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Borderline Personality Disorder For Dummies
Your clear, compassionate guide to managing BPD ― and living well Looking for straightforward information on Borderline Personality Disorder? This easy-to-understand guide helps those who have BPD develop strategies for breaking the destructive cycle. This book also aids loved ones in accepting the disorder and offering support. Inside you'll find authoritative details on the causes of BPD and proven treatments, as well as advice on working with therapists, managing symptoms, and enjoying a full life. Open the book and
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
164 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 16, 2015
Quite informative and with very good tips, but I didn't like the part where it suggests ways to end a relationship with a borderline. Also, I felt at times the authors really think borderlines are dangerous, deficient weirdos.
June 27, 2013
Very informative. I also have Bipolar disorder and a lot of the symptoms overlap. So it's like you get a double dose. But with the right meds you can live a good life.
March 30, 2023
informative with useful & helpful information but I do think sometimes the language used is in poor taste & not everything stated is particularly fair on people with bpd. 3.5*
March 21, 2022
I picked this up because I’m still coming to terms with experiences stemming from BPD people who used to be in my life. This book gives the perspective of everyone involved—the person with BPD, loved ones, friends, coworkers, and so on. I now understand BPD more and the importance of setting boundaries right away. There are helpful tips for both the BPD person and the people around them. I hope that anyone with this personality disorder can find this book helpful to manage their emotions for their sake and for the sake of everyone around them. As a warning, I can see how this book can be triggering to those with BPD and those who have been traumatized in some way by a BPD person’s behavior.
May 21, 2013
Accessible and improved by many examples. I felt it would have been better if it had been tightened up—some material is wordy and repetitive. I also felt it was forced into the Dummies erratic format rather than writen normal prose. (For example, I got tired of bullet points and plugs for other Dummies books. :-) I would have liked more detail on how to how a partner might respond to Borderline—the book seemed to jump to escape strategies a bit fast. Advice on the web to run away is certainly prevalent—BPD is a tough one, but an illness in desperate need of intervention.
September 29, 2020
That's a pretty good book which help us understand this disorder a little better. The only downside of this book is the way it presents BPD as if they're some sort of monsters or something really obscure. I don't know I don't want to say that this book isn't very helpful because it is. I just think they could have shown some of the good sides of people with BPD. And try to give some piece of advice to grow as a person even if they are BPD. But overall it's a good book!
August 5, 2012
I found this really helpful. It's the first I have read on borderline personality disorder and it has been a great help to me and provided with some useful coping strategies, that I hope will work for me.
March 17, 2023
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most common ones. To get diagnosed with it you need to fit five out of several criteria, meaning there’s a fair amount of mix-and-match differences between the types. This book goes through the symptoms, provides example on different combinations of criteria, alongside how they interact with other personality disorders, and ways to differentiate one from another. Followed by resources, information what to do if you have it, and what can be done in specific situations or general ones, or what can be done if you have someone close to you with it – what can you do to help, and how you too need to draw limits, lines in certain scenarios.
My Opinion: With ADHD I have troubles accepting behavioral instructions, and that might make me discard entirety of it due to seemingly trivial things, such as lack of coverage on the issue from the other end of it, not all corners being covered, not all strings tied. This here book is absolutely perfect when it comes to this, structure is just right, everything’s provided step by step. In addition, it’s gentle to both parties, those in relation to people with BPD, and people with BPD, while remaining realistic that some cases might get extreme for either one, or both parties involved. It’s worth reading even if you don’t think you have anyone with BPD around you, as it covered a few other personality disorders as comparison, and so it might help you recognize someone maliciously using you, with resources on what to do if that’s indeed the case.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most common ones. To get diagnosed with it you need to fit five out of several criteria, meaning there’s a fair amount of mix-and-match differences between the types. This book goes through the symptoms, provides example on different combinations of criteria, alongside how they interact with other personality disorders, and ways to differentiate one from another. Followed by resources, information what to do if you have it, and what can be done in specific situations or general ones, or what can be done if you have someone close to you with it – what can you do to help, and how you too need to draw limits, lines in certain scenarios.
