Recommended Reading: Books About BPD
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Updated October 11, 2009
A number of books on BPD have been published, some by experts in the field and some by people with the disorder. When you set out to learn more about the disorder, you may be overwhelmed by the choices. Here are a few helpful books to start with.
"Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Living with BPD" by Robert O. Friedel. Marlowe and Company, 2001.
"Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder" by Marsha M. Linehan. Guilford Press, 1993.
"The Borderline Personality Disorder Survival Guide" by Alex Chapman and Kim Gratz. New Harbinger Publications, 2007.
"Borderline Personality Disorder for Dummies" by Charles H. Elliott, PhD, and Laura L. Smith, PhD, For Dummies, 2009.
"Borderline Personality Disorder in Adolescents: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Coping When Your Adolescent Has BPD" by Blaise Aguirre, MD, Fair Winds Press, 2007.
"Lost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder" by Richard Moskovitz. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2nd edition, 2001.
"Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder" by Rachel Reiland. Hazelden, 2004.
Monday, June 7, 2010
How to Choose Self Help Books
How to Choose Self Help Books
Learn How to Find a Quality Self Help Books
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Updated February 02, 2009
There are hundreds of self help books available on bookstore shelves. These books promise to help you lose weight, beat depression, reduce anxiety, even recover from borderline personality disorder (BPD). Pick any problem and you will probably find at least five self help books that are designed to tackle it. And, research has shown that these books can work; for example, self help programs for depression and anxiety are associated with reduced symptoms in people who use them.
Unfortunately, these books can vary dramatically in terms of their quality. With so many books available, how do you know which to choose? Of course, reading reviews of the books can help, but it can also help to have a keen eye for the factors that make a self help book more likely to be a reliable source of information, and the factors that alert you to sources that are less trustworthy.
Choose Self Help Books: What to Look For
Below are some general guidelines to help you choose self help books. It is important to note that these are generalizations; there are some very good self help books that do not meet all of the guidelines below, and other poor quality books that on the surface appear to meet the criteria. However, these guidelines may help you narrow down your choices.
Who is the Author? First, take a look at who wrote the book. In general, quality self help books are written by people who are considered experts in the topic. Usually, these individuals are mental health professionals who hold doctoral or medical degrees, conduct research in the topic area, have experience as practitioners, and are affiliated with academic institutions. Self help books that are of less quality tend to be written by people who are not professionals.
How Broad is the Topic Area Covered? Another characteristic of lower quality self help books is that they tend to cover very broad topic areas. For example, these books may promise methods to change every area of your lifestyle for the better. If a book promises this, be cautious. Often an approach that specifically targets the problem you are having is more realistic.
Where Does the Author Get Their Information? Next, evaluate where the information in the book is coming from. Flip to the back of the book (or the end of each chapter). Are there references cited? Most good self help books cite references from the peer-reviewed scientific and professional literature. For example, a citation from the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology or the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the author has done his or her homework; they have consulted the research literature and are delivering solid advice based on scientific studies.
What Claims Does the Author Make? Finally, it is very important to consider the claims that the author makes about their advice. As a general rule, there are no magical cures. If the author claims that in only 15 minutes a day you can be worry-free for the rest of your life, be skeptical. If a claim about the effectiveness of a program seems too good to be true, it probably is. In fact, good self help books acknowledge the limitations of self help, and provide guidance on seeking professional help.
Consult the Experts. If you are having trouble determining whether a book is of dubious quality, there are resources available to help you determine which self help book is right for you. In addition to consulting online reviews, a group of expert mental health clinicians and researchers have compiled reviews of over 1,000 self help resources by thousands of mental health clinicians:
The Authoritative Guide to Self Help Resources in Mental Health, Revised Edition, by Drs. John Norcross, John Santrock, Linda Campbell, Thomas Smith, Robert Sommer, and Edward Zuckerman. New York: Guilford Press, 2003.
Most libraries carry this guide; it is a great resource for finding good self help books for most mental health problems.
Sources:
Den Boer PCAM, Wiersma D, Van Den Bosch RJ. “Why is Self Help Neglected in the Treatment of Emotional Disorders?” A Meta-Analysis.” Psychological Medicine, 34: 959-971, 2004.
Redding RE, Herbert JD, Forman EM, Gaudiano BA. “Popular Self Help Books for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma: How Scientifically Grounded and Useful are They?” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39: 537-545, 2008.
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD
Borderline Personality Disorder Guide
Learn How to Find a Quality Self Help Books
By Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD, About.com Guide
Updated February 02, 2009
There are hundreds of self help books available on bookstore shelves. These books promise to help you lose weight, beat depression, reduce anxiety, even recover from borderline personality disorder (BPD). Pick any problem and you will probably find at least five self help books that are designed to tackle it. And, research has shown that these books can work; for example, self help programs for depression and anxiety are associated with reduced symptoms in people who use them.
Unfortunately, these books can vary dramatically in terms of their quality. With so many books available, how do you know which to choose? Of course, reading reviews of the books can help, but it can also help to have a keen eye for the factors that make a self help book more likely to be a reliable source of information, and the factors that alert you to sources that are less trustworthy.
Choose Self Help Books: What to Look For
Below are some general guidelines to help you choose self help books. It is important to note that these are generalizations; there are some very good self help books that do not meet all of the guidelines below, and other poor quality books that on the surface appear to meet the criteria. However, these guidelines may help you narrow down your choices.
Who is the Author? First, take a look at who wrote the book. In general, quality self help books are written by people who are considered experts in the topic. Usually, these individuals are mental health professionals who hold doctoral or medical degrees, conduct research in the topic area, have experience as practitioners, and are affiliated with academic institutions. Self help books that are of less quality tend to be written by people who are not professionals.
