Complex PTSD vs. PTSD: What is the Difference?
Wednesday April 7, 2010
The symptoms of PTSD apply well to people who have experienced a discrete or short-lived traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident, natural disaster, or rape. However, the symptoms of PTSD do not always completely map onto the experiences of people who have experienced chronic, repeated, or long-lasting traumatic events, such as childhood sexual and/or physical abuse, domestic violence, or captivity.
When it comes to these events, the symptoms of PTSD do not really seem to completely describe the psychological harm, emotional problems, and changes in how people view themselves and the world following chronic traumatic exposure. Therefore, some mental health professionals believe that we should distinguish between the type of PTSD that develops from chronic, long-lasting traumatic events as compared PTSD from short-lived events. The diagnosis of "Complex PTSD" refers to the set of symptoms that commonly follow exposure to a chronic traumatic event.
You can learn more about complex PTSD and its symptoms in this article.
http://glclk.about.com/?zi=8/9V%5Bm
FYI-It has been suggested that I have Complex PTSD
Friday, April 30, 2010
Making Positive Changes in Your Life
Making Positive Changes in Your Life
Sunday April 18, 2010
When it comes to addressing PTSD symptoms (whether it is through therapy, self-help, medications, etc.), we are understandably often focused intently on reducing or eliminating symptoms. However, once we have accomplished that, many people may be left asking themselves, "Now what?" That is, we often focus our attention on reducing symptoms without focusing much attention on building a positive and meaningful life. Therefore, as you are addressing your PTSD symptoms, it is also important to bring attention to increasing positive and important activities in your life. The American Psychological Association has a number of helpful tips on how to make lasting positive changes in your life that can ultimately increase the extent with which you are living a life that feels important, meaningful, and healthy.
http://glclk.about.com/?zi=8/9V%5Bl
Sunday April 18, 2010
When it comes to addressing PTSD symptoms (whether it is through therapy, self-help, medications, etc.), we are understandably often focused intently on reducing or eliminating symptoms. However, once we have accomplished that, many people may be left asking themselves, "Now what?" That is, we often focus our attention on reducing symptoms without focusing much attention on building a positive and meaningful life. Therefore, as you are addressing your PTSD symptoms, it is also important to bring attention to increasing positive and important activities in your life. The American Psychological Association has a number of helpful tips on how to make lasting positive changes in your life that can ultimately increase the extent with which you are living a life that feels important, meaningful, and healthy.
http://glclk.about.com/?zi=8/9V%5Bl
A bit of yet another setback.......
I have been patiently waiting to get into a place in Quincy, MA near where I live for treatment of my BPD and after waiting two weeks I get a call with them telling me there was some kind of miscommunication between my old doctor and them so I would have to 3-6 weeks more for treatment and I tried to hold my anger inside but failed and ended up swearing and yelling at the therapist out of frustration and end up telling her to blank herself and I would find another place then I called my PCP bawling, nice switch from red hot anger to despair and sobbing gotta love BPD, and they were very nice and said they would do what they could to help me with a referral and today I called a place I am familiar with in my area but as luck would have the intake person was not there today............errrrrrrrr!!! I am binge drinking right now probably not a good thing. I know it will get better I always have hope and faith.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Finding Meaning
Finding Meaning
An Exercise to Help You Find More Meaning in Your Life
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Created: May 27, 2009
Exercise and Fitness
Do you need help finding meaning in your life? Many people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) struggle with feelings of emptiness, identity problems, and depressed mood. Together, the symptoms of BPD can leave you searching for meaning in your life.
This is one exercise that is designed to help you identify what is meaningful to you. Of course, finding meaning is not an easy process, and no one exercise will get you there; finding meaning takes work and is best accomplished with the help of a good therapist. In fact, this may be an exercise that you want to work on with your therapist.
Finding Meaning – What Is Meaningful to Me?
The first step toward finding meaning in your life is to determine what aspects of your life are meaningful to you. This exercise, which is adapted from an exercise from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that is related to Dialectical Behavior Therapy for BPD, can help you assess what is meaningful to you.
To begin this exercise, take out a notebook or a sheet of paper. Down the left side of the page, write the following list:
Now that you have the list, next to each item write a number between 1 and 5 that corresponds with how important you personally find each area to be in your life, with 5 = extremely important and 1= not at all important.
