Re: What's In a Name

[Guest guest]

No not how the regular population looks at the disorder, how you do. And

because for so long it was " hopeless " . But that is not true anymore.

As for borderline, the term was accurate and is accurate. Changing it is not

going to help unless they get it redefined to be an Axis 1 so that insurance

will cover it. Then doctors will treat it! (or si tha axis 2 i cant remember!)

Then things will change in the diagnoses and treatment. But for now it is not

going to help you or your daughter, you allready know the name of your problem

and that will n ot go away when the name is changed.

Hgus

kelley

Re: Re: What's In a Name

Thank you Carolyn.....I am glad others see on the terms I do, cause how people

look at BPD's (cause we are so sensitive) does affect our recovery. Now I have

to start over with my daughter, because of her being so sensitive to what people

think of her....and you have that to consider of BPD's too, we are so emotional

that when we get hurt feelings, it feels 10 times worse (if not more) than when

a " normal " person gets their feelings hurt.....

And knowledge is power, that is why I am trying to find out all the info I can

for my daughter and I.....

And I agree with you Carolyn, it is a worthy goal....to know that people with

BPD will have a " label " that more fits the disorder and is not as frightening to

people that don't understand it.

I don't know how many of you are on groups with " nons " , but people with BPD

take a lot of bashing and blame sometimes, and yes a lot of us do manipulate and

hurt some emotionally, but when there are articles out called " Are They Human "

talking about people with personality disorders....would you want any of your

BPD children to get their hands on that? No it would crush what little self

esteem they have. But, we only hurt others emotionally because we are too

scared too let people get too close. We want them there, but we push them away

when they get too close to our " safe zone " ....

....

openjoyful wrote:

The term " Borderline " is inaccurate (see 's article) - it is a

misnomer, as the condition is not on the borderline of anything.

We all know myths about bpd:

It is hopelessly incurable.

It always results from sexual molestation of children.

Parents of bp's have abused them.

There is no treatment.

Consider, for instance, how people felt in past times about someone

who had an obvious physical disability - repulsed and frightened,

because it was misunderstood. Or homosexuality, which was branded

a " mental illness " Much research has been done to show differences

in the brains of homosexuals, and investigation of whether they were

born with that orientation, rather than possessed by the devil.

Imagine if there were another, more accurate name for bpd. Imagine

if an advocacy group brought to the attention of mental health

professionals worldwide that it is many times genetic, is a chemical

inbalance, and that it is treatable. Imagine if those therapists

knew about DBT and drug treatments because they were educated on

this, and therefore recommended it to their patients, who got help.

Imagine if parents were not stigmatized as abusers because it was

revealed that bpd does not necessarily result from molestation.

Imagine if this illness was widely treated, better researched and

understood better publicly.

Knowledge is power. Much has happened as far as medical knowledge on

how to help these patients. How many people have visited this site

and found out for the first time that there is hope? How many have

learned from this group that they are not to blame for their child's

condition? This group in itself is breaking the stigma!

Will changing terms and stigmas cure anyone? No. But a forward

thinking approach to this or any illness is a positive step in

helping many people, and I think a very worthy goal.

Carolyn

> To All,

> After my daughter's fifth inpatient facility, she was

quite relieved

> to learn there was a name for what was wrong with her. Before

that all I

> ever heard was , " what is wrong with me, I don't know why I do

these things " .

> She did nothing but cut and cry. Altho, she was not a good

candidate to know,

> her reading up on it, she was able to use it to her advantage.

The drs.

> there told me she was not a good candidate to be told, but

someone there told

> her anyway. That was a long time ago, she knows what is wrong,

she knows she

> has to deal with it, and she's getting better at it. She knows

it's HER

> thinking and coping and handling, etc. that has to change and

she's getting better

> at it, she realizes it is not everyone around her that has to

change.

> Things are going so well at home now, her and my hubby talk and

get along, and I

> said to her the other day, we were talking about how well all is,

do you now

> see that neither I nor hubby have changed ourselves and look how

well we all

> get along? She smiled and knew.

> Debbie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I wrote out my feelings last night to get sight, but I had to fight to get to

them, I have so much going on here lately, that I sort of get buried...been

working weekends...I told my boss I could not work this weekend, that I needed

to destress, been working too much and dealing with too much at home...she don't

understand her kids were " normal " and she is a workaholic...but I wrote this

last night...

I so much dislike what this disorder has done to so many years of my life, so

many years that I have lost to not being able to control the actions I did. I

can remember so many nights crying myself to sleep because of the lonliness, and

knowing that no person or drug would fill it...Why God is what I want to scream

still to this day....Why God was I not normal? Now this disorder is robbing my

daughter of her feeling of belonging. What happened to me to make me feel this

way...why can't I totally change it, why do I still have to have days where I

fight for my sanity? Why is the human mind and human soul so complicated...why

can't somebody tell me that they love me and I accept it for that...why do I

have to have certain things to be validated.....why can't I just accept and go

on with my life...WHY? WHY? Will I ever quit wondering this...why am I broken?

Kelley wrote:

No not how the regular population looks at the disorder, how you do. And

because for so long it was " hopeless " . But that is not true anymore.

As for borderline, the term was accurate and is accurate. Changing it is not

going to help unless they get it redefined to be an Axis 1 so that insurance

will cover it. Then doctors will treat it! (or si tha axis 2 i cant remember!)

Then things will change in the diagnoses and treatment. But for now it is not

going to help you or your daughter, you allready know the name of your problem

and that will n ot go away when the name is changed.

Hgus

kelley

Re: Re: What's In a Name

Thank you Carolyn.....I am glad others see on the terms I do, cause how people

look at BPD's (cause we are so sensitive) does affect our recovery. Now I have

to start over with my daughter, because of her being so sensitive to what people

think of her....and you have that to consider of BPD's too, we are so emotional

that when we get hurt feelings, it feels 10 times worse (if not more) than when

a " normal " person gets their feelings hurt.....

And knowledge is power, that is why I am trying to find out all the info I can

for my daughter and I.....

And I agree with you Carolyn, it is a worthy goal....to know that people with

BPD will have a " label " that more fits the disorder and is not as frightening to

people that don't understand it.

I don't know how many of you are on groups with " nons " , but people with BPD

take a lot of bashing and blame sometimes, and yes a lot of us do manipulate and

hurt some emotionally, but when there are articles out called " Are They Human "

talking about people with personality disorders....would you want any of your

BPD children to get their hands on that? No it would crush what little self

esteem they have. But, we only hurt others emotionally because we are too

scared too let people get too close. We want them there, but we push them away

when they get too close to our " safe zone " ....

....

openjoyful wrote:

The term " Borderline " is inaccurate (see 's article) - it is a

misnomer, as the condition is not on the borderline of anything.

We all know myths about bpd:

It is hopelessly incurable.

It always results from sexual molestation of children.

Parents of bp's have abused them.

There is no treatment.

Consider, for instance, how people felt in past times about someone

who had an obvious physical disability - repulsed and frightened,

because it was misunderstood. Or homosexuality, which was branded

a " mental illness " Much research has been done to show differences

in the brains of homosexuals, and investigation of whether they were

born with that orientation, rather than possessed by the devil.

Imagine if there were another, more accurate name for bpd. Imagine

if an advocacy group brought to the attention of mental health

professionals worldwide that it is many times genetic, is a chemical

inbalance, and that it is treatable. Imagine if those therapists

knew about DBT and drug treatments because they were educated on

this, and therefore recommended it to their patients, who got help.

Imagine if parents were not stigmatized as abusers because it was

revealed that bpd does not necessarily result from molestation.

Imagine if this illness was widely treated, better researched and

understood better publicly.

Knowledge is power. Much has happened as far as medical knowledge on

how to help these patients. How many people have visited this site

and found out for the first time that there is hope? How many have

learned from this group that they are not to blame for their child's

condition? This group in itself is breaking the stigma!

Will changing terms and stigmas cure anyone? No. But a forward

thinking approach to this or any illness is a positive step in

helping many people, and I think a very worthy goal.

Carolyn

> To All,

> After my daughter's fifth inpatient facility, she was

quite relieved

> to learn there was a name for what was wrong with her. Before

that all I

> ever heard was , " what is wrong with me, I don't know why I do

these things " .

> She did nothing but cut and cry. Altho, she was not a good

candidate to know,

> her reading up on it, she was able to use it to her advantage.

The drs.

> there told me she was not a good candidate to be told, but

someone there told

> her anyway. That was a long time ago, she knows what is wrong,

she knows she

> has to deal with it, and she's getting better at it. She knows

it's HER

> thinking and coping and handling, etc. that has to change and

she's getting better

> at it, she realizes it is not everyone around her that has to

change.

> Things are going so well at home now, her and my hubby talk and

get along, and I

> said to her the other day, we were talking about how well all is,

do you now

> see that neither I nor hubby have changed ourselves and look how

well we all

> get along? She smiled and knew.

> Debbie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

Glen Closes character in Fatal Attraction was considered BPD. There are so many

different facets of BPD. Note how she behaved when he was leaving her the first

time, she cut herself. She was an extreme. But so are all cases of BPD that

are published. I am sure the goal of the writer, and director of fatal

attraction was to present her as psychotic. I don't think schizophrenics

actually plan thier revenge, but rather are told by voices to do things. Not

real up on that DX though.

Other movies that portray BPD in different extremes are

Girl Interupted, where there is the high functioning and low functioning and

inward vs outward both in the same movie. Also Gia. Gia was good at showing the

clingy then get out of my life parts of BPD as well as the abuse of drugs and

addictive behaviors b ut also showed really well the emptiness.

Here are some links with more movies that present BPD, disregard reviews, each

of us find different things in movies, and this page did not like girl

interupted but I got a lot out of it!

http://www.bpd411.org/movies.html

http://www.fragmentedmind.healthyplace2.com/custom4.html

Remember when watching these movies that the really bad thing about BPD is that

it crosses so many other diagnoses in criteria, symptoms, signs whatever you

want to call them, hence the term borderline!

Hgus

Kelley

Re: Re: What's In a Name

Actually I believe that Glenn Close's character was more scizzophrenic (sp)

and psycho.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

,

I hope she learned somethng from the experience. It is hard to get past things

like this, but not usually the best thing to announce what the problem is. She

could have simply said yeah I was having some problems at home and left it at

that. Of course none of these kids probably have a clue what a personality

disorder thing is, perhaps this will make her work harder at changing things for

the better!

Hugs

Kelley

Re: Re: What's In a Name

My point is, a name change would be good, because of how sensitive people

are, especially teens...it is not easy to have your daughter come home from

school, depressed because they made fun of her disorder and called her " crazy "

that caused so much pain for my daughter, she wanted to cut herself. The name

don't bother me, but I am an adult and I can deal with other people, but a teen

just acccepting that she has a problem and having to deal with cruelty is not

easy....so a name change to something that fit it better, would help a lot.

katiehines57 wrote:

This whole " what's in a name " conversation is, to me, rather

ridiculous.

If a person with cancer can't bring themselves to say, " I have

cancer, " does it make it any less true, or the prognosis any

different, or the treatment any different?

Of course not.

The problem lies not within whatever label people chose to put on

it, but the individual person's inability to accept that they are

ill and deal with the consequences.

> >

> > ---------------------------------------------------------------

----

> --

> > -----------

> > What's in a name? In the disability community this question is

a

> hot

> > topic. In fact, the use of negative language has proven time

after

> > time to be a major influence on individual and public

attitudes

> > towards people with disabilities and as Dahl asserts often

> > constitutes " a major barrier for people with disabilities " .3

> > However, despite progress being made to use less stigmatizing

> > disability terms, psychiatry has not kept up with these

changes.

> > Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), listed in the Axis II

> section

> > of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV), is an example

of

> one

> > such term and the focus of this paper.4

> >

> > The DSM IV defines BPD as " a pervasive pattern of instability

of

> > interpersonal relationships, self-image, and effects, and

marked

> > impulsivity beginning by early adulthood. " .4 The mental health

> > disability causes extreme emotional vulnerability, an unstable

> sense

> > of self, impulsiveness in potentially self-damaging behaviors

> (e.g.,

> > spending, sex, substance abuse, driving, eating, etc.),

suicidal

> or

> > self-mutilating behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness,

intense

> > anger or difficulty controlling anger, and periods of feeling

> > removed from reality (dissociation).

> >

> > This paper will discuss the negative connotations of the

> term " BPD " ,

> > examine the origin of the term, the effects it has on

treatment

> and

> > ways the term shapes both individual and public perception of

> people

> > diagnosed with the disorder. In addition, the paper will

explore

> > whether or not the term is an acceptable use of language based

on

> > current terminology standards outlined in the government

> > publication " Worthless or Wonderful " .15 Finally, it will

propose

> > recommendations for changing the name and identify recent

progress

> > towards this goal.

> >

> > Origin

> >

> > The origin of the term " BPD " dates back to the early 1900's.

At

> this

> > time people with mental health disabilities were either

> categorized

> > as neurotic or psychotic. 13 As it became increasingly clear

to

> Dr.

> > Stern (an early psychiatrist) that a growing patient body did

not

> > quite fit into these oversimplified diagnostic categories of

the

> > day, the term " borderline " was born. According to Dr. Stern's

> > theory, such patient's teetered on the " borderline " between

> neuroses

> > and psychoses. Although this theory went out of favor shortly

> after

> > it was proposed, the " borderline " label stuck. 2

> >

> > Inaccuracy

> >

> > Dr. Leland Heller (M.D.), believes the BPD term is inaccurate

and

> > that the 'BPD' label " in and of itself is as if the whole

person

> > (and the personality) is flawed. " .7 He strongly objects to

this

> > implication because the most recent research on BPD indicates

that

> > the cause of the disorder is not a " flawed personality " but

rather

> a

> > biologically based brain disorder. He believes there is a

> > dysfunction of the limbic system of the brain.7 Heller backs

up

> his

> > objection to the term with recent research on the biological

> > components of BPD. Evidence linking borderline personality

> > disorderjj to a limbic system dysfunction is based on current

> > knowledge regarding the function of the limbic circuit and

studies

> > examining the biological causes of the disorder. The limbic

> system,

> > itself, is often thought of as the " emotional centre " of the

> brain.

> > 1 The amygdala and hippocampus are important components of the

> > limbic system that regulate emotional expression, especially

fear,

> > rage and automatic reactions (such as impulsive behaviors) and

> > emotional memory. Although not formally part of the limbic

system

> > itself, the pre-frontal cortex (located near the forehead) is

> > another important structure thought to play a key role in

> emotional

> > regulation. Both areas of the brain have been the subject of a

> > number of studies examining the neurological origin of BPD.

For

> > example, studies examining the connection between BPD and

> > neuroanotomical differences in limbic system found that the

volume

> > of the hippocampus and amygdala were respectively, 16 percent

and

> > 7.5 percent smaller in the BPD group than those in the control

> group

> > (people without any form of mental illness). 5 It is

hypothesized

> > that these differences may be related to prior abuse

experiences,

> a

> > common issue for people diagnosed with BPD. However, more

research

> > is required to prove this theory.

> >

> > Another study by Soloff, M.D. and his associates found a

> > connection between BPD and low level brain activity in the pre-

> > frontal cortex. Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

scans,

> > researchers can measure glucose levels to detect brain

activity

> Low

> > glucose levels have been connected to deficiencies in

serotonin, a

> > naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps regulate

> > emotion. In this study, Soloff established two groups. The

first

> > group comprised of BPD patients, while the second group,

served as

> > the control group made up of participants with no history of

> mental

> > illness. Subjects from both the BPD group and the control

group

> were

> > either given the serotonin-enhancing drug, Fenfluramine or a

> > placebo. Under both conditions, researchers consistently

observed

> > higher level glucose activity in the frontal lobes of control

> > participants than those in the BPD group. 12

> >

> > These biological explanations for BPD substantiate Heller's

belief

> > that BPD is in fact a biological disorder, and not just a

> > personality flaw.

