Originally Published: January 5th, 2025 2026 I spend more time now thinking about the past as I process and heal through trauma that has been weighing me down for decades. This allows me the freedom to move on and have more space in my mind to be excited for future possibilities and fun. S, 🌻…
Tag: Borderline Personality Disorder
Embracing 50: Decoding My Diagnosis: Navigating Mental Health Challenges
As my 56th birthday approaches, I’ve decided to repost blogs about past birthdays. I wrote Embracing 50: Decoding My Diagnosis: Navigating Mental Health Challenges on March 26th, 2019 while we were living in Doha, Qatar. Rereading this blog reflects an important truth for me: I can’t advocate enough the importance of a proper mental health diagnosis. My…
Living With Histrionic Personality Disorder – Sexually Provocative Behaviour
Sexually Provocative Behavior It was January, 1997. At 27 years old, I was going for it. I wanted to be a somebody in Halifax – in the up-and-coming explosion of film and television productions throughout Nova Scotia. As newly ordained and completely naive manager (and soon-to-be scapegoat for the restaurant’s failure) of Robert McKelvie’s Pastavino…
55 Rules For Love – Rule #12 – Support Each Other When The Going Gets Tough
Originally published: February 8th, 2020 Revised & Edited: December 8th, 2024 Supporting each other when the going gets tough has been a challenging journey for Michael and I as we are very different in what we define as and how we deal with stressful situations. I am emotional. Having Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) adds to…
55 Rules For Love – Rule #5 – Don’t Say Words With The Intent To Hurt
Originally published: January 15th, 2020 Hurt People Hurt Others My husband Michael told me these profound, yet simple words a few years ago. He said this to me because when I was angry at him, I would lash out saying words to hurt him that I would quickly regret. My transition from aggression and going…
55 Rules For Love – Rule #4 – Only We Can Make Ourselves Happy, It Is Not The Other Person’s Responsibility
Originally published: January 13th, 2020 Codependent No More My first thought on this rule is Melody Beattie’s book, Codependent No More. Codependency has many definitions, but my favourite is: … an excessive reliance on other people for approval and a sense of identity. For so many years I was only happy when I had someone’s…
Living With Borderline Personally Disorder – DBT – Skills Thermometer – A DBT Skills Anchor Chart
DBT Skills Thermometer Once the group went through the 4 DBT sections of Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness, this lovely Cheat Sheet or Anchor Chart was given to us as a sort of wrap up of the skills and the group. I find it so very helpful. Perhaps, this can help you,…
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
DBT & Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills Goals of Interpersonal Effectiveness: Factors in the Way of Interpersonal Effectiveness: Objectives – Obtaining Them Skillfully: Clarifying Goals In Interpersonal Situations: Guidelines For Objectives Effectiveness: Getting What I Want (DEAR MAN) Guidelines For Relationship Effectiveness: Keeping The Relationship (GIVE) Guidelines For Self-Respect Effectiveness: Keeping Respect For Yourself (FAST) Troubleshooting: When…