Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Living with BPD

by Robert O. Friedel, Dixianne Penney (Foreword), Patricia Woodward (Foreword)

Over six million Americans suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a chronic, disabling psychiatric condition that causes extreme instability in their emotional lives, behavior, and self-image, and severely impacts their family and friends. In Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified, Dr. Robert Friedel, a leading expert in BPD and a pioneer in its treatment, has turned his vast personal experience into a useful and supportive guide for everyone living with and seeking to understand this condition. Friedel helps readers grasp the etiology of Borderline Personality Disorder, the course it takes, the difficulties in diagnosing it, the types of treatment available, strategies for coping, and much more. Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified is an invaluable resource for everyone diagnosed with BPD, those who think they might have the illness, and friends and family who love and support them.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Self Help, Health, Reference, Mental Illness

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2004

Reviews

[Dalia Nourelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب بيقدم معلومات كويسة وقيمة للى مهتم يعرف عن اضطراب الشخصية الحدية وطبعا هيفيد اكتر اللى بيعانوا من الاضطراب ده والمقربين ليهم عشان يفهموا ايه شكل المعاناة وايه سبب التصرفات اللى بتحصل قدامهم ومعاهم وهيديهم أمل في إمكانية العلاج وتشجيعهم على اللجوء لمختص .

"يكشف كتاب د.فريدل عن إجابات أسئلة ملحة : ما اضطراب الشخصية الحدية في الواقع ؟ ما العلاج والدواء المطلوب لمواجهة هذه المأساة ؟ ما سببه ؟ كيف يمكن أن نساعد المريض بصفتنا افراد عائلته؟ "

فمن خلال الكتاب هتعرف ايه هو الاضطراب ده اصلا وايه اعراضه وتاريخه وأسبابه ، بجانب ايه تأثيره وعلاقته بالمخ وايه اكتر الاضطرابات المصاحبة له .
وبعد كده بيطرح طرق العلاج والأدوية . وبيقدم فصل للأشخاص المقربين من الشخص المصاب بالاضطراب ده وبيديهم بعض النصائح في التعامل مع الشخص اللى عنده الاضطراب ده .
وفي النهاية في جزء عن الابحاث وعن مصادر الكتاب.

في أجزاء قد تكون موجه اكتر للمختصين خاصة جزء المخ والعلاج إلا انه مفيد للشخص اللى بيعاني من الاضطراب ده وعائلته عشان يبقى عندهم معلومة عن المتوقع من العلاج وعن طرقه وعن فائدة الادوية والعلاج النفسي . ويشجعهم انهم يتقبلوا العلاج الدوائى بشكل أفضل .

أسلوب الكتاب في المجمل كويس سواء للمختص او لغير المختص ، كان في أجزاء اكيد ممكن تكون صعبة شوية للى مش في المجال الطبي واجزاء مليت فيها شوية او مركزتش فيها وكان فيها شرح كتير مهتمتش ،بس ده مش هيمنع انك تستفيد من الكتاب .

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[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

As it states in this book, much of it is dedicated to the clinical aspects of BPD. But it's very important to know what it's like for the Borderline sufferer themselves, so that you can be there for them in the best way possible.

Inside, they talk about the book "Walking On Eggshells" Personally, I would not recommend this book to any Borderline sufferers. There are better books out there. I think it focuses too much on "how to cope with someone with the disorder" rather than how to support them. It feels like a punishment rather than help.

I think they could have also provided more information on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Other than these things, I think it's a very good book. There are lots of excellent resources listed in the back. Check them out. I'm going to right now. Enjoy reading!

[Madeleine Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this very skeptical about BPD as a diagnosis. Ten pages in my reaction was one of surprise and disbelief because I was reading about myself.