My Opinion: With ADHD I have troubles accepting behavioral instructions, and that might make me discard entirety of it due to seemingly trivial things, such as lack of coverage on the issue from the other end of it, not all corners being covered, not all strings tied. This here book is absolutely perfect when it comes to this, structure is just right, everything’s provided step by step. In addition, it’s gentle to both parties, those in relation to people with BPD, and people with BPD, while remaining realistic that some cases might get extreme for either one, or both parties involved. It’s worth reading even if you don’t think you have anyone with BPD around you, as it covered a few other personality disorders as comparison, and so it might help you recognize someone maliciously using you, with resources on what to do if that’s indeed the case.
December 12, 2019
Personality and mood disorders can be a lonely, deeply personal journey fraught with perceived dangers as sufferers try to interact with people around them. There are no easy answers, but I found BPD for Dummies to be an informative and compassionate look into an often misunderstood disorder that afflicts so many.
The book is not a substitute for a diagnosis or treatment plan from therapist. Rather, the authors provide an insightful overview of the disorder and how it is generally managed. There are some tools and exercises that I found extremely beneficial, and I was especially drawn to the chapter on schemas which now has me examining how I see and interpret events.
The book is not solely aimed at those who suffer (or may suffer) from BPD. it includes chapters for family members, loved ones, friends, and therapists. It is a sober but even-handed look at the realities of BPD.
BPD for Dummies is not a clinical evaluation or an academic textbook. It isn't designed to be. It is an introduction for those who simply want to know more about a disorder that affects them, their friend, or their family member. It is an easy-to-read resource with relatable examples and a touch of humor.
The book is not a substitute for a diagnosis or treatment plan from therapist. Rather, the authors provide an insightful overview of the disorder and how it is generally managed. There are some tools and exercises that I found extremely beneficial, and I was especially drawn to the chapter on schemas which now has me examining how I see and interpret events.
The book is not solely aimed at those who suffer (or may suffer) from BPD. it includes chapters for family members, loved ones, friends, and therapists. It is a sober but even-handed look at the realities of BPD.
BPD for Dummies is not a clinical evaluation or an academic textbook. It isn't designed to be. It is an introduction for those who simply want to know more about a disorder that affects them, their friend, or their family member. It is an easy-to-read resource with relatable examples and a touch of humor.
August 20, 2022
Interesting book for person wanting to learn more about the topic.
Read
January 25, 2024I wasn’t going to include this on goodreads but I spent 14hrs listening to it so it def counts lol. Some stupid outdated ideas in here but overall useful on my journey to being a supportive queen
April 13, 2014
I thought this book was very informative and well written but didn't like the bit assuming people with borderline personality disorder might not understand the title Borderline personality disorder for dummies , taking the word dummies literately . Just about everyone knows that these information dummies books are for people who have no knowledge on something to read in layman's terms . It shouldn't be suggested that a person with bpd wouldn't be able to understand and need to be reassured . People with Bpd have a personality problem not an intellectual problems . Other then this little bit I found it an enjoyable read .
July 29, 2019
This is an excellent resource for everyone involved: the person with BPD, family, friends, therapists. Hence, the perspective provided covers the entire spectrum. The book is compassionate yet firm, advisory but not alarmist. If there’s one resource to have in your library, it could very well be this book. It might not give as deep a dive into some topics as other books do but what you’ll get covers pretty much everything at a level more than trivial. Due to the length and volume of information provided, I recommend a printed copy if you plan on referencing the material again at a later time.
March 26, 2011
A DEFINITE must-read for sufferers and their nearest and dearest.
June 24, 2015
This book explains Borderline Personality Disorder in very plain, easy-to-understand layman's terms. It was really easy to follow. I would recommend it to anyone.