If you are not sure, just write a question mark. Remember that there are no right answers, and no one will ever have to see this list. Just write down what you feel is important to you (not what anyone else says should be important to you).
Finding Meaning – Define What Would Bring You Meaning
Now that you have rated each domain on the list in terms of importance to you, pick the two domains that you rated as most important. If you rated every domain as exactly as important as any other, go back and think about whether there is actually one or two domains that stand out as more important than the others (even if only by a little bit).
For the one or two domains that you picked out as most important, write one or two sentences about how you would like to behave in each domain. This is important- this is not about how you would like to feel or think (e.g., I would like to be confident and self-assured). Instead, focus on behavior, or how you would like to act in that domain. Here is an example from the “intimate relationships” domain:
”I would like to be a kind and caring partner. I would like to say supportive things to my partner when they are feeling down, and I would like to do things for them that will help make their life a little easier. I would also like to act as if I am worthwhile in relationships by asking for the things I need.”
Finding Meaning – Putting It Together
Now look at what you have written how you would like to behave in the one or two domains that you chose as most important to you. Hopefully you have written one or two sentences that describe behaviors or actions that you would like to take in those domains. These are the types of actions that can help you find meaning in your life—these are the ways that you would like to be in the areas of your life that are most important to you.
Don’t be surprised if reading the statements you have written makes you sad—perhaps you are not acting the way you would like in these areas of your life, or perhaps you feel no where near where you would like to be in these areas (e.g., maybe you are not in an intimate relationship despite the fact that it is very important to you).
If you are struggling with this exercise and are having a hard time finishing it, put it down and come back to it another time. This can be a very difficult exercise, and sometimes it requires some time to “digest,” so let it sit for a while and try again when you are ready. You can also try talking it over with a friend, or a therapist, to get more input.
If you have completed this exercise you have taken a very important step toward living a more meaningful life—you have determined what areas of your life are most important to you, and you have specified a few actions you could take that would move you toward having more meaning in your life.
Source:
Hayes SC. Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. 1st ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2005.
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD
Borderline Personality Disorder Guide
An Exercise to Help You Find More Meaning in Your Life
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Created: May 27, 2009
Exercise and Fitness
Do you need help finding meaning in your life? Many people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) struggle with feelings of emptiness, identity problems, and depressed mood. Together, the symptoms of BPD can leave you searching for meaning in your life.
This is one exercise that is designed to help you identify what is meaningful to you. Of course, finding meaning is not an easy process, and no one exercise will get you there; finding meaning takes work and is best accomplished with the help of a good therapist. In fact, this may be an exercise that you want to work on with your therapist.
Finding Meaning – What Is Meaningful to Me?
The first step toward finding meaning in your life is to determine what aspects of your life are meaningful to you. This exercise, which is adapted from an exercise from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that is related to Dialectical Behavior Therapy for BPD, can help you assess what is meaningful to you.
To begin this exercise, take out a notebook or a sheet of paper. Down the left side of the page, write the following list:
Now that you have the list, next to each item write a number between 1 and 5 that corresponds with how important you personally find each area to be in your life, with 5 = extremely important and 1= not at all important.
If you are not sure, just write a question mark. Remember that there are no right answers, and no one will ever have to see this list. Just write down what you feel is important to you (not what anyone else says should be important to you).
Finding Meaning – Define What Would Bring You Meaning
Now that you have rated each domain on the list in terms of importance to you, pick the two domains that you rated as most important. If you rated every domain as exactly as important as any other, go back and think about whether there is actually one or two domains that stand out as more important than the others (even if only by a little bit).
For the one or two domains that you picked out as most important, write one or two sentences about how you would like to behave in each domain. This is important- this is not about how you would like to feel or think (e.g., I would like to be confident and self-assured). Instead, focus on behavior, or how you would like to act in that domain. Here is an example from the “intimate relationships” domain:
”I would like to be a kind and caring partner. I would like to say supportive things to my partner when they are feeling down, and I would like to do things for them that will help make their life a little easier. I would also like to act as if I am worthwhile in relationships by asking for the things I need.”
Finding Meaning – Putting It Together
Now look at what you have written how you would like to behave in the one or two domains that you chose as most important to you. Hopefully you have written one or two sentences that describe behaviors or actions that you would like to take in those domains. These are the types of actions that can help you find meaning in your life—these are the ways that you would like to be in the areas of your life that are most important to you.