>

>

>

>

>

> People joining this list must read the guidelines and agree to

them before posting. Send questions or concerns to WelcomeToOz-

owner " Stop Walking on Eggshells " , a primer for non-

BPs, and " Hope for Parents: Helping Your Borderline Son or Daughter

Without Sacrificing Your Family Or Yourself " can be ordered via 1-

888-35-SHELL (). For table of contents, go to

http://www.BPDCentral.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I hope so, and she saw my struggle that I still have some days, today when I

came home from work.....

Kelley wrote:

,

I hope she learned somethng from the experience. It is hard to get past things

like this, but not usually the best thing to announce what the problem is. She

could have simply said yeah I was having some problems at home and left it at

that. Of course none of these kids probably have a clue what a personality

disorder thing is, perhaps this will make her work harder at changing things for

the better!

Hugs

Kelley

Re: Re: What's In a Name

My point is, a name change would be good, because of how sensitive people

are, especially teens...it is not easy to have your daughter come home from

school, depressed because they made fun of her disorder and called her " crazy "

that caused so much pain for my daughter, she wanted to cut herself. The name

don't bother me, but I am an adult and I can deal with other people, but a teen

just acccepting that she has a problem and having to deal with cruelty is not

easy....so a name change to something that fit it better, would help a lot.

katiehines57 wrote:

This whole " what's in a name " conversation is, to me, rather

ridiculous.

If a person with cancer can't bring themselves to say, " I have

cancer, " does it make it any less true, or the prognosis any

different, or the treatment any different?

Of course not.

The problem lies not within whatever label people chose to put on

it, but the individual person's inability to accept that they are

ill and deal with the consequences.

> >

> > ---------------------------------------------------------------

----

> --

> > -----------

> > What's in a name? In the disability community this question is

a

> hot

> > topic. In fact, the use of negative language has proven time

after

> > time to be a major influence on individual and public

attitudes

> > towards people with disabilities and as Dahl asserts often

> > constitutes " a major barrier for people with disabilities " .3

> > However, despite progress being made to use less stigmatizing

> > disability terms, psychiatry has not kept up with these

changes.

> > Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), listed in the Axis II

> section

> > of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV), is an example

of

> one

> > such term and the focus of this paper.4

> >

> > The DSM IV defines BPD as " a pervasive pattern of instability

of

> > interpersonal relationships, self-image, and effects, and

marked

> > impulsivity beginning by early adulthood. " .4 The mental health

> > disability causes extreme emotional vulnerability, an unstable

> sense

> > of self, impulsiveness in potentially self-damaging behaviors

> (e.g.,

> > spending, sex, substance abuse, driving, eating, etc.),

suicidal

> or

> > self-mutilating behavior, chronic feelings of emptiness,

intense

> > anger or difficulty controlling anger, and periods of feeling

> > removed from reality (dissociation).

> >

> > This paper will discuss the negative connotations of the

> term " BPD " ,

> > examine the origin of the term, the effects it has on

treatment

> and

> > ways the term shapes both individual and public perception of

> people

> > diagnosed with the disorder. In addition, the paper will

explore

> > whether or not the term is an acceptable use of language based

on

> > current terminology standards outlined in the government

> > publication " Worthless or Wonderful " .15 Finally, it will

propose

> > recommendations for changing the name and identify recent

progress

> > towards this goal.

> >

> > Origin

> >

> > The origin of the term " BPD " dates back to the early 1900's.

At

> this

> > time people with mental health disabilities were either

> categorized

> > as neurotic or psychotic. 13 As it became increasingly clear

to

> Dr.

> > Stern (an early psychiatrist) that a growing patient body did

not

> > quite fit into these oversimplified diagnostic categories of

the

> > day, the term " borderline " was born. According to Dr. Stern's

> > theory, such patient's teetered on the " borderline " between

> neuroses

> > and psychoses. Although this theory went out of favor shortly

> after

> > it was proposed, the " borderline " label stuck. 2

> >

> > Inaccuracy

> >

> > Dr. Leland Heller (M.D.), believes the BPD term is inaccurate

and

> > that the 'BPD' label " in and of itself is as if the whole

person

> > (and the personality) is flawed. " .7 He strongly objects to

this

> > implication because the most recent research on BPD indicates

that

> > the cause of the disorder is not a " flawed personality " but

rather

> a

> > biologically based brain disorder. He believes there is a

> > dysfunction of the limbic system of the brain.7 Heller backs

up

> his

> > objection to the term with recent research on the biological

> > components of BPD. Evidence linking borderline personality

> > disorderjj to a limbic system dysfunction is based on current

> > knowledge regarding the function of the limbic circuit and

studies

> > examining the biological causes of the disorder. The limbic

> system,

> > itself, is often thought of as the " emotional centre " of the

> brain.

