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…
Tag: BPD
A Happiness Inventory
I can’t sleep. I had a few thoughts monkeying around my head, so I thought I would make a pot of coffee and write. As Michael and I continue to settle on our property while he builds our dome home, I think about what it means to be happy. My journey into and across adulthood…
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…
BPD & HPD And Gardening – Both Need Constant Tending To
I have Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder with a blog series about these tragically misunderstood personality disorders as a way to destigmatize, inform and navigate my healing through them. Therefore, I would like to see more information on the destigmatization of Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder. As well, I would also…
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…
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – My Ability To Self-Validate Grows When I Live In Alignment With My Values
An Unclear & Unstable Self-Concept Those with BPD struggle with having an unclear and unstable self-concept – meaning to be aware of and have a collection of beliefs – morals and values – about ourselves and how we see ourselves in the world. Therefore, if I do not know what I believe in, what my…
Living With Borderline Personality Disorder – Highlights Of DBT’s Emotional Regulation Skills
DBT & Emotional Regulation Skills Goals of Emotional Regulation: Understanding and Naming Emotions: Core Emotional Regulation Skills: Focused Emotional Regulation Skills Tidbits of Helpful Information Check the Facts How to Check the Facts: Ways To Describe Emotions Emotions That Fit The Facts Opposite Action How To Do Opposite Action: Opposite Action For Emotions Problem Solving…