About.com Borderline Personality Disorder

Veteran's Day, the Military, and BPD

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:26:18 +0000

This Veteran's Day got me thinking about the unique challenges that military service (or the military service of a loved one) could present to someone with BPD. Long absences with deployment, uncertainty about living circumstances, and the stressors of the military could be very difficult for someone with BPD.On the other hand, the structure and routine of military life could provide comfort.

Readers, do you have experience with BPD and the military? What issues have you faced?

Veteran's Day, the Military, and BPD originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 21:26:18.

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Should You Disclose Your Diagnosis?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:27:41 +0000

A topic that comes up quite frequently in the BPD forum is whether or not to tell other people about your BPD diagnosis. BPD is such a stigmatized condition that sometimes you may feel reluctant to tell even mental health providers that you've been diagnosed with BPD.

What experiences have you had with disclosing your diagnosis? Have you ever dreaded telling someone you have BPD and then had it go better than expected when you actually told? Or, have you had experiences of rejection when you shared your diagnosis? Share your story of disclosure...

Should You Disclose Your Diagnosis? originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 22:27:41.

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Stigma and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:41:58 +0000

I was reading an article today on teen stereotypes and teen behavior. The main research finding in this article was that if parents believe that their teen is likely to conform to negative behaviors (e.g., teen drinking) then then their teen actually DOES engage in more negative behavior.

What does this have to do with BPD? Well, it got me thinking that perhaps the same kind of self-fulfilling prophecy could happen with BPD. There is so much stigma attached to BPD, and many people expect those with BPD to "behave badly." Is it possible that knowing what others expect of you actually makes you conform to this expectation by acting out? What do you think?

Stigma and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 01:41:58.

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Why Does Everyone Leave Me?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:54:15 +0000

Difficult relationships are very common for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). A key symptom of BPD is fear of abandonment. This symptom may cause you to need frequent reassurance that abandonment is not imminent, to go to great lengths to try to avoid abandonment, and to feel devastated when someone ends a relationship with you.

But people with BPD also tend to have more unstable, chaotic relationships than others, and these relationships often end prematurely due to conflict. So, in many ways, it's a double-whammy...read more.

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Why Does Everyone Leave Me? originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 12:54:15.

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Suicidal Thoughts are More Common Than You'd Think

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:33:07 +0000

A new study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that more than 8 million Americans seriously consider suicide over the course of a year. That's roughly 3% of the U.S. population.

The study demonstrates just how common suicidal thoughts are in the general population. People with BPD have very high rates of suicidal ideation, as well as suicide attempts and completion. Want to learn more about suicidality and BPD? Check out these articles:

Suicidal Thoughts are More Common Than You'd Think originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 20:33:07.

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Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 4th through 10th

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:06:53 +0000

Just a reminder that this week is National Mental Illness Awareness Week in the U.S.

The week was established by Congress to promote awareness of the millions of Americans who have a severe mental illness.

What are you doing to observe the week? Spread the word by posting on your blog, updating your Facebook status with a reminder, or tweeting your support for those with mental illness.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 4th through 10th originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 22:06:53.

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PBS Will Present "Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness"

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:31:24 +0000

In October, PBS will be presenting"Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness." The program promises to be an attempt to engage citizens, policy makers, and mental health professionals in an honest and open conversation about the current U.S. mental health system.

The website for the program has a number of very interesting features, and previews of the program are entertaining and provocative. You can also check the website to find out when your local PBS station will be airing the show. This is one program that may be worth checking out.

PBS Will Present "Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness" originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 20:31:24.

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Grounding Exercises for Self-Harm, Dissociation, or Impulsivity

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:33:26 +0000

Many people with BPD suffer from self-harming behaviors, dissociation, or impulsivity, but few know that there are some simple skills that can keep these symptoms at bay. "Grounding exercises" can help you delay reckless or dangerous behavior or reconnect to the present moment if you are starting to zone out....(Read more)

Grounding Exercises for Self-Harm, Dissociation, or Impulsivity originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Sunday, September 13th, 2009 at 20:33:26.

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Does Megan Fox Have Borderline Personality?

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:50:31 +0000

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) doesn't get a lot of press, but it has been in the headlines this week, all because Megan Fox (star of the Transformers movies and the new movie Jennifer's Body) thinks that she has the disorder. She told Wonderland magazine, ""I basically read every book ever written about Marilyn Monroe. I could end up like that because I constantly struggle with the idea that I think I'm a borderline personality - or that I have bouts of mild schizophrenia."

Unfortunately, this isn't the kind of press BPD needs. Ms. Fox hasn't been diagnosed with BPD by any mental health professional (as far as we know). And she seems to have it confused with psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia. This story just perpetuates more myths about BPD (e.g., it can be self-diagnosed, it is "on the border" of psychosis).

Does Megan Fox Have Borderline Personality? originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Sunday, September 6th, 2009 at 19:50:31.

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Study Finds that Antidepressant Use Doubled in the Last Decade

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:33:17 +0000

A study reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry this month found that the number of children and adults taking antidepressant medications in the United States doubled between 1995 and 2005. Even more interesting, though, is the finding that the number of people seeing psychiatrists actually fell.

What gives? Well, for one, advertising for antidepressants increased more than three-fold, which probably led more people to ask their physicians about the medications. But, it may also be that doctors (including primary care physicians) are more likely to feel comfortable prescribing newer generation antidepressants (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs) because of the low risk and side effect profiles.

Study Finds that Antidepressant Use Doubled in the Last Decade originally appeared on About.com Borderline Personality Disorder on Sunday, August 30th, 2009 at 21:33:17.

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