January 28, 2022
Could t finish it. It kept making me so angry. It was so demeaning to people with bpd.
August 20, 2022
Highly accessible book on Borderline. Includes brief examples that illustrate the point. Start here if you wish to learn about BPD.
October 9, 2021
This is Gold. It is well written with sage advice for people with and affected by BPD in clear and easy to understand language. I have read plenty of books about BPD and this is the one I will now suggest to other as the first book they read. It straddles the line between Romanticising BPD and blaming those with BPD. It aims for responsibility, not blame, but pulls not punches when describing the sort of things people with BPD do and the effects it might have on others.
BPD is hard work for those that have this diagnosis and for those that love and care for them. It provides a good description of what BPD is and what it is not. It reinforces that psychotherapy is the first line treatment to successfully address BPD, but leaves room for medications to address the symptoms inherent in BPD. It does have a strong bias for Psychologist’s, which grated me a bit (Psychologists are not the only or even best qualified profession to provide Psychotherapy. Psychology is not synonymous with Psychotherapy). The best chance of recovery from BPD is working with a Therapist over time. Not all Therapists are created equally and the writers acknowledge some therapists (and psychologists) actively avoid people with BPD, thus increasing the stigma of those that suffer from BPD.
Professionally, I have been around BPD for a long time, in spite of that I found a number of strategies for treating BPD that I had not heard about or considered. Meares and other academics consider BPD has its roots on a failure to attach and that “The aim of therapy is maturational. Specifically, it is to help the patient discover, elaborate, and represent a personal reality, i.e., a reality that relates to an inner life and has an affective core” (p 4 – The Conversational Model). What is contained in this book is aimed at moving anyone to become more mature and integrated as a person. In this respect the book is useful to anyone, even if they do not have a diagnosis of BPD, or know anyone who does.
Being a Dummies book it does not stray towards academic snobbery in anyway, and it practical and honest. A lay person reading this will have more idea of how to respond to their own BPD or the BPD of a loved loved one. It provides better guidance than a newly graduated psychologist, with an academic degree and little to no experience. I am so surprised how good this book is. It is easy to forgive the authors for their bias towards the profession of psychologists. It is definitively one I will return to in the future. A rare five star rating from me.
BPD is hard work for those that have this diagnosis and for those that love and care for them. It provides a good description of what BPD is and what it is not. It reinforces that psychotherapy is the first line treatment to successfully address BPD, but leaves room for medications to address the symptoms inherent in BPD. It does have a strong bias for Psychologist’s, which grated me a bit (Psychologists are not the only or even best qualified profession to provide Psychotherapy. Psychology is not synonymous with Psychotherapy). The best chance of recovery from BPD is working with a Therapist over time. Not all Therapists are created equally and the writers acknowledge some therapists (and psychologists) actively avoid people with BPD, thus increasing the stigma of those that suffer from BPD.
Professionally, I have been around BPD for a long time, in spite of that I found a number of strategies for treating BPD that I had not heard about or considered. Meares and other academics consider BPD has its roots on a failure to attach and that “The aim of therapy is maturational. Specifically, it is to help the patient discover, elaborate, and represent a personal reality, i.e., a reality that relates to an inner life and has an affective core” (p 4 – The Conversational Model). What is contained in this book is aimed at moving anyone to become more mature and integrated as a person. In this respect the book is useful to anyone, even if they do not have a diagnosis of BPD, or know anyone who does.
Being a Dummies book it does not stray towards academic snobbery in anyway, and it practical and honest. A lay person reading this will have more idea of how to respond to their own BPD or the BPD of a loved loved one. It provides better guidance than a newly graduated psychologist, with an academic degree and little to no experience. I am so surprised how good this book is. It is easy to forgive the authors for their bias towards the profession of psychologists. It is definitively one I will return to in the future. A rare five star rating from me.
September 9, 2024
A compassionate book about BPD! The authors will lovingly blame people with this disorder for being too self absorbed and have an ongoing obsession with everything in the middle ages being perfect because people were to busy milking cows to feel 'entitled to feeling too good'.
