BPDFamily.com

After being on a waiting list for several months I got an invitation to register for a two weekend Family Connections intensive. I have heard great things about this program. Who else has gone ? Did it help you?

Faith, that's great news, I'm pleased you've heard from them! I've not personally done as I'm in the UK, but wanted to say yay and I look forward to hearing more.

WDx

Thanks Wendy
I will definitely report back to the group.

Hi Faith,  Congratulations!   You must be really looking forward to that.  I just managed to register for an ISSPD (International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders) conference.  They are having a family day with keynote speakers.  I am beyond excited!   :wee:  I have never had an opportunity like this until now.  I got the email about it from Sashbear Family Connections.   Is that who you are with? 

Faith,
I’ve been on the waitlist for Family Connections for 6 mos. they say there is such great need for this class, but they are short on resources. We are in a very large city and I suppose we just move up the list slowly. Please keep us posted.

Faith - that is great news!  I too have been on wait list for months. Wish they had the resources or whatever they need to get us in sooner!

That is great, Resilient!
Getting good education about BPD and sharing what we learn will help us all. The Family Connections program I will attend in December is part of the National Association for Education on BPD. I understand they are quite reputable. My husband also attended a 12 week program at a local hospital run by the National Association for Mental Health. He says that was also helpful.


Hang in there Peacemom It won't be long before you get your invitation too.

Faith,

DH and I attended a one weekend (two day) Family connections weekend in May.  It was a turning point for us...nothing magically changed with my DD, however how we respond to what goes on and how we respond to her behaviors has changed and I believe has made a huge difference for DH, for me and our relationships with our children.   Much of what is in the class you already know (at least I think you do from reading your posts and your supportive responses to others) and it really solidifies that knowledge.  For us it was also being in a room of other people who knew what it was like to be in our shoes, all that support, hearing different ways of handling situations that made it a special weekend.         

I really believe that if we had not attended the FC weekend, our relationship with our DD as well as her wellbeing might be in a very different (and much worse)place right now.

So happy for you that you will have this opportunity!

~SOD

Thanks SOD. I am feeling good about my decision to invest this time. It can only help.

I attended Family Connections a few years ago and it was like being on this board, but with faces  :)

It's peer-led, so the facilitators will be family members like you. That in itself was very healing. My facilitators were lovely people and what surprised me most was how much laughter there was. I didn't anticipate that. I guess there can be a gallows humor when you're in a room sharing tales about hard times.

It was a mixed group but the majority were parents with a BPD daughter, and a few with BPD sons. A handful were spouses. The loved ones with BPD ranged from teen-aged children to grown adults, and probably half struggling with addictions of one type or another. A broad range of backgrounds.

If you have read books like Loving Someone with BPD by Shari Manning or Overcoming BPD by Valerie Porr the information will resonate. You may find you know more than those who are just learning about their child's BPD.

After the workshop came to an end, we were eligible to be part of an ongoing support group that met once weekly. That group met an hour from where I live so I haven't attended but it was good to know there was a resource available like that.

You can also be selected (or volunteer) to become a facilitator. The classes to become a trained facilitator seem to be held in White Plains, New York over two nights (Fri-Sun).

It took a year before I was able to find one of the FC workshops in my area!

Curious to know if there is a way to find out locations of Family Connections.  I am near a big city so hoping that makes a difference.  Anyone know this?

Rosheger
When you register for Family Connections you will see a drop down menu of locations. https://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.org/family-connections/family-connections-pre-registration-form/

LnL -  A support group was not offered after our weekend . :(   that would have been ideal!     There was a lot of laughter in our weekend as well, and tears too.     

Rosheger - if there is not a FC in your area, you can also sign up for a telecommunications class.

~SOD

Hi Faith,

I started my second round of Family Connections last Monday and will be doing it weekly for 12 weeks. I'm hoping that the reminders about how to communicate and to not engage in abusive ugly dialogue will the me gain my strength back. The arguing plum wore me out.

Good luck and hopefully you can gain some great insight and good ways of continuing the relationship with your son.