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When a loved-one has traits of Borderline Personality

Monday, May 6, 2013

What Does Recovery Look Like?

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Trying to determine if someone in your life suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder and what can be done about it? You will soon find out that this is a complex question.

When in the midst of a relationship with the person who may be suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, it can feel like there are more questions then there are answers.

This documentary video takes an in-depth look at the disorder. It not only includes three individual sufferers perspective, including Kiera Van Gelder author of The Buddha and the Borderline, but also from their family members as well. They discuss an array of issues including the confusion within the symptoms, angry outbursts, isolation, cutting, suicidal ideation, self destructiveness, and the misconceptions surrounding the behaviors in response to the intense emotions. 

The documentary also features leading experts in the field of Borderline Personality Disorder, Dr. John Gunderson, Dr. Marsha Linehan, and Dr. Perry Hoffman, discussing behaviors, clinical diagnosis, and treatments. Their commentary bringing a greater understanding of the disorder but also a message of hope. There is treatment. There are tools out there for family members. There are answers and solutions. The first step is knowing that what is going on in a Borderline Personality Disorder sufferer's mind and how they are acting can be two entirely different things.  There are no simple behavioral checklists; no definitive tests. Identifying Borderline Personality Disorder requires having a working knowledge of the disorder and some insight into the past life of the person in question.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a disorder of the emotions. Imagine a person who is extremely sensitive to rejection (fearful of even perceived or anticipated rejection) and has a limited ability to regulate their emotional impulses (love, fear, anger, grief, etc.). To protect themselves from their own feelings, they are prone to adopt a multitude of dysfunctional rationalizations and cover-ups.

For example, a person suffering from BPD may so fear rejection in a new relationship that they recreate themselves in the image of a person they believe would be lovable. When the negative emotions for making such a sacrifice surface - and not having the ability to modulate them, they lash out at the target of their affections for "making them do it" - rather than face their own feelings of inadequacy / fear of rejection, ultimately damaging the relationship they so fear losing, and reinforcing their feelings of inadequacy / fear of rejection.

For more information or to register, please click here.

Author: DreamGirl

Write comments
  1. This was a quality video, and I really enjoyed hearing the honest perspectives of BPD sufferers who are recovering. All the interviewees did a good job describing the feelings behind BPD behaviors like cutting and suicide attempts. I appreciated the information provided by leading professionals about symptoms and treatment, as well as thoughts from supporting family members. I found the overall tone of the video refreshingly hopeful and compassionate.

  2. A well presented video that answers most of the questions that parents have with their child. Thank you.

  3. How can you possibly bring this to someone's attention.My adult son has all these symptoms but doesn't believe there is anything wrong.