In seriousness, the only thing this book does well is break down the symptoms/diagnosis criteria in the beginning chapters. After that it becomes a weird world of blaming people for their problems and dismissing valid concerns in their lives. The constant fear mongering and demonisation of people with BPD is the perfect icing on the cake.
In seriousness, the only thing this book does well is break down the symptoms/diagnosis criteria in the beginning chapters. After that it becomes a weird world of blaming people for their problems and dismissing valid concerns in their lives. The constant fear mongering and demonisation of people with BPD is the perfect icing on the cake.
June 13, 2022
It felt like there are two pieces of advice in this book.
if you have BPD, get help. if you don't have BPD, have very little to do with people who do have it.
hopefully no one I know reads this book, something something fear of abandonment.
it is really more complicated than that, or more nuanced, but that, I feel, is the meat and potatoes of the book.
if you have BPD, get help. if you don't have BPD, have very little to do with people who do have it.
hopefully no one I know reads this book, something something fear of abandonment.
it is really more complicated than that, or more nuanced, but that, I feel, is the meat and potatoes of the book.
May 28, 2022
You can tell this was written over a decade ago. Relatively informative though some suggestions are questionable. The section about hiding your diagnosis from everyone because of how they will react feels outdated and plays into high levels of stigma and discrimination.
March 18, 2023
I read this book with the goal of understanding what a friend is living with and how I can help her. This book explains borderline personality disorder clearly and provides a lot of practical examples to help readers understand concepts clearly.
February 28, 2020
This book was terrible. I did not finish it. The writing style was just plain boring.
August 3, 2022
The first 3 chapters were okay. The rest, not so much.
September 22, 2022
Let's just say I learned a lot
August 3, 2024
Why was this book so dehumanizing?? The author talks as if people with BPD are criminals.
Has some good information, therapy techniques and forms to fill out but yikes...
Has some good information, therapy techniques and forms to fill out but yikes...
January 16, 2025
Very informative!
Read
August 18, 2025what the hell, sure!
May 25, 2013
This book provides a good overview. The authors state that BPD is a highly individual disorder and doesn't easily generalize to a population, and I appreciated that. I sort of feel like though the "image" of the BPD sufferer in this book is on the very volatile, extreme end of the spectrum, where the majority of people with BPD are often in the middle of the continuum - they do have problems, but they do not pose a danger/threat to other people. I skimmed through the book because I found a lot of it to be painful/triggering - that may be due to my own sensitivity. And yes, to just reiterate what previous commenters have said, the part on how to "break up" with someone who has BPD was a bit depressing, especially the part about how to "break up with them in a public space"...I felt really awful reading that. But it was a good overview, and as far as "overview" books for BPD go, this one was better than most. I borrowed it from my library, so I had a lot of freedom to skim/skip. :)
March 26, 2015
It's a Dummies guide so don't expect highbrow clinical scientific data. You may feel you have BPD after reading it , but I'm relieved to say I don't exhibit the hardcore signs (we all have our mood swings) I was hoping to understand why a person close to me acted out the way he did. I'm sad to say he does have the classic symptoms.
Note:
You may not have cared about me but I CARE about you. In a few months things may be different but for now I had to pin this BPD article. You have every symptom. I'm not being vindictive...911 recorded it all. You are an adult who can make your own decisions regarding your health, BUT when your behaviour affects others or puts them at risk (chronic disease & physical/ emotional trauma) you must act for their sake if not yours.
On to Addictive Personality Disorder.
Note:
You may not have cared about me but I CARE about you. In a few months things may be different but for now I had to pin this BPD article. You have every symptom. I'm not being vindictive...911 recorded it all. You are an adult who can make your own decisions regarding your health, BUT when your behaviour affects others or puts them at risk (chronic disease & physical/ emotional trauma) you must act for their sake if not yours.
On to Addictive Personality Disorder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews