Derek S. Can TMS work with borderline personality disorder?

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Question

I am wondering if it is appropriate to tell someone with borderline personality disorder, about Dr Sarno's work?

 

Answer

Hi Zumbafan.

I think that it is appropriate to tell everybody about Dr. Sarno's work. The more the better!

I suspect that the real question that you're asking here is whether or not telling someone with BPD that their pain could be at least partially psychogenic would be received well. It really depends.

Some things to consider:

-How was the BPD diagnosis made and how open is this person about having BPD?
-How much self-awareness and motivation for treatment is the individual? Is he/she in treatment for the BPD?


If this person is important to you and you see him or her suffering, I am sure it is hard to stand idly by knowing something can be done. There is always a chance that the message will fall on deaf ears or, worse, that the person will respond with resistance, anger, and (occasionally) wrath. This is the risk that we take when we share our truth, whether the other party has a personality disorder or not.

I urge you to decide whether telling this person would be the right thing to do for you. I assume that you have TMS so, if you are recovering yourself, should you be tending to other people's needs or practicing tending more to your own?

Always put the oxygen mask on yourself before putting it on everyone else.

All the best!

-Derek

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I am curious about BPD and asked a Psychologist did I fit the criteria, as I felt I did. Was told that I wasn't but think it's because of the face I present to the world being "normal".

Excellent bit of wisdom at the end. I've been trying to tell others about TMS when I haven't fully gotten over it so I'm "reverse-TMSing" in a way!

 

Derek, thanks so much for the green light! I just needed some confidence from a professional.
This person (relative) has seen the changes in me from healing from fibromyalgia, then acute anxiety. Curiosity is being shown, but I was hesitant to tell my story, and introduce the new pain paradigm. I know I will have to put my own oxygen mask on first though!

 

I agree, tell anyone and everyone about Dr. Sarno and TMS. It sure can do no harm and it could do a great deal of good.

 

Just came across Quiet Borderline Personality disorder, is that a valid diagnosis? definitely strongly resonates with me

 

I'm aware this is an old post, but I would consider the following:

• Did you ever receive a second opinion from a trusted health professional who is familiar with BPD and cluster B diagnoses, including "quiet" variations?
• Have you discussed this with any trusted friends or family members in your life? If so, what were their thoughts?
• How much do the traits that resonate with you interrupt your daily life (even if you internalize your feelings and others may not be aware of them)?
• Is there a chance that you relating to the symptoms is linked to a deeper fear of receiving a similar diagnosis?
• Is there a chance you’re hypersensitive, but don’t fall under the BPD or other cluster B diagnoses? Personally, I can relate to this article (my Ehlers-Danlos makes my sympathetic nervous system and mast cells revved up all the time, so the symptoms are similar): https://www.additudemag.com/emotional-hypersensitivity-borderline-personality-disorder/ (“The ADHD Symptom Women Might Be Overlooking”)
• How have you tried to address your feelings that seem similar to BPD in the past? Are they alleviated by certain things?
• Do you remember when the feelings began and what may have caused them? (MANY people with a BPD diagnosis recall events that triggered or influenced their diagnosis.)
  
• How has TMS work influenced your overall well-being?
• What is your stress response? How is your sympathetic nervous system?