How Broad is the Topic Area Covered? Another characteristic of lower quality self help books is that they tend to cover very broad topic areas. For example, these books may promise methods to change every area of your lifestyle for the better. If a book promises this, be cautious. Often an approach that specifically targets the problem you are having is more realistic.
Where Does the Author Get Their Information? Next, evaluate where the information in the book is coming from. Flip to the back of the book (or the end of each chapter). Are there references cited? Most good self help books cite references from the peer-reviewed scientific and professional literature. For example, a citation from the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology or the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the author has done his or her homework; they have consulted the research literature and are delivering solid advice based on scientific studies.
What Claims Does the Author Make? Finally, it is very important to consider the claims that the author makes about their advice. As a general rule, there are no magical cures. If the author claims that in only 15 minutes a day you can be worry-free for the rest of your life, be skeptical. If a claim about the effectiveness of a program seems too good to be true, it probably is. In fact, good self help books acknowledge the limitations of self help, and provide guidance on seeking professional help.
Consult the Experts. If you are having trouble determining whether a book is of dubious quality, there are resources available to help you determine which self help book is right for you. In addition to consulting online reviews, a group of expert mental health clinicians and researchers have compiled reviews of over 1,000 self help resources by thousands of mental health clinicians:
The Authoritative Guide to Self Help Resources in Mental Health, Revised Edition, by Drs. John Norcross, John Santrock, Linda Campbell, Thomas Smith, Robert Sommer, and Edward Zuckerman. New York: Guilford Press, 2003.
Most libraries carry this guide; it is a great resource for finding good self help books for most mental health problems.
Sources:
Den Boer PCAM, Wiersma D, Van Den Bosch RJ. “Why is Self Help Neglected in the Treatment of Emotional Disorders?” A Meta-Analysis.” Psychological Medicine, 34: 959-971, 2004.
Redding RE, Herbert JD, Forman EM, Gaudiano BA. “Popular Self Help Books for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma: How Scientifically Grounded and Useful are They?” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39: 537-545, 2008.
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, PhD
Borderline Personality Disorder Guide
Relapsed Went into the Hospital
So early May I had a set back and end up w/ self injury that was pretty severe so I voluntarily stayed at McLean Hospital for a few days. I saw the handwriting on the wall and new I was starting to come apart.
Good news is I am doing much better I have new outside providers and am on new meds that seem to be working pretty well knock on wood hopefully everything continues to go this way.
Good news is I am doing much better I have new outside providers and am on new meds that seem to be working pretty well knock on wood hopefully everything continues to go this way.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Mediation as a coping skill
Welcome to the Meditative Movements e-Newsletter. This edition's affirmation is "I release worry". We can worry about virtually any and every part of our lives. Whether it's losing a job, being in a poor relationship, or having health problems, worry is a common response for most people. If you are a worrier, I don't need to tell you everything that you could worry about. You already know.
When I find myself in situations like those noted above, I have found that repeating the "I release worry" affirmation has benefited me and others. It's important for me to live in the present moment. Worrying and thinking about all the potential "what ifs" doesn't help me or you. Since this moment is all that we have, we need to embrace this moment confidently and not waste any precious moments by worrying. When I train my body, mind and being together, I feel the energy and power to live as my best self. You can enjoy this feeling too by releasing those worrying thoughts as you exercise.
My program offers you a way to feel centered and energized so that releasing worry is easier. The Meditative Movements book offers cardio, strengthening, yoga flexibility and balance movements and Power of Positive Aerobics DVD is a 30-minute video that has three different workout levels making it suitable for all fitness abilities. Both use positive core value affirmations so that you can affirm yourself, move your body so you can change your life. Visit Ellie's Meditative Movements for past newsletter and product information.
May you release worry and find confidence. One affirmation and one movement at a time.
http://www.meditativemovements.com/productcatalog.html
When I find myself in situations like those noted above, I have found that repeating the "I release worry" affirmation has benefited me and others. It's important for me to live in the present moment. Worrying and thinking about all the potential "what ifs" doesn't help me or you. Since this moment is all that we have, we need to embrace this moment confidently and not waste any precious moments by worrying. When I train my body, mind and being together, I feel the energy and power to live as my best self. You can enjoy this feeling too by releasing those worrying thoughts as you exercise.
My program offers you a way to feel centered and energized so that releasing worry is easier. The Meditative Movements book offers cardio, strengthening, yoga flexibility and balance movements and Power of Positive Aerobics DVD is a 30-minute video that has three different workout levels making it suitable for all fitness abilities. Both use positive core value affirmations so that you can affirm yourself, move your body so you can change your life. Visit Ellie's Meditative Movements for past newsletter and product information.
May you release worry and find confidence. One affirmation and one movement at a time.
http://www.meditativemovements.com/productcatalog.html
Sad today
My sister and I are on the outs as usual which is no surprise if people knew my chaotic dystunctional upbringing. My sister and I don't work because she is a narcisst and I can't back down when she hurdles insults my way. Well recently pretty much all of her friends didn't want to deal with her drama they way I have for years and decided to back way off from her. Oh yeah did I mention she has nothing to do with my son her only nephew. Anyway, she just called my best friend who is also her friend and wants to make amends so thats what their off doing making amends with each other. And I am wondering why my blood has more motivation and desire to work on her relationship with a friend than with her only sister and it triggers this idea in my head that "why I am not good enough" and "nobody wants me" and I am sitting here crying and I know my sister doesn't have an ounce of sympathy or love and yet I will always sadly have a piece of me that actually gives a shit and feels pain when she slights me over and over again. This lastest thing with my sister has thrust me into some major depression have very horrific thoughts but I have hope always.
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