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Neurobiology and the Psychic Pain that is BPD
An article about the opioid system and the neurobiology of borderline personality disorder. Neurobiology Informs Successful Psychotherapy for BPD Mark Moran A common feature of all psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder is activation of the prefrontal cortex through reappraisal of painful affect states generated by a hyperactive amygdala. Neurobiological research can help psychotherapists tailor talking therapies to the individual characteristics of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). That’s what Glen Gabbard, M.D., told psychiatrists at this year’s APA annual meeting in Honolulu in an address titled, “Neurobiologically Informed Psychotherapy of Borderline Personality Disorder.” A prominent psychoanalyst and psychodynamic therapist, Gabbard said he believes the theoretical constructs of psychoanalysis—drives and conflicts—find…
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Understanding Emotional Agony Through David Foster Wallace’s Eyes
Here is a quote from Infinite Jest about “depression” or the “Great White Shark of Pain”. I think it helps illustrate the difference between the chronically depressed and those in emotional agony. I see that people with borderline personality disorder are more likely to be in the second category. I have bolded some key points here. The “suicide contract” is exactly the same as a “behavior contract”. With a person in this much pain, it ain’t gonna work. That dead-eyed anhedonia is but a remora on the ventral flank of the true predator, the Great White Shark of pain. Authorities term this depression clinical depression or involuntary depression or unipolar dysphoria. Instead…
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Emotional Independence and the Types of Love
Emotional independence is gained through a change in the way we approach loving others and loving ourselves. Children are naturally and understandably emotional dependent on their parents, because all of their emotional needs are (at first) supplied by their parents – and their siblings, peers, teachers, other family members and others in society. They have little ability to supply needs on their own. If you continue this pattern when you grow up, you’re going to continue to be emotionally dependent on others to supply validation, etc. Even competition with others is a form of negative validation for your emotional needs. Eros-type love of partners is rooted in desire and sees loves as…
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Parents hope to raise awareness of BPD after daughter’s suicide
An important article about the parents of Sasha Menu-Courey, who took her own life in June: Parents hope to raise awareness of condition that took daughter’s life Parents hope to raise awareness of condition that took daughter’s life. Sasha Menu-Courey, who took her own life in June after receiving a diagnosis of BPD, spent more than 25 hours per week pursuing her passion for swimming. Her parents will hold a celebration service for her Sunday to honour her life and raise awareness of BPD. Courtesy / Mike Menu NOEL GRZETIC July 8, 2011 When a person takes his or her own life, one would imagine it’d be an unbelievable challenge…
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Major changes in the DSM for personality disorders
An LA Times article about changes to the DSM for personality disorders: latimes.com BOOSTER SHOTS: Oddities, musings and news from the health world Personality disorders category is likely to be dramatically revised for next psychiatry textbook By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog 12:05 PM PDT, July 7, 2011 Several types of personality disorders will be dropped from the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. But one disorder previously proposed for elimination — narcissistic personality disorder — will likely remain in the text. The American Psychiatric Assn. announced Thursday that the framework for personality disorders in DSM-5 will be a…
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Missouri swimmer’s suicide might draw attention to disorder
Article about a University of Missouri swimmer who committed suicide. She had BPD. Sad, sad. Missouri swimmer’s suicide might draw attention to disorder By DAVID BRIGGS Sunday, July 3, 2011 Sasha Menu Courey loved college life at Missouri. She was a swimmer with Olympic ambitions but rarely missed a chance to set free a laugh so booming that it seemed to rattle the ceiling of teammates a floor below at Johnston Hall. The sophomore greeted friends — everybody counted as one — as if they were just the person she was hoping to see. “It was always, ‘Heyyy!’ ” said MU swimmer Caitlin Connor, who met Menu Courey before a…