Far too many books about borderline personality disorder needlessly stigmatize people with BPD, calling them “borderlines” and focusing only on the experiences of family members. (Don’t get me wrong, family members do need support and validation, but individuals with the illness need it just as much if not more.) Continue reading
self-help
{Mental Health Mondays} Practicing Loving Kindness
Loving kindness. Sounds like an easy platitude, right? Love your neighbor. All you need is love. But this Buddhist concept isn’t quite so simplistic. Continue reading
{Mental Health Mondays} What Is Mindfulness?
At its core, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) utilizes the concept of mindfulness. All of its modules and skills training build upon that foundation. But what is mindfulness, exactly, from a mental health standpoint? Continue reading
{Mental Health Mondays} The 4 Modules of DBT
I’ve made it no secret that DBT saved my life. It was an intensive nine-month therapy program that built up my strengths in four key training areas called “modules.” I’d like to break these down into their component parts today. Continue reading
{Mental Health Mondays} Radical Acceptance
In my previous post about DBT and Zen Buddhism, I mentioned an important concept called radical acceptance. Today I’d like to explore it in greater detail. Continue reading
Not Quite Zen, But Getting There
Seven years ago, while in a lot of distress, I entered a program of therapy called DBT, which emphasized concepts from Buddhism. It literally saved my life. Continue reading
Staying in “Yes”
This week at the dance class I attend, we moved to a song that talked about “staying in yes” — focusing on what you want rather than what you don’t, evaluating all the options and choosing the best one. Continue reading
Weathering the Storms of Anxiety
I frequently struggle with bouts of severe anxiety. One of my (usually effective) coping strategies is to distract myself, but lately I have found that tuning into the anxiety helps as well. Continue reading
Understanding Self-Harm Urges
I have been self-harm free for just over seven years (go me!), and if I’m being honest I must admit that I do sometimes still have urges. They used to scare me a lot, but I’ve come to view them as important information. Continue reading
Jenn Crowell 