MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'borderline'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:05:04 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096829&cid=t_172093_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FXaL4L-6si7E%2F NFL star Brandon Marshall has been making headlines this week after announcing that he has borderline personality disorder. The 27-year-old wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, who received his diagnosis this past spring, told a press conference Sunday that he wants to be the ‘face’ of BPD. It’s about time somebody is. While depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder are well on their way to being better understood and even semi-accepted by the general public, BPD remains little-known and even less understood. For a long time, psychiatrists were even reluctant to take on BPD patients, and more reluctant to hand out the diagnosis (or at least uninformed enough about the disease not to recognize it). So…just what is BPD? It’s estimated that 2% of American adults ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096829 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:00:44 +0100 5096829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975941&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2Fmarsha-linehan-what-is-dialectical-behavioral-therapy-dbt%2F Last week the New York Times ran a fascinating piece on Marsha Linehan, Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington and the original developer of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), a modification of standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but including elements of acceptance and mindfulness. Her work has been designed specifically for people who harm themselves, for those diagnosed with borderline personality (BPT), and those who suffer from pervasive suicidal thoughts and/or attempts. For the first time in her life, the mental health expert disclosed her own story (that we also discussed on the blog yesterday), which involved hospitalization at the age of 17 that lasted longer than two years. Benedict Carey, author of the interview with Linehan, writes: No one knows h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975941 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:45:03 +0100 4975941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975944&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F27%2Fmarsha-linehan-acknowledges-her-own-struggle-with-borderline-personality-disorder%2F Dr. Marsha Linehan, long best known for her ground-breaking work with a new form of psychotherapy called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), has let out her own personal secret — she has suffered from borderline personality disorder. In order to help reduce the prejudice surrounding this particular disorder — people labeled as borderline often are seen as attention-getting and always in crisis — Dr. Linehan told her story in public for the first time last week before an audience of friends, family and doctors at the Institute of Living, the Hartford clinic where she was first treated for extreme social withdrawal at age 17, according to The New York Times. At 17 in 1961, Linehan detailed how when she came to the clinic, she attacked herself habitually, cut her arms legs a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975944 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:12:20 +0100 4975944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968597&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=38953&url=http%3A%2F%2Frileyjennifer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwarm-temperatures-improve-feelings-of.html See also Heat Therapy.A 2008 study demonstrated that “Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth.” The idea is based on the fact that both physical and psychological 'warmth' (friendliness, helpfulness, trustworthiness, empathy, ) can be visualised in the insula. In the first part of the study in which participants were asked to hold a hot or cold beverage and then rate personality traits as either warm or cold. While the findings of this experiment were significant they were not great and the experiment wasn't double-blind. The authors also reported significant findings for the second part of the study (which was double-blind). However, in this experiment participants, after holding a hot or cold pack, were asked to choose between a fruit drink or a gift certificate fo... Psych Scamp blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968597 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:09:00 +0100 4968597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653382&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34817&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkwrapped.blogs.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F03%2Fthe-borderline-personality-a-clinical-example.html [A slightly different version of this, with some additional material, was originally posted in April, 2007 as Retrospective Falsification.] In Borderline Personality Disorder: Early Development I described how the young child must integrate multiple images (self and object representations) into a coherent, unitary, relatively consistent and stable sense of himself and the important people (objects) in his life.  The person who suffers from Borderline Personality disorder has a greater than usual vulnerability to a regressive (re)splitting of his objects and himself when under stress.  A clinical example follows: Ms. S was an attractive, very bright young woman who entered into an intensive Psychotherapy to deal with issues related to her chronic insecurity and... ShrinkWrapped blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653382 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:34:00 +0100 4653382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615196&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34817&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkwrapped.blogs.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F03%2Fborderline-personality-disorder-early-development.html Borderline Personality is much talked about, quite complicated to live with and deal with, and often misunderstood.  In a series of posts I plan on discussing the genesis of BPD, its relevance to our personal lives as well as its utility as a model for understanding different cultures, and how the treatment approaches to BPD may offer clues to managing one's relationship to those with the Disorder and to oneself. Although different aspects of BPD were already being described as early as 1938 ( Helen Deutsch and the As-If personality) Margaret Mahler, more than anyone else, developed the framework  upon which BPD became comprehensible.  Mahler was one of the early pioneers in Psychoanalysis.  She had a particular interest in normal childhood developme... ShrinkWrapped blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615196 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:45:00 +0100 4615196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460006&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fintroducing-adventures-of-a-bipolar-mom%2F I’m pleased to welcome you to Adventures of a Bipolar Mom with Beth Vandagriff. Beth is a 30-year-old wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She was recently diagnosed with Ultra-Rapid Cycling Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety and Paranoia. She joins us here to share her experiences with bipolar disorder and parenting — how it is to juggle all the demands of motherhood along with the demands of living with a combination of mental health concerns. Bipolar disorder, also known by its older name “manic depression,” is a mental disorder that is characterized by constantly changing moods. A person with bipolar disorder experiences alternating highs (what clinicians call “mania“) and lows (also known as depression). Both the manic and depressive periods can be... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460006 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:11:04 +0100 4460006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298799&cid=t_172093_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2F34N6zWX1nqw%2F The universal nature of addictive experience What I enjoy the most about having a presence on the internet is receiving comments from people from around the world.  The writers describe the same progression of symptoms that characterize opioid dependence, a disease that affects people from all cultures and socioeconomic groups. I often think about how surprised most ‘normal’ people would be to learn the true extent of what can only be described as an epidemic of opioid use.  Writers, stockbrokers, artists, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, factory workers, photographers, teachers, students, IT professionals, waitresses, realtors, landlords, welders, professors, home-makers, mothers and dads… I have patients with opioid dependence from all of these occupations in my practice alone... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298799 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:07:23 +0100 4298799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272361&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F19%2Fhelping-someone-with-borderline-personality-disorder%2F The following post is the Afterword of the newly released “Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder” by Valerie Porr. I have reprinted it here with permission of Oxford University Press. There are so many misconceptions about this disorder today. A friend of mine, recently diagnosed with BPD, has helped me to understand her illness. I hope this piece further educates people who attach stigma where there should be none. Research shows us that 70 percent of people with Borderline Personality Disorder drop out of treatment. According to John Gunderson, medical director of the Center for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) at McLean Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts, failure to involve the family as support for treatment of BPD makes patients’ involvemen... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272361 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:55:17 +0100 4272361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214190&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F30%2Fpersonality-disorders-shakeup-in-dsm-5%2F Narcissistic personality disorder is slated for removal from the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to be published in 2013. So notes Charles Zanor in yesterday’s New York Times. But for some reason, Zanor glossed over the loss of four other personality disorders in the shakeup too — Paranoid, Schizoid, Histrionic and Dependent Personality Disorders. (Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Avoidant and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders will remain in the new revision.) Their intended replacements? “The Work Group recommends that [these disorders] be represented and diagnosed by a combination of core impairment in personality functioning and specific pathological personality traits, rather than as a specific ty... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214190 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:45:38 +0100 4214190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808843&cid=t_172093_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fborderline-personality-disorder%2F The Essential Family Guide to Borderline Personality Disorder For family members of people with borderline personality disorder (BPD), home life is routinely unpredictable and frequently unbearable. Extreme mood swings, impulsive behaviors, and suicidal tendencies—common conduct among those who suffer from the disorder—leave family members feeling confused, hurt, and helpless. In her pioneering first book Stop Walking on Eggshells, co-authored with Paul T. Mason, Randi Kreger outlined the fundamental differences in the way that people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) relate to the world. Now, with The Essential Family Guide to Borderline Personality Disorder, she takes readers to the next level, giving them straightforward tools to get off the emotional roller coaster and rep... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808843 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:43:00 +0100 3808843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3432930&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F02%2Fintroducing-dialectical-behavior-therapy-understood%2F I’m pleased to introduce you to Dialectical Behavior Therapy Understood, a blog about DBT by Christy Matta. What the heck is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and why does it have such a weird name? DBT is a specific type of therapy invented in the early 1990s by Marsha Linehan, a psychologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, to treat borderline personality disorder. Its primary focus is providing a validating environment for someone with this disorder, and helping them view the therapist as an ally in growth and change. Linehan also recognized that people with borderline personality disorder often lacked certain skills that most of us learn intrinsically, which made their lives even more difficult. The skills are taught in four parts and include Mindfulness, Interpersonal e... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3432930 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:10:36 +0100 3432930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342703&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F08%2F5-tips-if-you-love-someone-with-mental-illness%2F The National Institutes of Mental Health reports that one in every four adults – approximately 57.7 million Americans – experience a mental health disorder in a given year. One in four, and that’s just the U.S.! And for every person in the world diagnosed with a mental disorder there is at least one, probably more, trying to help, cope and support that person any way they know how. Mental illness is often a family issue. Parents, siblings, spouses and extended family provide housing, care and support, emotional and financial, sometimes to the point of becoming proverbial case managers. It’s hard enough when the chronic illness is something everyone recognizes, like diabetes. It’s a whole other thing when the disease is a mental illness which is ripe for misunderstandi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342703 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:46:43 +0100 3342703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934794&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=38953&url=http%3A%2F%2Frileyjennifer.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fexternal-validation.html "Self-esteem is the greatest sickness known to man or woman because it's conditional."--Albert Ellis, Ph.D.If you google external validation, you come up with a lot of hits asserting it’s a bad thing. Or at the very least, it’s not as good as ‘self-esteem’. Nathaniel Branden, a psychotherapist who received his Ph.D in the 70’s, called external validation "pseudo self-esteem." He made the common argument of "true self-esteem" being derived from internal sources, such as self-responsibility and self-sufficiency. He defined true self-esteem as "...the experience of being competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and being worthy of happiness". (1)Yet external validation is something children need. Adults with mental health problems (most famously, borderline personality di... Psych Scamp blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934794 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:51:00 +0100 2934794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803985&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fanother-treatment-for-borderline-personality-disorder%2F Borderline personality disorder is a mental disorder characterized by a longstanding pattern of instability in one’s relationships with others, with a person’s own image of themselves, and their own emotions. It’s marked by impulsivity and, like most personality disorders, usually begins in early adulthood (early 20s) and pervades every aspect of a person’s life. People with borderline personality disorder live tumultuous lives. Their romantic relationships rarely last more than a year, and their relationships with their own family tends to be unstable — some weeks they love them and want to spend all of their time with them, some weeks they hate them and won’t even talk to them (to extremes not usually experienced by the rest of us). Traditionally, the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803985 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:12:20 +0100 2803985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770135&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F06%2Fspotlight-on-borderline-personality-disorder%2F Borderline personality disorder, like dissociative identity disorder (which used to be called multiple personality disorder), is a disorder that has gained much attention since the advent of the Internet. Whether people with this disorder never sought each other out, or whether because of its characteristics, it seems the Internet has enabled people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to find one another, share information, and gain support for the condition. The Los Angeles Times has a nice piece about what BPD is, what it’s not, some possible explanations for it, and the current treatment regimen used to help treat it (psychotherapy). People with borderline personality disorder are characterized by intense emotions, impulsive behaviors, and a fear of abandonment combined wit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770135 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:42:11 +0100 2770135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785997&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2009%2F09%2F05%2Fartwork-tales-of-a-borderline%2F Tales of a Borderline is an exhibition of artwork by artists with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This disorder affects a persons emotions, causing emotional instability. For further information on BPD, see the ‘What is BPD?’ page. A few examples of their artwork. The four artists now have an exhibition in the beautiful Renaissance Castle of Hartheim situated close to Upper Austria’s capital city Linz. This castle has a long and troubled history. It was there that Hitler carried out large parts of his National Socialist Euthanasia project on people suffering from mental diseases. A new artistic programm called “KunstFormenHartheim” started in 2003. The main aim was to present outsider art produced at Hartheim in two newly refurbished gallery rooms in the neighbouring castl... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785997 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:03:50 +0100 2785997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441316&cid=t_172093_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fborderline-blood-pressure-dr-young-or.html Michael is a 48 year old business executive who works for a paint company. He has just joined an executive gym. A lycra-clad young lovely checked his BP and found it was 150/92. So Michael bought an electric BP machine from Boots and measured his BP twice a day. The readings were lower, in the region of 142/88, 138/86, 146/90, the latter being the highest. I checked it myself, and my reading was 144/90. I was not wearing lycra. Michael is a clean living, non-smoking, moderately drinking, regular exercising paragon of middle class health. Or is he? We decided to get formal ambulatory BP monitoring to try to be better placed to make a decision. We can do this locally but, at this stage, Michael played the BUPA card and asked to see the cardiologistDr YoungBut which one? Our local cardiology ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441316 Thu, 21 May 2009 17:04:00 +0100 2441316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786067&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=38953&url=http%3A%2F%2Frileyjennifer.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fborderline-personality-disorder.html In honour of May being Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month,The American Journal of Psychiatry has a few well written articles on the subject.In an editorial by Oldham, attention is brought to the amygdala (my favourite brain part) and brain structure and function affecting borderline patients.It is interesting that, although we now recognize the importance of heritable risk factorspredisposing a patient to develop borderline personality disorder, the evidence-basedcore treatment recommended for this disorder is psychotherapy, an interventionlong thought to change the mind but not necessarily the brain. Ironically, we also nowunderstand that intensive psychotherapy is a form of long-term learning and memory,which indeed changes the brain. Psychotherapy is thus, at least in part,... Psych Scamp blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786067 Thu, 07 May 2009 22:57:00 +0100 2786067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348539&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F18%2Fwhen-is-it-okay-to-hug-your-therapist%2F To hug or not to hug a client — that is the question that can haunt therapists. When a client is so distraught and you have no more words to offer, is physical contact a good idea? Glen O. Gabbard, M.D., Brown Foundation Chair of Psychoanalysis and professor of psychiatry at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, doesn’t seem to think so. In an April 2008 Psychiatric Times article, he talked about the trouble therapists can find themselves in if they do not follow American Psychological Association (APA) ethical and legal guidelines. Transference, in which therapy clients transfer feelings—positive or negative—for someone in their past to someone, such as a therapist, in their present—can help small transgressions, such as physical contact (including hugs) or... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348539 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:13 +0100 2348539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1980935&cid=t_172093_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.com%2F2008%2F11%2F22%2Fbut-there-really-was-a-wolf-this-time%2F *Trigger warning* Suicide post. If you are feeling suicidal: Don’t read this post (it is not suicide friendly) Call 911 Don’t try to suck us or our readers into your drama On with the post: Second verse….same as the first. Person threatens suicide (on-line, over the phone, on web-cam etc…) It’s happened before, people wonder if this time….”rut-roh” person loses consciousness People scramble to [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1980935 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:59:02 +0100 1980935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512977&cid=t_172093_140_f&fid=38154&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpatienttimes%2F%7E3%2FEI0PFH2Xm2E%2F I used to write a column for Psychiatric Times, describing my experiences as a psychiatry resident.  I have decided to post a few of those articles on my blog.  Some are on the long side, and others are shorter;  some took more effort to write than others.  I tried to focus on my feelings as I learned to work with patients as a psychiatrist. The writing opportunity fell together in a nice way;  I was on my way to a meeting in Boston and Dr. Laura Roberts happened to be presenting at the meeting;  I tend to be intimidated easily and I was making nervous conversation with her, telling her about the unusual experiences I have had over the years (I used to be an anesthesiologist, for example).  I told her I would like to write about them, and she told me about a column at Psych Times th... Patient Times blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512977 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:05:06 +0100 2512977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1894928&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F21%2Fblame-the-patient%2F When a patient or client isn’t doing better in psychotherapy, sometimes a therapist may fall back onto that old familiar refrain, “Well, the patient just isn’t doing the work. He’s to blame for his lack of progress in getting better.” Dr. Richard Friedman describes this strategy in a thoughtful article in yesterday’s New York Times. It’s not uncommon for a psychotherapist, when faced with a client who doesn’t seem to be improving after months (or even years) of therapy, to blame the patient. They aren’t trying. They’re not doing their homework. They don’t really want to get better. There’s a dozen different reasons a therapist will come up with depending upon the specific client. More often than not, though... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1894928 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:34:21 +0100 1894928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1657465&cid=t_172093_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsuboxonetalkzone.com%2F2008%2F07%2F26%2Fthe-hole%2F A question from a suboxone user: I feel this big empty hole that I tried to fill with Opiates. Since on the Suboxone I’m not pulled towards the Opiates but I still have this hole that there is still a need to fill with something. It’s not there because I’m off the Opiates. It was there before the Opiates. They just happened to fill that hole to some degree. Does anyone know what I’m talking about or have the same experience? Thanks R. My Response: I understand what you are saying– at least I think I do. It is always hard to compare subjective experiences– for example, is my experience of ‘green’ the same as yours? But I do know that feeling of emptiness, darkness, loneliness, sadness, abandonment, despair… and like you, in my case it was present long b... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1657465 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:20:09 +0100 1657465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1344209&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F02%2Fwhy-do-therapists-stigmatize-people-with-borderline%2F It’s a cruel irony that people who have borderline personality disorder (BPD) will often have the most difficulty finding and getting proper treatment from mental health professionals. Because, unlike virtually every other mental disorder in the book, borderline personality disorder is seen as one of the worst of all disorders to try and treat. People with BPD are the most stigmatized amongst a population already burdened with heavy stigma, people with mental health concerns. Borderline personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, the person’s own self-image and their emotions. People with borderline personality disorder can also tend to be impulsive. Borderline personality disorder is a fairly rare concern in ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1344209 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:23:20 +0100 1344209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1307690&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2F17%2Fan-alternative-treatment-for-borderline-personality-disorder%2F People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have interpersonal relationships characterized by irrational behavior and instability. They often have significant trouble in maintaining close attachments with others, even therapists, because they have difficulty separating out their own personal feelings and thoughts from those around them. BPD is traditionally treated with a combination of a specific type of psychotherapy (called dialectical behavior therapy) and sometimes medications to treat other specific, related concerns (such as depression). But an alternative psychotherapy treatment approach is also available, called mentalization based therapy (MBT). This psychodynamic approach focuses on helping an individual separate out what thoughts and feelings are theirs, and what thoug... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1307690 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:00:16 +0100 1307690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1271833&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2F02%2Fborderline-personality-disorder-and-the-brain%2F Some are suggesting that this study is some sort of groundbreaking work in understanding borderline personality disorder. While an interesting brain study, I’d suggest it tells us a lot less than the authors purport. First, this is a classic laboratory study. And while laboratory studies of this nature are the foundation for later clinically-relevant studies, they are, by their very nature, limited in what they can test and how they test it. With limited testing ability (and re-test ability, accounting for different moods on different days, which this study did not do), results are not generalizable to a clinical population — e.g., people with this actual disorder. Why is this a laboratory test? Because borderline personality disorder is first and foremost characterized by e... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1271833 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:02:16 +0100 1271833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828079&cid=t_172093_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F28%2Felevated-pregnancy-blood-sugars-linked-to-childs-obesity%2F Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Research, Exercise, Daily News, Support, CareA new study by Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research carries both good news and bad news. Bad news first -- research of 9,439 mother-child pairs shows maternal blood sugar is tied to a future risk of obesity in offpsring. Pregnant women with above-normal blood sugar levels were twice as likely to have overweight kids. Across all racial and ethnic groups, the higher the mother's blood sugar during pregnancy, the greater the chance her offspring would develop obesity by 5 to 7 years of age. Now if you're pregnant and you've been diagnosed with high blood sugar, take a deep breath. The good news is the risk of childhood obesity is reversible if elevated sugars are treated through diet, ex... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828079 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=794210&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-fathers-rol.html This article is based on the chapter entitled "Fairy Tale Fathers in Dr. Christine Lawson's book, Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship. Dr. Lawson says what you might guess:"The father's role in the drama between the borderline mother and her child is crucial in determining the outcome for the child." p.178It has been my observation that very often the husbands of women with borderline personality disorder are either very dysfucntional with their own problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, workaholism, or they are afraid of their wives and acquiesce to keep the peace. Rarely is there any kind of equal partnership between a husband and a wife with borderline personality disorder. He oft... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=794210 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:26:58 +0100 794210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=782973&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-effect-of-1.html This post is based on the chapter entitled "Make Believe Children" in Dr. Christine Ann Lawson's book, "Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship." This is part two of a two part post on this topic. Borderline parents often "split", that is they project their good side onto one child who becomes the "fair haired boy or girl", the "golden child", the "all good child" while they project their bad side onto the "black sheep", the "scapegoat", or the "no good child". In part one I described some of the dynamics that occur for the all good child. In this part two, I will describe some of the dynamics that occur for the all bad... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=782973 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:56:21 +0100 782973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=780673&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-effect-of-b.html This post is based on the chapter entitled "Make Believe Children" in Dr. Christine Ann Lawson's book, "Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship." Most people would not believe what goes on in Borderline families. The dynamics are intense, destructive, and subtle and not readily apparent to the casual observer. However as Dr. Lawson points out, "Children of borderlines learn to sacrifice their true selves because survival requires that they meet their mother's emotional needs." p. 155 - 156. An adult client told me of a conversation he had with his mother who wondered why she had no relationships with her other adult children and grandchildren, and the client said that he said to... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=780673 Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:17:21 +0100 780673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=779988&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F08%2Fthe-borderline-.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types overlap and inter mix. This post is part three on the borderline Witch. There are many characteristics of the Witch borderline mother. She is sadistically controlling and punitive with her children. This occurs unpredictably but regularly to the extent that after awhile the children of the witch expect to be hurt by her. I had a an adult client tell me that her mother would come to school and have her removed from class and chastise her for not doing some simple chore suc... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=779988 Sat, 04 Aug 2007 21:25:11 +0100 779988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=719411&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fthe-borderlin-1.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. This post is part two on the boderline Witch. One of the important characteristics of the Witch type of borderline is what Dr. Lawson and others call "the turn". Dr. Lawson describes "the turn" as follows:"One of the most devastating experiences for chldren of borderlines is "the turn." The Turn is a sudden attack, the abrupt withdrawal of love and affection, and razor-sharp words that can pierce the heart as ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=719411 Sat, 07 Jul 2007 17:20:31 +0100 719411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=714718&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fthe-bordeline-w.