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that serves as a great introduction to anyone who either has Borderline Personality Disorder themselves, or their loved ones. I really found the history of BPD fascinating and this is the first book i have found that has such a thorough history included. It was very helpful to read about the changes over time both to the symptoms and to the reception in the mental health community. The two different stories of individuals with BPD served as both helpful for understanding how it effects not just the person suffering (usually in silence), but also their families and friends both before the diagnosis is made and before (or when the diagnosis doesn't come in time). The chapters were broken down very effectively so that I knew exactly what I was going to read about instead of having the bits of information scattered about the book on each topic. Overall it is very well written and I am adding it to my list of favorite BPD resources.

[Corey Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty solid introduction to borderline personality. The chapter on the brain is particularly good, but I would have liked more information on the therapies that can be used to treat the condition. The book is also a little shallow on understanding some of the enigmatic symptoms, e.g. self-mutilating behavior.

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
Being recently diagnosed with BPD earlier this yeast I found this book extremely insightful and I enjoyed it.

[Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely meant for ley readers, but was very informative on BPD without feeling like I was being talked down to. This book offered a good variation of topics, ranging from anecdotal accounts, to neurochemistry, to environmental factors that possibly trigger the development of BPD. If your looking for a book to better understand your or a loved ones illness, certain chapters can definitely be overlooked, since the reading content is very diversified (it was written intentionally to be as such). That being said, the author of this book, Dr. O'Friedel, is a psychiatrist, and as such really pushed the importance of medication in addition to therapy. I found that he spoke grandiosely of psychiatrists and seemed to belittle psychologists, which I did not appreciate. With that being said, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has recently been diagnosed with BPD and is looking to better understand themselves.

WARNING: as with any psychological book, you might find yourself diagnosing yourself or people you know with a variety of mental illnesses (because DSM criteria are included in this book). Remember that your psychologist/psychiatrist are the only people qualified to make these diagnoses, and you should bring your concerns to them if you feel that you're self-diagnosing.

A final note: This book uses criteria from the DSM-IV, which is not the most up to date psychological diagnostic manual (DSM-V).

[Patricia Joynton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes it's not the book, it's the mood. This book is well written and researched. But I have read so much about mental health that at this point, it appears to me that words from the DSM have been put in a pot, stirred around, and out comes the next "scientific" diagnosis. My feeling was: another year, another theory, another word, but nothing changes: people still know very little regarding mental health: we keep debating the same thing. Like philosophy: the next "argument" regards something so indefinable, like "truth." Every professional can have their day or a stab at it. To give the book it's due, it can be very useful in trying to explain what professionals who are treating your loved one mean when they say "Borderline Personality Disorder" and how it wraps around all the other diagnoses, to say: who knows?

[Eilene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information, but somewhat hard to read.

[Rachel Farreny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone in the field. My new job has me working with A LOT of BPD dual diagnosed clients and this book really helped to understand the disorder.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a therapist and wanted to get a better understanding of BPD, as I have had BPD clients. Very helpful and informative.

[Shannon Lenahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very educational book. Highly recommended for people new to Borderline Personality Disorder. A must read!

[Michael Kubat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding primer on living with a devastating mental disorder - and with people who suffer from it.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really struggle with non-fiction books, and that combined with my reading slump made me feel like it took a while to get through this book. There was also a lot of technical lingo that slowed me down.
That being said, this really was quite an interesting read.
I picked it up initially after seeing the title and wondering what the difference was between BPD and bipolar.
Reading into it, I somewhat disliked how much I could relate to some of what was being said in the book, but also felt slightly reassured that there could be a reason/ explanation for feeling the way I do.
This is not meant as a help book, there are no strategies to help you cope if you have BPD, however it still seems like a good resource for understanding it.
I do feel like it was worth my time and effort to read this, and I would likely recommend it to others. I liked that the was a chapter to help families understand somewhat what it is like for those suffering from BPD.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a couple people in my family that have been diagnosed with BPD and this was really informational and eye-opening.

[Infosifter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains borderline disorder in accessible language for patients and friends and family.

