and need it in their healing process. Recovery is possible!
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August 31, 2013
NEW HOPE for PEOPLE with BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
helped me better understand someone I love who suffers with similar disorders. If you or someone you know has related conditions, this book may be very helpful.
October 7, 2007
They could have subtitled this book, "The Story Of Tera". Eerie...
September 4, 2009
Great reference book.
June 5, 2012
If you have anyone in your life with BPD this is a must read for both you and them. An excellent book to gain insight and hope for treatment.
June 20, 2012
A great book full of knowledge about BPD as well as treatments available.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews