BOOK REVIEW: The Essential Family Guide to Borderline Personality Disorder

New Tools and Techniques to Stop Walking on Eggshells

The first half of the book covers the disorder - the origin and cause of the disorder, symptoms and diagnosis of BPD, including why BPD is often misdiagnosed; how symptoms can differ by age and gender; and how addiction and other disorders complicate BPD, and common treatments.

The second half of the book focuses on five tools for family members to use to make home life more manageable for the family overall and more supportive of the person affected by BPD.

Take Good Care of Yourself (Tool 1) Chapter 7, covers concepts such as “don't take things personally”, “get in touch with your true feelings”, “accept what is, not what you hope to be”, and “attend to your own wellbeing and otherwise take your self". The author points out that before attempting anything with another person, we need to look at ourselves.

Uncover What Keeps You Feeling Stuck (Tool 2) Chapter 8, discusses things about us that make it difficult for us to navigate these relationships and how to deal with them - things such as fear, obligation, guilt, shame, unhealthy bonding (low self-esteem, depression, codependency, etc.). The author explains, in short, though we often get caught up in these relationships and are part of the dysfunction.

Communicate to Be Heard (Tool 3) Chapter 9 explores the very important aspects of how to effectively communicate to very sensitive person. People with Borderline Personality Disorder often interpret common communications and actions as slights and defamation. Cahpter 9 outlines communication tools that would benefit any relationship - but are essential in a relationship with a person with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Set Limits with Love (Tool 4) Chapter 10 explores aspects of how to effectively set "limits" in a relationship with a person who has bad boundaries People with Borderline Personality Disorder are known for having unhealthy boundaries and expectations of others.

Reinforce the Right Behavior (Tool 5) In Chapter 11, the author explains reinforcing the right behavior, and equally important, not rewarding bad behavior (which we often do). She also explains “extinction burst”s are and how to respond to them.

Randi Kreger is a professional writer. She was co-author of The Stop Walking on Eggshells Workbook (2002), Stop Walking on Eggshells (2010, 2nd ed.), and Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing a Borderline or Narcissist (2011). She has a blog at Psychology Today.

# Paperback: 250 pages
# Publisher: Hazelden (October 15, 2008)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1592853633
# ISBN-13: 978-1592853632