[isa diosa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

finally finished another bpd book. i loved how insightful this one was about so many different facets of the disorder. it helped me make more sense of myself

[Dexter Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a few pages in I already loved this book. As someone who had been through years of therapy and several hospitalizations with no progress, this did give me hope. I found myself excited almost because Friedel addressed many things that I felt no one else understood. The research and explanations were great, but it felt more sincere as he includes his personal experiences with borderline patients, in a personal and professional setting. I would recommend this to those dealing with bpd and their loved ones.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was assigned to read this book by my supervisor –I am employed in the social services field- to get a deeper theoretical grasp of BPD. The book was informative, interesting, and apologetic -in the formal sense of the word- of those endowed, classified or not, with Borderline disorder. Yet to be frank I found the first half of the book to be much more captivating than the second half because of its exploration of the clinical historicity of BPD and its focus on the cognitive-emotional distortions that result from neural abnormalities. The message, as I read it, is that the locus of blame has shifted from a personal choice to a biological impairment(e.g. such as the neurological inability to restrain impulsivity when compared to a 'normal' person). Such an approach is reminiscent of Daniel Goleman's rheotrical style as exemplified by his book, Emotional Intelligence.

Now for the soft-handed critiques. Although I understand that BPD Demystified was “written for lay people”, and more specifically for people with this disorder, I nevertheless would have appreciated a more in-depth discussion of the therapies to 'treat' BPD. The descriptions resembled more synoptic bullet points than a penetrating presentation. In this regard I do not feel alone seeing as how other reviewers have commented on this fact as well. Secondly the latter half, as previously alluded to, wasn't directly relevant to my life or situation and hence found it to be rather boring. I merely skimmed through these sections. That is, if I even read them at all.

Overall, this book is worthy of a glace and even a read but I feel that other books out there are a better fit with my theoretical orientations and intellectual needs. Under a different rating scale I would have given it three stars but the book, for me, was just "okay" so I conformed to Goodread's qualitative measures.

[Ricky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I'd give it three stars overall but I'd give the first few chapters an extra star on account of how the first few chapters do a pretty good job of illuminating a poorly understood condition but that at least half of the book reads like really bad lay material. Or something. I guess I could have used more case studies and less banal generalizations. Until the last couple of chapters, though, it held my attention.

[Jennifer Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me to better understand my condition in so many ways. I struggled to figure out what exactly BPD was, so many doctors gave me different explanations I was beyond confused. This doctor not only specializes in BPD he also had a sister with it and experienced it first hand. If you want to learn more about this condition or have a family member who has it, this book is a must read for you.

[Renée Roehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most comprehensive book on BPD that I've read for work. Clearly written and provides a glossary for the layperson. If you have family members, neighbors, co-workers, clients or even yourself, this book gives history, details, most effective therapies, meds and the latest science for this complex disorder. It also--finally--doesn't hold to the old idea that it's mainly a woman's disorder; men just present differently as they're socialized differently.

[Janna Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great place to start. Especially if you have academic interest beyond wanting an understanding of your brain on borderline disorder or your person's brain on borderline disorder. It's a bit like taking a 101 college class, has a lot of info without getting too detailed. I appreciated the science especially.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert O. Friedel blends the personal, scientific and clinical in this self help book. Through this book, a non-professional reader can get a solid overview this disorder. The author's style is very clear and engaging.

[Trey Nowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author works right near me at VCU/MCV heading up this department!!! Excellent book, spells out this disorder and many like it effectively. Gives a great overview of other issues people have in the mental health field.

[Lilly Ann Wolvesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the other book I picked up along with Mondimore's book on BPD. While it contains some duplicate information, it reads differently. The book is informative and will provide nearly anyone suffering from, or who has a loved one with BPD a number of “Ah Ha!” moments.

[Eleanor Catherine]

Very very interesting book.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening discovery for anyone who is interested in mental health and diagnosis.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but gets a little too technical for me!

[Berlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good at explaining the disorder and co-occuring disorders and meds. A little bit redundant.