Don’t be surprised if reading the statements you have written makes you sad—perhaps you are not acting the way you would like in these areas of your life, or perhaps you feel no where near where you would like to be in these areas (e.g., maybe you are not in an intimate relationship despite the fact that it is very important to you).
If you are struggling with this exercise and are having a hard time finishing it, put it down and come back to it another time. This can be a very difficult exercise, and sometimes it requires some time to “digest,” so let it sit for a while and try again when you are ready. You can also try talking it over with a friend, or a therapist, to get more input.
If you have completed this exercise you have taken a very important step toward living a more meaningful life—you have determined what areas of your life are most important to you, and you have specified a few actions you could take that would move you toward having more meaning in your life.
Source:
Hayes SC. Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. 1st ed. New Harbinger Publications; 2005.
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD
Borderline Personality Disorder Guide
The Relationship Between Child Abuse and BPD
The Relationship Between Child Abuse and BPD
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Updated April 05, 2008
Child Abuse
Does child abuse cause BPD? There is no simple answer; we don't yet know exactly what causes BPD. There is evidence that people with BPD are more likely to report a history of child abuse or other distressing childhood experiences. But, many people who have experienced child abuse do not have BPD, and many people with BPD were not abused or maltreated as children.
What is Child Abuse?
There are several different definitions of child abuse, and these definitions change over time. However, there are a set of experiences that experts generally consider to fit in this category, including physical abuse (being physically hurt or injured), sexual abuse (being subjected to sexual behaviors by someone older), or emotional abuse (being subjected to distressing emotional attacks; i.e., being verbally abused).
Experts also recognize that active abuse is not the only type of maltreatment that can have negative consequences for a child. Examples of other negative childhood events include physical neglect (being denied basic physical needs, such as food), and emotional neglect (having one's emotional needs denied or ignored).
Both child abuse and neglect can be related to the development of psychological disorders. Sometime the term "child maltreatment" is used to describe both abuse and neglect of children.
Research on Child Abuse and BPD
Research does indicate that there is a relationship between child abuse and BPD. People with BPD report high rates of childhood sexual abuse and/or physical abuse. Forty to 76 percent of people with BPD report that they were sexually abused as children, and 25 to 73 percent report that they were physically abused. So, while there is a good deal of research that links childhood abuse to BPD, there is also evidence that about a third of people with BPD report no abuse.
There is also evidence to link BPD to other forms of child maltreatment, such as emotional and physical neglect. In fact, some research suggests that emotional and physical neglect may be even more closely related to the development of BPD than physical or sexual abuse (however, this is difficult to determine, since children who experience abuse also often experience some form of neglect).
The Bottom Line
Research has fairly conclusively demonstrated a relationship between BPD and child maltreatment. However, there have been no studies that have been able to demonstrate conclusively that child maltreatment causes BPD. Rather, the research shows that BPD and child maltreatment tend to be associated with one another. More research is needed to determine whether child maltreatment is a cause of BPD, and, if so, what types of child maltreatment are most closely associated with the development of BPD. For now, we know that while child abuse is related to BPD, it is neither a necessary or sufficient cause. There are other factors, such as genetics, biology, and other environmental factors, that are also involved in the development of BPD.
Sources:
Bornovalova MA, Gratz KL, Delany-Brumsey A, Paulson A, and Lejuez CW. "Temperamental and Environmental Risk Factors for Borderline Personality Disorder Among Inner-City Substance Users in Residential Treatment." Journal of Personality Disorders, 20:218-231, 2006.
Soloff PH, Lynch KG, Kelly TM. "Child Abuse as a Risk Factor for Suicidal Behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder." Journal of Personality Disorders, 16:201-214, 2002.
Zanarini MC. "Childhood Experiences Associated with the Development of Borderline Personality Disorder." Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23:89-101.
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Updated April 05, 2008
Child Abuse
Does child abuse cause BPD? There is no simple answer; we don't yet know exactly what causes BPD. There is evidence that people with BPD are more likely to report a history of child abuse or other distressing childhood experiences. But, many people who have experienced child abuse do not have BPD, and many people with BPD were not abused or maltreated as children.
What is Child Abuse?
There are several different definitions of child abuse, and these definitions change over time. However, there are a set of experiences that experts generally consider to fit in this category, including physical abuse (being physically hurt or injured), sexual abuse (being subjected to sexual behaviors by someone older), or emotional abuse (being subjected to distressing emotional attacks; i.e., being verbally abused).
