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Two glasses of wine… Remembering priorities
While not BPD-related, this is a story that was posted by a member of the ATSTP Group to let us remember our priorities. Neither the poster or I know the origin of this story: TWO GLASSES OF WINE… When things in your life seem almost too much to handle……when 24 hours in a day are not enough….. remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine… A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty Mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students…
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A failure to mentalize – Mentalization Information Part 2
Often, when speaking with someone who is a close “attachment person,” misunderstandings, assumptions and ineffective modes of thinking creep into the situation. Bateman identifies several “modes” of thinking that inhibit mentalization. These modes are: Psychic Equivalence – when the world is equivalent to the person’s mind. This is the “feelings = facts” mode. “If I feel sad, there must be someone/something that made me sad.” Pretend – mental states are not anchored in reality. Pretending “as if” something is true, when external evidence shows the contrary. This is “bullshitting” mode. Teleological – mental states can only be expressed in action. “If you loved me, you’d buy me a car.” Only…
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I’m going to jump – Suicide Prevention and influencing factors
Many suicide attempts are preceded by a history of self-harm, in which there is deliberate injury that a person inflicts on his or her body. This does not mean that the person who self-harms wants to commit suicide, but is an effort by the person to cope with intense emotions. I’m gonna jump (link) THE DOCTOR SAYS By Dr MILTON LUM The are several factors that increase the risk of a person commiting sucide. EVERYONE’S life has its ups and downs, with feelings and emotions accompanying many of these situations. Most people adapt and cope with the downs. However, there are some who are so overcome with these emotions that…
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Mentalization Information Part 1
What is mentalization? Basically, mentalization is the connection of mind to mind in a particular exchange. It is about in-the-moment interaction, not about the past or future. It is about communicating and understanding your and the other person’s explicit and implicit expressions and motivations, feelings, goals, etc. It is about accurately expressing yourself and listening to the other person in a search for meaning. It is about internalizing the other’s viewpoint and having the other internalize your viewpoint. A really good example of mentalizing is an inside joke – both you and the other person completely understand the meaning of the joke and have internalized the meaning. Jerry Holmes, a…
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One in five U.S. adults takes medication for a mental disorder
Medications to treat mental health disorders is soaring among U.S. adults, according to data released Wednesday by Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefit manager. One in five U.S. adults takes medication for a mental disorder By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog 9:53 AM PST, November 16, 2011 Medications to treat mental health disorders is soaring among U.S. adults, according to data released Wednesday by Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefit manager. Twenty percent of all adults said they took at least one medication to treat a mental disorder. Among women, 25% said they took such medication and 20% said they were using an antidepressant.…
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Pain, Borderline Personality Disorder, Emotional Lability and Opiate Abuse
An article from pain.org regarding BPD, emotional lability and Opiate Abuse: The medical borderline: personality characteristics that promote increased risk of opioid misuse Geralyn Datz, Melissa Bonnell, Toni Merkey, Todd Sitzman Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg, MS, USA, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA, Advanced Pain Therapy, PLLC, Hattiesburg, MS, USA Purpose Undiagnosed or untreated psychiatric comorbidities may contribute to medication misuse. In particular, personality disorders may place patients at risk for medical nonadherence, via negative coping styles. Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) utilize medical services more frequently than those without BPD and are less likely to adhere to medical regimens. Patients with borderline traits have greater incidences of risky behavior, including…