Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder: A Family Guide for Healing and Change

Valerie Porr, M.A.

Jul 2010 · Oxford University Press

About this ebook

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by unstable moods, negative self-image, dangerous impulsivity, and tumultuous relationships. Many people with BPD excel in academics and careers while revealing erratic, self-destructive, and sometimes violent behavior only to those with whom they are intimate. Others have trouble simply holding down a job or staying in school. Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder is a compassionate and informative guide to understanding this profoundly unsettling--and widely misunderstood--mental illness, believed to affect approximately 6% of the general population. Rather than viewing people with BPD as manipulative opponents in a bitter struggle, or pitying them as emotional invalids, Valerie Porr cites cutting-edge science to show that BPD is a true neurobiological disorder and not, as many come to believe, a character flaw or the result of bad parenting. Porr then clearly and accessibly explains what BPD is, which therapies have proven effective, and how to rise above the weighty stigma associated with the disorder. Offering families and loved ones supportive guidance that both acknowledges the difficulties they face and shows how they can be overcome, Porr teaches empirically-supported and effective coping behaviors and interpersonal skills, such as new ways of talking about emotions, how to be aware of nonverbal communication, and validating difficult experiences. These skills are derived from Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Mentalization-based Therapy, two evidence-based treatments that have proven highly successful in reducing family conflict while increasing trust. Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder is an empowering and hopeful resource for those who wish to gain better understanding of the BPD experience--and to make use of these insights in day-to-day family interactions. Winner of the ABCT Self Help Book Seal of Merit Award 2011

Ratings and reviews

This book is a complete and total disgrace. Valerie Porr continues to take examples from people without ever verifying if their claims are true. She talks about a father's struggle of having a son with borderline personality disorder,except that in reality she has never verified this claim,and in reality,the father is making up nonsense about his son who does not have BPD,and has never been diagnosed with BPD by anyone. The father(Glen Feinberg) who she thanks in her book has donated obscene amounts of money to her,so she just takes his word that the stories about his son are true and how effective dbt has been. The truth of the matter is Valerie Porr has been associated with a man with very very severe Munchausens' By Proxy Syndrome,(Glen Feinberg) who continues to seek attention in the DBT movement by trashing his son,making up lies about his son,and making up conditions that his son does not have. Glen Feinberg's son happens to excel socially,career wise,has many friends,and gets along very well with people and does not exhibit any signs of BPD. Valerie Porr is a disgrace who publishes a book without ever verifying if the information she puts in there is correct

This review is from: Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder: A Family Guide for Healing and Change (Paperback) I now have my personal Bible, Koran, Book of Enlightenment, dictionary and Encyclopedia all rolled into one with the sole subject of Borderline Personality Disorder. While working with families during my many years as a TARA Affiliate President I have witnessed misdiagnosis, damaging advice given to families by professionals, families who have been hurt, feel helpless and are hopeless, all due to BPD. Valerie Porr has written a book that provides much needed education for families and professionals. It is based on cutting edge research that is totally surrounded by compassion. This is a book that I will go back to again and again. It will be read and reread, pages will be turned down, and specific pages will be highlighted. Families who are just starting this journey, families who have been living with BPD for many years will do the same. We have a priceless resource in "Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder."

About the author

Valerie Porr, M.A., is a mental health educator and advocate trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and the founder and president of the Treatment and Research Advancements National Association for Personality Disorder (TARA NAPD). She conducts psycho-educational training seminars for family members of those with BPD in New York and elsewhere.