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Marsha Linehan Reveals Her Own Fight with Borderline Personality Disorder


Date: Jun-2011(https://bpdfamily.com/book-covers/spacer.gif)Minutes: 2:15
Linehan Reveals Her Own Fight | New York Times

In an article appearing in the New York Times on a June 23, 2011, Marsha M. Linehan shares her struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder and shares a very personal video short.  The article provides interesting insight into both the motivations and the spiritual and scientific influences that lead to Dr. Linehan to develop Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.  The discussion of Radical Acceptance distills this concept down to its very essence.
 
"Are you one of us?" the patient wanted to know of her therapist, Marsha M. Linehan of the University of Washington, creator of a treatment used worldwide for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.
 
Dr. Linehan had a ready answer. It was the one she always used to cut the question short, whether a patient asked it hopefully, accusingly or knowingly, having glimpsed the macramé of faded burns, cuts and welts on Dr. Linehan’s arms: “You mean, have I suffered?”
 
“No, Marsha,” the patient replied, in an encounter last spring. “I mean one of us. Like us. Because if you were, it would give all of us so much hope.”
 
Dr. Linehan, 68, told her story in public for the first time last week before an audience of friends, family and doctors at the Institute of Living, the Hartford clinic where she was first treated for extreme social withdrawal at age 17. A discharge summary, dated May 31, 1963, noted that “during 26 months of hospitalization, Miss Linehan was, for a considerable part of this time, one of the most disturbed patients in the hospital.”  
 
“So many people have begged me to come forward, and I just thought — well, I have to do this. I owe it to them. I cannot die a coward.”
 
nytimes.com/2011/06/23/health/23lives.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/health/23lives.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)

This is pretty flipping amazing.  Wow.  Just wow.  This is going to change things, I think, for the better, in terms of public awareness and acceptance of this disorder. 

Exactly.  At least people will feel safer about coming out.  Also, I think it'll be a lot easier to sell DBT to persons diagnosed.  It's one thing to say that some psychologist came up with a treatment to help you.  It's completely different to say that someone like you came up with a way to help you.  I've heard a lot from my wife and others from BPD that "they" don't understand.  It's hard to use that line now.  Not impossible, mind you.  But a LOT harder.

A marvelous revelation. Truly an inspiration to all the other sufferers, both ordinary and famous.

This is a fantastic thing for everyone that suffers with or cares for someone with BPD. I hope it increases awareness and helps to remove the stigma.

Sir5r

What a magnificent revelation! And what hope this will bring to countless people, starting right now.

 I cannot wait to share this with my husband!


Where there was no cure... .for her... .she found one!

Awesome, awesome, awesome!

Shes been our hero for years now... and even more today!   |iiii xoxo

Man. I want to send her candy or something. That's incredible. I guess inside experience was really helpful when looking for a cure.

--Argyle

I spoke to our T this morning about this. I had mentioned DBT to him months ago and he told me he was a doctoral student with Linehan.  He said "well now that you know we can talk about that.". He already knew, I guess in the field some knew already.


Sir5r

This is awesome. I have her DVD's to teach try to teach my daughter self awareness and mindfullness... .sitting on a shelf. I do believe we can teach our children at times their reactions to minor irritations... .you know the 0 to 10 off the hook reaction... .can really be taught... we can help them to change their thoughts behind the scenes... .we have seen our children morph into different people at times and be so good and kind in others.

The only problem is we have to sneak in the teachings or have someone else... |iiii

but... .TOGETHERITISPOSSIBLE


keep the faith

Would you recommend this reading for someone with BPD that hasn't realized this is an issue for them?  I am ordering the book but will not have time to read for a couple weeks.  Can someone share what the main thing in her book was?  What helped get her going on recovery.

Thanks