Experts also recognize that active abuse is not the only type of maltreatment that can have negative consequences for a child. Examples of other negative childhood events include physical neglect (being denied basic physical needs, such as food), and emotional neglect (having one's emotional needs denied or ignored).
Both child abuse and neglect can be related to the development of psychological disorders. Sometime the term "child maltreatment" is used to describe both abuse and neglect of children.
Research on Child Abuse and BPD
Research does indicate that there is a relationship between child abuse and BPD. People with BPD report high rates of childhood sexual abuse and/or physical abuse. Forty to 76 percent of people with BPD report that they were sexually abused as children, and 25 to 73 percent report that they were physically abused. So, while there is a good deal of research that links childhood abuse to BPD, there is also evidence that about a third of people with BPD report no abuse.
There is also evidence to link BPD to other forms of child maltreatment, such as emotional and physical neglect. In fact, some research suggests that emotional and physical neglect may be even more closely related to the development of BPD than physical or sexual abuse (however, this is difficult to determine, since children who experience abuse also often experience some form of neglect).
The Bottom Line
Research has fairly conclusively demonstrated a relationship between BPD and child maltreatment. However, there have been no studies that have been able to demonstrate conclusively that child maltreatment causes BPD. Rather, the research shows that BPD and child maltreatment tend to be associated with one another. More research is needed to determine whether child maltreatment is a cause of BPD, and, if so, what types of child maltreatment are most closely associated with the development of BPD. For now, we know that while child abuse is related to BPD, it is neither a necessary or sufficient cause. There are other factors, such as genetics, biology, and other environmental factors, that are also involved in the development of BPD.
Sources:
Bornovalova MA, Gratz KL, Delany-Brumsey A, Paulson A, and Lejuez CW. "Temperamental and Environmental Risk Factors for Borderline Personality Disorder Among Inner-City Substance Users in Residential Treatment." Journal of Personality Disorders, 20:218-231, 2006.
Soloff PH, Lynch KG, Kelly TM. "Child Abuse as a Risk Factor for Suicidal Behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder." Journal of Personality Disorders, 16:201-214, 2002.
Zanarini MC. "Childhood Experiences Associated with the Development of Borderline Personality Disorder." Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23:89-101.
Borderline personality disorder medicines
Borderline personality disorder medicines
You shouldn't wait until you are in the
middle of an episode to take them.
They are also meant to be a preventative
medicine.
This means that it may be able to keep
relapses from happening in the first place.
So they should be taken even when you
are stable.
I know that many people don't like the
idea of having to take a medication for
the rest of their lives.
But it's better than the idea of having to
deal with all the pieces of a borderline
episode for the rest of your life.
It's better than dealing with the instability
that comes with untreated borderline
personality disorder.
And it's better than losing everything you
have and want because your borderline
episode allowed you to burn bridges.
Just think of it this way:
Someone who has insulin-dependant
diabetes will have to take insulin for the
rest of their lives in order to stay healthy.
Someone who has high blood pressure
may have to take blood pressure medicine
for the rest of their lives.
Someone who has chronic seizures may
have to take anti-seizure medication for
the rest of their lives.
It's the same sort of thing.
Borderline personality disorder is a
medical problem that happens to
affect the mind more than the body.
And, since it is a medical problem, it
needs to be treated in a medical way.
There are no surgeries that can be
performed to cure borderline personality
disorder.
There isn't a cream you can rub on your
forehead that will take it all away.
There isn't even a miracle-cure pill that
you can take one time and it will cure you.
But there is such a thing as preventative
medicine.
Unfortunately, at this point in time we
cannot cure borderline personality
disorder.
But we can prevent it from taking over
a person's life.
Isn't that great news?
But it can only be great news if you take
your medicine that was prescribed to
you and follow the rest of your treatment
plan.
Now, if your medicine is wrong or if you
are having problems with it, then you
need to talk to your psychiatrist.
If there is a serious problem then they
can usually see you on an emergency
basis, especially if it is during business
hours.
Find out ahead of time what your
psychiatrist's policy is on emergency
visits.
It is always better to know ahead of time
so you can be prepared.
Also, keep in mind that some minor
side effects are normal and usually go
away within a short time after starting
the medication.
If you have any major side effects, then
you should talk to your psychiatrist
immediately.
They will know whether your medications
need to be changed or altered.
Also, if your medications need to be
changed, then they will know whether
you need to be weaned off of your current
medication gradually, or if you can stop
it all at once.
Make sure you follow all of their
instructions when it comes to this.
When you and your psychiatrist have
worked together and found the mediation
that is right for you, then it is important
that you take it exactly as prescribed,
without missing a dose.
Also, know ahead of time what to do if
you should miss a dose.
Usually you either need to wait until the
next dose is due or take it in between
doses.
Your pharmacist or psychiatrist will be
able to help you determine that.
It should also be on the pamphlet that
came with your medications.
Taking the right medications regularly
as prescribed can help prevent relapses
and keep you stable.
It is well worth the effort it takes to take
them, even if it is for the rest of your
life.
Stability makes it worth it.
You shouldn't wait until you are in the
middle of an episode to take them.
They are also meant to be a preventative
medicine.
This means that it may be able to keep
relapses from happening in the first place.
So they should be taken even when you
are stable.
I know that many people don't like the
idea of having to take a medication for
the rest of their lives.
But it's better than the idea of having to
deal with all the pieces of a borderline
episode for the rest of your life.
It's better than dealing with the instability
that comes with untreated borderline
personality disorder.
And it's better than losing everything you
have and want because your borderline
episode allowed you to burn bridges.
Just think of it this way:
Someone who has insulin-dependant
diabetes will have to take insulin for the
rest of their lives in order to stay healthy.
Someone who has high blood pressure
may have to take blood pressure medicine
for the rest of their lives.
Someone who has chronic seizures may
have to take anti-seizure medication for
the rest of their lives.
It's the same sort of thing.
Borderline personality disorder is a
medical problem that happens to
affect the mind more than the body.
And, since it is a medical problem, it
needs to be treated in a medical way.
There are no surgeries that can be
performed to cure borderline personality
disorder.
There isn't a cream you can rub on your
forehead that will take it all away.
There isn't even a miracle-cure pill that
you can take one time and it will cure you.
But there is such a thing as preventative
medicine.
Unfortunately, at this point in time we
cannot cure borderline personality
disorder.
But we can prevent it from taking over
a person's life.
Isn't that great news?
But it can only be great news if you take
your medicine that was prescribed to
you and follow the rest of your treatment
plan.
Now, if your medicine is wrong or if you
are having problems with it, then you
need to talk to your psychiatrist.
If there is a serious problem then they
can usually see you on an emergency
basis, especially if it is during business
hours.
Find out ahead of time what your
psychiatrist's policy is on emergency
visits.
It is always better to know ahead of time
so you can be prepared.
Also, keep in mind that some minor
side effects are normal and usually go
away within a short time after starting
the medication.
If you have any major side effects, then
you should talk to your psychiatrist
immediately.
They will know whether your medications
need to be changed or altered.
Also, if your medications need to be
changed, then they will know whether
you need to be weaned off of your current
medication gradually, or if you can stop
it all at once.
Make sure you follow all of their
instructions when it comes to this.
When you and your psychiatrist have
worked together and found the mediation
that is right for you, then it is important
that you take it exactly as prescribed,
without missing a dose.
Also, know ahead of time what to do if
you should miss a dose.
Usually you either need to wait until the
next dose is due or take it in between
doses.
Your pharmacist or psychiatrist will be
able to help you determine that.
It should also be on the pamphlet that
came with your medications.
Taking the right medications regularly
as prescribed can help prevent relapses
and keep you stable.
It is well worth the effort it takes to take
them, even if it is for the rest of your
life.
Stability makes it worth it.
Had a bad day again.......
Its been awhile since I have posted in this blog but just to update: For the most part I have been doing well I was going to Mclean Hospital in Boston for BPD treatment and finished that treatment and am now moving on to another mental health facility for outpatient treatment which I am looking forward to completing. However, I have had a bit of set back I had a rough weekend between forgetting to take my meds and family stress I had more or less a psychotic episode where I was lashing out at my hubby and breaking various items and then I felt guilty so I turned to what I know all too well for coping which is cutting and took a knife and with one strong slash I managed to end up in the ER getting 8 stitches. I am back on my meds regularly and feeling better and reached out to my docs to explain this set back. I always knew this journey would be a tough one requiring alot of strength on my part but it does take its toll on you and sometimes you fall but no matter what you have to dust yourself off and get back up and thats what I am doing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)