Borderline Personality Disorder: Joanie’s Story

In our continuing series on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) (see links below), we will look today at the story of Joanie. Joanie began to display the initial symptoms of BPD when she was in her late teens but was not formally diagnosed with the disorder for several years.

As is typical of persons suffering BPD, Joanie’s personality is essentially unstable, with inexplicable mood swings and rapid changes in her view of her own self. Hence her “apparent” self esteem could range from being very outgoing and confident to being self absorbed and unsure of herself. In reality, Joanie has low self esteem but the image she presents to the world is governed by the company and situation she is in. One of the first things one notices about Joanie is her friendliness. But after just five to ten minutes, the casual observer begins to realize that there is something unnatural about this friendliness. Because of pronounced boundary problems, which is also a typical attribute of those suffering from this disorder, Joanie comes on too strong too soon. There is a false closeness that she radiates, as though she has known you for years and yet you might only have met her just 15 minutes earlier.

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Beat depression with a test and RET therapy

How you think is important.

Let’s focus on the role of thinking in depression. No matter what the other causes of depression may contribute, thinking always plays some role and can always make matters worse.

• If you are depressed because of a biochemical imbalance you will still be thinking about your life experiences.
• If you have too much stress you will certainly think about the stressful events.
• If you learned to be depressed then your usual pattern of thinking will maintain it.

Thinking is always occurring, and therefore plays a fundamental role in creating not only depression ,but all of our other emotions as well.

Understanding how our thinking creates our moods and behavior is an area of cognitive psychology. Trying to improve our thinking to improve our moods and behavior is cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy provides a good model for self-help.

Cognitive Therapy: Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)

click here to read more…

 

Comment by Dennis R Devid;

Every human can take the depression-test here, here or in dutch here, here, here and here.

My conclusion was that I had still some irrational beliefs no I try to be more rational about things…

As an expert on depression and RET (Rational Emotieve Therapy) from the Netherlands i used the dutch pages like this, this or this. The last two pages are in dutch…

I learned that there are 5 steps;

RET

1.Occurrence;

Something bad happens; like somebody you loved dies.

2.Belief

Your thoughts are;”It’s the end of the world to me… :(”

3.Consequence / feelings;

You feeling very mad and sad or depressed.

4.Change thoughts of beliefs (2)

You can make new thoughts about the dead of your loved one;

a.”It was his/her time…he/she was old”

b.”It was an accident, there was nothing you could do.”

c.”Everybody dies some times…It was God that made that decision”

d.”he/she is with angels now…”

e.”he/she had cancer, there was nothing we could do”

5. discussion

Talk about the thoughts that make you feel happy and good. And replace those bad thoughts with new happy and good ones… Talk with family and your doctor what good thoughts could be?

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

I was fascinated by today’s Personal Health column by Jane Brody, which focuses on borderline personality disorder. Having known someone who is a “borderline,” I was intrigued by the following description from Jane’s column.

People with the disorder are said to have a thin emotional skin and often behave like 2-year-olds, throwing tantrums when some innocent word, gesture, facial expression or action by others sets off an emotional storm they cannot control. The attacks can be brutal, pushing away those they care most about. Then, when the storm subsides, they typically revert to being “sweet and wonderful,” as one family member put it.

Click here to read more…

 

Commend By Dennis R Devid;

I have also problems with my weight, just like BDP have 

The doctors say to get more exercise, but thats right but some people have problems with energy and condition. A lot of people do not believe that medications is the problem and it’s hard to explain for BDP that to family and friends. A lot of BDP people have problems with their anger. How to Avoid Borderline Rages, Angry BPD Tantrums.

Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder: click here A for Personal Essay

More information for the Netherlands;  click here… stipzoetermeer