Posted by Dinah on December 6, 2001, at 6:06:28
In reply to To Dinah, posted by judy1 on December 6, 2001, at 0:51:22
Thanks Judy,
I did read the message. I'm just not quite sure how to respond. I've got all Linehan's books and videos and am trying to decide which techniques will be helpful for me. I'm very impressed with her conceptualization of BPD and astounded how she explains things it took years of observation for me to figure out. It is very reassuring, just as an example, to know that I am not the only one who leaves my therapist feeling fine, only to realize an hour later that I am terribly upset and just didn't know it. Right now I'm pointing out things from her book to my therapist.
The trouble is that Linehan's work is aimed at borderline behaviors. Except for cutting and a very few fear of abandonment behaviors with my therapist, I think it would be generally agreed that while I might feel borderline, I don't really "do" borderline. I really don't mean anything negative by that. It's just that I'm generally thought of as an intellectualizing repressed individual who doesn't express emotions enough. Most of the rule out personality disorder diagnoses I have gotten have been in the "odd" cluster (schizoid, schizotypal). Most of her techniques are "tricks" I have taught myself over the years. And even Linehan's outcome studies show that her results are better with the behaviors than the underlying feelings.
I do want to stop cutting. It's just that my personality style is to find intellectual and practical reasons to stop (Linehan just seems to offer the societal "Because I said so") and functional alternatives to cutting. I'm certainly not trying to challenge anyone or argue in favor of cutting. Quite the contrary, especially since it scares me that not everyone is as inordinately careful with the self injury as I am. I am afraid for others who self injure in a less controlled way at the same time I feel enormous compassion for the pain that leads them to do it.
I know this post is terribly long, but I just wanted to clarify my position towards cutting since I am afraid it might have been misunderstood. It's just a difference in personality styles and motivation.
Incidentally, I would love to have a separate thread discussing Linehan's theories and DBT techniques. Anyone interested?
poster:Dinah
thread:14653
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011130/msgs/15049.html