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. The borderline Witch mother is personified in fairy tales most notably Hanzel and Gretel."Husband, listen to me. Tomorrow at daybreak we'll take the children out to the thickest part of the forest...They'll never find the way home again and that way we'll be rid of them."Susan Smith killed her children in 1994 when she drove her car into the lake with the kids strapped into their safety seats and killed them because her boyfriend left... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=714718 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:50:51 +0100 714718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=707656&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F07%2Fthe-borderline-.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in multiple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. Dr. Lawson writes that Borderline Queens are driven by feelings of emptiness, and that they seek special treatment because they felt emotionally deprived as children. The Queen has learned how to win special treatment through persistence and intimidation. Dr. Lawson writes:She can be intrusive, loud, inpatient, and flamboyant. She is easily frustrated, often bursting into rages than can terrify her children. She can be disingenuous and may lie... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=707656 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:46:32 +0100 707656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693258&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fanxiety-in-adul.html Dr. Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, that "Adult children of Hermits may suffer from panic attacks, claustrophobia,or agoraphobia without recognizing the source of their fear - the early experience of feeling trapped by their mothers." p.87 I had one client email me the following: " It has taken me most of my early adulthood to de-stress from the perpetual anxiety and establish a sense of self-worth after having my mother as a mother. I am conflicted, however, knowing I'd be a much different person had I been born to anyone else. I think I'd be much less tolerant, self-reliant, and empathetic and more fearful of change and the unknown. I truly believe that good things can be born of struggle." Feelings of inferiority, insecur... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693258 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:22:00 +0100 693258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=693260&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhen-the-bord-1.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in mutliple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. Dr. Lawson writes :"The borderline Hermit seeks solitude but paradoxically longs to belong." p. 81Like the Waif, the Hermit also often has trouble sleeping at night ruminating about the safety of her children, her husband, her job, her heath, and any number of other things. Hermits can be extraordinarily sensitive and may believe that they are psychic according to Dr. Lawson. She looks for hidden meanings in greeting cards, gifts, inv... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=693260 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 21:23:12 +0100 693260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=691255&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhen-the-border.html Borderline Personality Disorder can manifest itself in mutliple ways. In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Dr. Christine Lawson describes four role types which BPD is exemplified by: the Waif, the Hermit, the Queen, and the Witch. These role types are not mutually exclusive and characteristics of these types over overlap and inter mix. The Waif seems to want soothing and often leaves others feeling helpless because she is often inconsolable. As Dr. Lawson writes that the Waif might say, "I can't allow myself to need your help and be in control at the same time."  The irony is that the Waif feels that in accepting help she is loosing control. The Waif can self soothe with the compulsive use of alcohol, drugs, money, food, sex, work, and likes to play the role o... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=691255 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:19:15 +0100 691255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=690019&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Ftreatment-can-h.html Dr. Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother:"Knowing the proper diagnosisis is the first step to treatment. Some therapists are reluctant to inform the patient or family of the diagnosis of BPD. Yet growth cannot occur without understanding. Patients wih BPD have a right to the truth just as much as patients who suffer from other incurable, life-threatening conditions, especially since over 10 percent of individuals with BPD commit suicide. Just as the diabetic must learn to manage sugar intake and output, the individual with BPD must learn to manage emotional input and output. Psychotherapy, combined with antianxiety and antidepressant medications, can significantly enhance the borderline's quality of life." p.51The diagnosis of Borderline Person... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=690019 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:00:13 +0100 690019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=688621&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fcommunicating-w.html Today, June 21, 2007, on the blog, Borderline Crazy, the author has a great article on borderline thinking processes which at times can be quite delusional. The writer likens the process as communications going through the borderline's black box which become misinterpreted and take on a delusional quality that leaves the communicator as feeling like he/she is in the twilight zone.Today on my mind has been on the translations that communication goes through (I think of it as “the black box”) before it reaches the mind of a person with BPD. This may be a diagnostic feature not to be found in the DSM; if you find yourself often thinking you’re in the Twilight Zone (OR often wishing you had a tape recorder to replay what was actually said) when conversing with someone, I think chances ar... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=688621 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:37:44 +0100 688621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=688622&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Femotional-abuse.html Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, that children have four needs: To be held (to be enveloped by safe, loving arms) To be mirrored (to se a positive reflection of themselves in their parent's eyes) To be soothed ( to be comforted, reassured, and protected) To be given some control ( to elicit predictable responses to expressed needs) Lawson writes a little further:"Like a broken record, the borderline's behavior seems compulsively driven, with the aim of eliciting what she lacked as a child. The Waif needed to be held, the Hermit needed to be soothed, the Queen needed to be mirrored, and the Witch needed control." p.45In addition to physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse in the form of denigration put children at high risk of develo... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=688622 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:28:16 +0100 688622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687011&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fdestructive-par.html Christine Lawson in her book, Understanding the Borderline Mother, writes, "Studies indicate that the single most important factor affecting resiliency in children is the conviction of being loved. The effects of parental abandonment, abuse, neglect can be mitigated if children have access to a relationship with a loving adult such as a teacher, a minister, a neighbor, or a relative who is empathically attuned to the child's feelings." p.43This person is what Alice Miller calls "an enlightened witness." The enlightened witness is a person whom the child trusts and feels understood by whom the child believes knows what is going on and who validates the child so that the child is reassured that the problems being experienced are not generated by them but by the other. Th... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687011 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:30:27 +0100 687011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687014&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Flong-term-data-.html There is an interesting article in the June 1, 2007 issue of The Psychiatric News about a study in the June, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry which found that over 10 years 12 of the 24 symptoms of Borderline Personality disorder which deal with impulsivity and suicidality seemed to improve while the remaining 12 symptoms which deal with affect and interpersonal relationships seemed to be more stable.Twelve of the 24 symptoms studied showed patterns of sharp decline over time and were reported at 10-year follow-up by less than 15 percent of the patients who reported them at baseline. The other 12 symptoms showed patterns of substantial but less dramatic decline over the follow-up period. Symptoms reflecting core areas of impulsivity (such as self-mutilation and suicide effo... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687014 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:41:22 +0100 687014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682862&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Frelationships_b.html Dr. Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, about the relationships that borderline mothers have with their children."The dependency of the newborn can be intensely satisfying to the borderline mother, but as the child becomes increasingly independent, conflict erupts." p. 40I had a client who told me that she never felt better than when she was pregnant. She stated that she enjoyed the nursing and caretaking of the infants until they reached about 2 years of age and then she wanted another child. She had nine children altogether and she became increasingly unhappy when she came to the age when she could no longer have children in her mid-40s. As the child grows and becomes more independent having been weaned, talking, walking, and toilet traine... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682862 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:08:41 +0100 682862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682865&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhat_if_im_wron.html On June 14, 2007 there is a wonderful article posted on the Borderline Crazy web site entitled "What if I'm wrong" in which the author expresses "guilt" and distress over not having seen her mother with Borderline Personality Disorder.So basically I keep these boundaries but feel horribly guilty about them. I hate living this way. I wish, OH how I wish, that she were a regular person, a regular mother. I could call her and we could hash this out and each acknowledge our parts in it and then resume our relationship. But she isn’t. My heart aches for her with a soul-sucking vehemence, but I have no words or actions to repair the damage in her or even to get her to see it. Miracles do happen, but without one she will never hear me, and she will never see me, even if she ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682865 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:49:33 +0100 682865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682866&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fgrowing_up_in_t.html Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, "Children with borderline mothers adjust to the chaos of their lives by learning to expect the unexpected. They associate love with fear and kindness with danger. Craziness becomes normal, and life without chaos may seem boring. They may grow up without recognizing healthy love." p.28 -29.A little further down on page 29 Dr. Lawson writes further, "Children of borderlines may tune out by dissociating and disconnecting from their environment." p.29 It is a comon experience for people in relationship with a person with borderline disorder to wonder who is crazy "me or them?" Attempts to please, placate, clarify, correct are often met with an escalation of conflict not resolution. The pers... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682866 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:50:21 +0100 682866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682871&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Ftirades_in_the_.html Christine Lawson writes in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, "Laura explained that her mother 'went on tirades.' Something could set her off and she would whirl around the house like a cyclone. The warning signal was 'the look.' The look was a piercing, threatening glare to mean, 'I could kill you.' When Laura was a child, her mother actually said it, with no awareness of the power of her words. Children of borderlines and survivors of hurricanes have much in common. Survival is dependent on finding a safe place, staying low, and not being fooled by they eye of the storm." p.27A little further down the page, Dr. Lawson writes, "When Laura was young the tirades terrified her, but as she grew older, she became immune to them." p. 27 It is interesting how chi... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682871 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:39:57 +0100 682871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682872&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fsleepless_night.html Christine Lawson writes in her book Understanding The Borderline Mother, "Ordinary mothers sleep at night; borderline mothers do not. Borderlines dread being alone with their thoughts: thus, intrusive, obsessive thoughts may keep them awake at night. Noise from the radio, television, or late-night telephone calls may distract them from their anxiety and provide a sense of security." p. 26A little further down on the same page, Dr. Lawson writes,"Another patient's mother awakened her father on a regular basis, rebuking him for being able to sleep when she was so upset." p. 26Dr. Lawson's description of the sleeplessness, the agitation, the restlessness was very illuminating for me. Even though, I have been in psychotherapy practice for 38 years, and worked inpatient psyc... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682872 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:04:12 +0100 682872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675757&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fcompetition_bet.html It is a common experience for children of borderline parents to turn to the parent for comfort and feeling worse afterwards. Similarly, borderline parents find that their parents rarely enjoy their child's happiness and success unless it reflects somehow positively on them. The borderline parent will often "horn in" on the child's success and want to share the spot light with them or even to steal their thunder. The borderline parent usually wants to be the center of attention and when the child takes away the attention, the borderline parent will do something to bring it back on themselves. Christine Lawson, in her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, says:"Emotionally stable parents share their children's joy and quiet their fear. But caretaking roles are reversed ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675757 Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:53:05 +0100 675757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675758&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fborderline_moth.html The blog, Borderline Crazy, had a great post on 06/10/07 entitled, "Can I have my identity please?". It is well worth reading.My mom has, as far as I can guess (I’m not a clinician), borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. She’s a real delight. She has sent me things so crazy that my shrink gets a gleam in her eye and jumps up to copy them, presumably to add to her “this is the craziest shit I have ever seen” file. What’s bothering me today about her is her inability to exist on her own as herself. This may not sound to an unaffected person as if it would cause problems, but I assure you it is crazy-making. To read the rest of the post, click on the link below. Link: Can I have my identity, please? « Borderline Crazy. (Source: Markham's ... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675758 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:27:00 +0100 675758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675761&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Fsoul_murder_lea.html In her book, Understanding The Borderline Mother, Christine Lawson says on p.15"When a child disagrees with the borderline mother or does not satisfy her needs or wishes, the borderline will attempt to shame, punish, degrade, or vilify the child."A little further on the same page Dr. Lawson says, "Borderline mothers may use denigration as a method of discipline without being aware of its destructiveness."I have heard this kind of denigration and vilification called "soul murder". Children living in this kind of situation often live in fear and anxiety and they shut down. These children hide what they really think, how they really feel, and what they have done or want to do. What develops in these situations is mistrust. Very often this mistrust is perceived b... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675761 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:20:35 +0100 675761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=660473&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34949&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbehavioralhealth.typepad.com%2Fmarkhams_behavioral_healt%2F2007%2F06%2Funderstanding_t.html Understanding The Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson is an extremely important book for any psychotherapist or layperson interested in the impact of parenting by a person with Borderline Personality Disorder. The impact is huge and can be multigenerational. Dr. Lawson, in lay language and with clear case examples describes the dynamics that occur between mother and children and somewhat with fathers. She also has clear suggestions for how adult children can manage the relationship with the Borderline mother. I believe this topic is so important that I am planning on posting a series of articles on this blog as I re-read and study the ideas in this book further. I am developing a new category on t... Markham's Behavioral Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=660473 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:09:10 +0100 660473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470605&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34745&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgandalwaven.typepad.com%2Fintheroom%2F2007%2F02%2Fmore_on_working.html A plug for this book, just out from one of my clinical colleagues in Sydney. Guidelines for the Management and Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.This is a very practical hands on book focussing on what to do and how to respond to this complex client group.  It promotes a strong  Linehan model (dialectical behaviour therapy).  The newer Transference Focussed and Schema Focussed don’t get much of a mention. It has good chapters on working with other health profession and managing risk.  I definitely recommend it. If you are in Australia or even if you are not in Australia and want to know about this book contact Julia Shearsby at Bankstown Mental Health. (Source: In the Room) In the Room blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470605 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:57:38 +0100 470605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470612&cid=t_172093_109_f&fid=34745&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgandalwaven.typepad.com%2Fintheroom%2F2007%2F01%2Fhow_many_of_you.html The latest Journal of Clinical Psychology (sadly no free access) has the whole journal devoted to exploring ideas around the internal multiplicity of the self. Basically this is the idea that the self has or consits of multiple parts, aspects, object or persons rather than that the self is some type of unitary concept.  Dimaggio and Stiles offer a very lucid and easy to udnerstand overview of this concept in the opening paper. Internal multiplicity is present, if not always acknowledged, in most systems of psychotherapy. It is expressed in such cognitive-behavioral concepts as automatic or intrusive thoughts and self-talk or self-statements. Self-criticism and self-blaming, for example, are forms of self-to-self relationships in which a harsh part of the self criticizes or blames a... In the Room blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470612 Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:29:09 +0100 470612