As I have mentioned before, Bateman and Fonagy's research and treatment come the closest to anything I've read that explains BPD, and provides two essential elements to work on as therapy goals:
1) Transference used to create attachment and validation lacking in the BPD person's formation.
2) Teaching and encouraging alternative perspectives/interpretations of events.
However, I feel their approach is just the beginning in treating a person with BPD. An important element I feel is missing is identity formation.
Their focus appears to be treating two of the underlying conditions present in BPD vis a vis relationships.
If the BPD person can learn to trust one person (the therapist) and be heard, validated; then, perhaps, that trust can be extended to others
If the BPD person can learn to have alternative perspectives and ways of interpreting their world, it may help with misreading human interactions and responding negatively. Thereby improving relationships.
At the same time, without being able to form a solid core of self (rather than the alien self described in my last posting) how can we with BPD avoid the relationship patterns shown in the graphic diagrams earlier in this segment of the blog?
Is it thought that if we get better at trusting and not jumping to conclusions along the lines of old rigid thought patterns, we will do better in our relationships, and thereby develop a healthy core identity? I don't know, and wish I could ask the researchers.
For myself, I've always felt like a chameleon. That I could take on and fit into anyone's life, and often did. Living my life through others, trying to control things. Whether that was through over-involvement or detachment.
I've felt like a "site where things happen". Usually bad things. Like a catalyst. I enter a situation and with my crazy energy things start to happen. Sometimes good things. But often bad--and that is when I would leave.
Bateman and Fonagy suggest that due to lack of emotional regulation, people with BPD also have problems with attention control.
I can see this in myself. When things don't "pan out" or something "goes wrong" I'm on to something else. I don't stay at any one thing for very long. I discard people and situations like toilet tissue. I flush them away and start over.
In the end, while I think this therapeutic research team are definitely on to something that will help; they leave me with as many questions as answers.
I believe their ideas constitute a good beginning. But it seems to me the next steps on the BPD treatment road map are missing.
1) Transference used to create attachment and validation lacking in the BPD person's formation.
2) Teaching and encouraging alternative perspectives/interpretations of events.
However, I feel their approach is just the beginning in treating a person with BPD. An important element I feel is missing is identity formation.
Their focus appears to be treating two of the underlying conditions present in BPD vis a vis relationships.
If the BPD person can learn to trust one person (the therapist) and be heard, validated; then, perhaps, that trust can be extended to others
If the BPD person can learn to have alternative perspectives and ways of interpreting their world, it may help with misreading human interactions and responding negatively. Thereby improving relationships.
At the same time, without being able to form a solid core of self (rather than the alien self described in my last posting) how can we with BPD avoid the relationship patterns shown in the graphic diagrams earlier in this segment of the blog?
Is it thought that if we get better at trusting and not jumping to conclusions along the lines of old rigid thought patterns, we will do better in our relationships, and thereby develop a healthy core identity? I don't know, and wish I could ask the researchers.
For myself, I've always felt like a chameleon. That I could take on and fit into anyone's life, and often did. Living my life through others, trying to control things. Whether that was through over-involvement or detachment.
I've felt like a "site where things happen". Usually bad things. Like a catalyst. I enter a situation and with my crazy energy things start to happen. Sometimes good things. But often bad--and that is when I would leave.
Bateman and Fonagy suggest that due to lack of emotional regulation, people with BPD also have problems with attention control.
I can see this in myself. When things don't "pan out" or something "goes wrong" I'm on to something else. I don't stay at any one thing for very long. I discard people and situations like toilet tissue. I flush them away and start over.
In the end, while I think this therapeutic research team are definitely on to something that will help; they leave me with as many questions as answers.
I believe their ideas constitute a good beginning. But it seems to me the next steps on the BPD treatment road map are missing.
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