Tag Archive for: emotion regulation disorder

Resources: Men and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

I already know about the difficulties of experiencing the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder as a woman.  I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be a man with BPD in a culture that undervalues emotional expression from males and often encourages the expression of stereotypical anger, macho-ism, and the suppression of emotions […]

Resources: Men and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

I already know about the difficulties of experiencing the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder as a woman.  I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be a man with BPD in a culture that undervalues emotional expression from males and often encourages the expression of stereotypical anger, macho-ism, and the suppression of emotions […]

Paying Forward The Compassion You’ve Received – Empathy and BPD

If I can save one person, perhaps you, from unnecessary suffering because you are able to gleam some insight into similarities in your own life and behavior, this post will be worth it. I am going to trust that someone, somewhere will stumble across this post, see themselves in my story, and find hope. I’ve […]

The Four Agreements: Toltec Wisdom for the Emotionally Wounded

Years ago, in a mystical new age bookstore, I stumbled upon a book and accompanying deck of cards called “The Four Agreements.” I remember my intrigue when I read the back cover and learned that there was a system of beliefs, delivered down from the Toltec culture, that boiled down to four, simple principles. I […]

Interpersonal Effectiveness (DBT): Why I Don’t Have Friends (BPD)

In an effort to improve my Interpersonal Effectiveness skills and, ultimately, work toward continuing to “create a life worth living” – the motto of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy),  I have taken the risk of reach out to a few people to see if they want to get together.  It was terrifying. The mere thought of the rejection and their […]

Make Your Own Self Soothing Kit (DBT – Self Soothe)

If you were to make a self-soothing kit that you could easily take with you wherever you go, what would be inside?  The goal would be to bring at least one item that soothes each of your senses.  I am considering putting together such a kit, and here is what I imagine I will include: […]

Coping Ahead With Emotional Situations (DBT Skill)

This week in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), we went over Emotion Regulation Handout 13 – specifically, the bottom section “Cope Ahead of Time with Emotional Situations.” Emotion Regulation Handout 13 from Skills Training Manual for Disordered Emotion Regulation by Marsha Linehan (c) in press Guilford Here is my own personal example for numbers 1 and 2: […]

When Emotions Spiral Out of Control

Today I experienced an intense, extreme emotion.  When I tell you what it is, you may initially wonder why it was a problem.  I pulled out my DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) binder and turned to the Emotion Regulation 4 Handout to help me identify what I was feeling, as I felt overwhelmed and flooded with […]

Emotional Sensitivity, Impulsiveness, and BPD

I often tell other people who are suffering with intense, extreme emotions and urges that no matter how intense, extreme, or strong it is, it will pass. Not only will it pass, but you also do NOT have to follow through on any impulse to act during that time. Often when we are in a […]

Some Thoughts on Judging | Borderline Personality Disorder

Last week in DBT class, we talked about judging. According to Dr. Marsha Linehan, the pioneer of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) for BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder / Emotion Regulation Disorder): “Judging is when you observe a fact and then add an evaluation of good or bad.” Her recommendation is to “non-judgmentally observe a fact and […]