Websites
BPD Community have compiled a list of websites which has information believed to be helpful and informative. The list is not exhaustive; there are many valuable sites not on our list, simply because we haven’t yet included them. These are just a few to get you started. If you wish to add to the list, please contact us at info@bpdcommunity.com.au and let us know.
The internet is a great source of information. It is also a great source of misinformation. Whenever you look to the internet for information, it helps to take some time to consider the following things:
First, what is the source of the information? If you have a sharp pain in your shoulder, you would expect your doctor to know more about it compared with your neighbour. On the internet it pays to understand where the information is coming from.
Second, is the information recent or is it out of date. This means that as someone looking for information, it pays to build a body of knowledge that will help you assess whether the information is up to date. Relying on the date the information was given may not be so helpful if they are repeating out of date information.
Finally, use your common sense. Ask yourself is this what would be accepted by those who have expert understanding. In this way, you can avoid being sidetracked by information and issues that can mislead.
Please note, shorthand language to describe the different parts of our community is used here. We use ‘consumer’ for a person with lived experience of BPD; ‘carer’ for a family member or friend of someone with BPD; and ‘clinician’ for someone working with BPD, whether a psychiatrist or an advocate.
BPD
This is the site where you can download the National Guidelines for the Clinical Management of BPD, or order a hard copy. Essential reading for anyone coping with BPD, whether consumer, carer or clinican.
Spectrum is a Victorian Mental Health Service for personality disorders. See their recently published 2015 Guide to Accessing Services for BPD in Victoria.
Adapted from articles by Steven Gans Md & John M. Grohol, Psy.D. and published for the American Psychiatric Association, this short piece briefly explains CBT, TFT, DBT, SFT, and MBT a number of different therapies used to treat BPD.
Conference Archives . This webpage has links to conference papers from 2008 to the present. For links to YouTube videos on Mentalisation, DBT treatments and more, try the 2012 conference – Healing hearts of Families of BPD.
Validation
Karen Hall PhD wrote a piece called Understanding Validation: A Way to Communicate Acceptance that appears on this site. This article describes six levels of validation and discusses what invalidation means.
These pages list emotions as described by varying theorists and posit the challenge to recognise emotions at all differing levels in order to respond appropriately.
This is chapter two of the book: Basic Emotions. It explores the nature of emotions and Plutchik’s pictorial representation of the Wheel of Emotions.
The linked page to this site explains how validation is helpful to the person with BPD. The site itself has resources on DBT, lessons and skills that are informative
boundaries
This website for peer run carers has much information of help to carers and attracts many carers. This short article discusses important aspects of value setting such as defining the values upon which your boundaries are placed.
Sharon has BPD and keeps a blog. In this entry from 2011 she writes about her investigation on boundaries.
mindfulness
The Australian National University developed the Mood Gym as a training program to assist you in monitoring your moods. Based in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, it is a helpful coping tool.
This provides access to: DEPRESSION: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment, a general overview of depression, its causes, brain chemistry and treatments.
Accepting Personal Responsibility. This article on the Lance Armstrong site explores the importance of learning how to accept responsibility, including helpful information on behaviour traits. Forget that Lance was a cheat and hypocrite, there is good helpful information here.
Mindfulness without Meditation HCPJ, Oct 2009. This article explains the basis of Acceptance and Commitment Theory. It includes practical tips on mindfulness practice.
The Practice of Loving Compassion and Happiness in Overcoming the Debilitating Misery Associated with Borderline Personality Disorder. This short article succinctly explores how we can overcome the misery associated with BPD with the practice of joy and loving kindness.
The MindSpotClinic. This offers a free service for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Funded by the federal govt, the service has a telephone referral and advice component as well as online support.
Forums
Catherine Bennet's page: https://www.facebook.com/BorderlineSupport