> > 1 The amygdala and hippocampus are important components of the

> > limbic system that regulate emotional expression, especially

fear,

> > rage and automatic reactions (such as impulsive behaviors) and

> > emotional memory. Although not formally part of the limbic

system

> > itself, the pre-frontal cortex (located near the forehead) is

> > another important structure thought to play a key role in

> emotional

> > regulation. Both areas of the brain have been the subject of a

> > number of studies examining the neurological origin of BPD.

For

> > example, studies examining the connection between BPD and

> > neuroanotomical differences in limbic system found that the

volume

> > of the hippocampus and amygdala were respectively, 16 percent

and

> > 7.5 percent smaller in the BPD group than those in the control

> group

> > (people without any form of mental illness). 5 It is

hypothesized

> > that these differences may be related to prior abuse

experiences,

> a

> > common issue for people diagnosed with BPD. However, more

research

> > is required to prove this theory.

> >

> > Another study by Soloff, M.D. and his associates found a

> > connection between BPD and low level brain activity in the pre-

> > frontal cortex. Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

scans,

> > researchers can measure glucose levels to detect brain

activity

> Low

> > glucose levels have been connected to deficiencies in

serotonin, a

> > naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps regulate

> > emotion. In this study, Soloff established two groups. The

first

> > group comprised of BPD patients, while the second group,

served as

> > the control group made up of participants with no history of

> mental

> > illness. Subjects from both the BPD group and the control

group

> were

> > either given the serotonin-enhancing drug, Fenfluramine or a

> > placebo. Under both conditions, researchers consistently

observed

> > higher level glucose activity in the frontal lobes of control

> > participants than those in the BPD group. 12

> >

> > These biological explanations for BPD substantiate Heller's

belief

> > that BPD is in fact a biological disorder, and not just a

> > personality flaw.

>

>

>

>

>

> People joining this list must read the guidelines and agree to

them before posting. Send questions or concerns to WelcomeToOz-

owner " Stop Walking on Eggshells " , a primer for non-

BPs, and " Hope for Parents: Helping Your Borderline Son or Daughter

Without Sacrificing Your Family Or Yourself " can be ordered via 1-

888-35-SHELL (). For table of contents, go to

http://www.BPDCentral.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I loved Girl Interuppted.....it is one of my favorite movies!

Kelley wrote:

Debbie,

Glen Closes character in Fatal Attraction was considered BPD. There are so many

different facets of BPD. Note how she behaved when he was leaving her the first

time, she cut herself. She was an extreme. But so are all cases of BPD that

are published. I am sure the goal of the writer, and director of fatal

attraction was to present her as psychotic. I don't think schizophrenics

actually plan thier revenge, but rather are told by voices to do things. Not

real up on that DX though.

Other movies that portray BPD in different extremes are

Girl Interupted, where there is the high functioning and low functioning and

inward vs outward both in the same movie. Also Gia. Gia was good at showing the

clingy then get out of my life parts of BPD as well as the abuse of drugs and

addictive behaviors b ut also showed really well the emptiness.

Here are some links with more movies that present BPD, disregard reviews, each

of us find different things in movies, and this page did not like girl

interupted but I got a lot out of it!

http://www.bpd411.org/movies.html

http://www.fragmentedmind.healthyplace2.com/custom4.html

Remember when watching these movies that the really bad thing about BPD is that

it crosses so many other diagnoses in criteria, symptoms, signs whatever you

want to call them, hence the term borderline!

Hgus

Kelley

Re: Re: What's In a Name

Actually I believe that Glenn Close's character was more scizzophrenic (sp)

and psycho.

Debbie