Stop Walking on Eggshells Book Review
When Someone You Love Has Borderline Personality Disorder
Dec 19, 2008
While many books have been written for those professionals who treat patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), few books exist to to support those who are dealing with loved ones who suffer from the illness.
Mason and Kreger, in their book titled Stop Walking on Eggshells Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder, recognize the needs of family members and friends who must interact with the person with BPD on a regular basis. Their book is designed to support and assist those who are often confused and frustrated by the unpredictable behavior of someone with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Understanding Borderline Personality (BPD) Behavior
Part one of the book outlines the thoughts, feelings and actions that may be indicative of someone who has borderline personality disorder. Because many people with BPD refuse treatment, the authors caution that readers may never be absolutely certain whether the illness is at the root of the puzzling and erratic behaviors they have witnessed. However, it is certain that some behaviors are common to those with BPD and those behaviors can be understood and responded to effectively even without a formal diagnosis.
Taking Back Control of Your Life When Dealing With Borderline Personality Disorder
Part two deals with understanding the situation, setting boundaries for the person with BPD and developing skills for dealing with BPD reactions such as rage and manipulation. There is a section on how the emotionally healthy person can assert his or her needs with confidence, and another section on protecting the children in a relationship from the BPD behavior of an adult or other child.
Resolving Special Issues Concerning Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline children of any age can be a challenge. Section three deals with this issue. This section also addresses the issue of chosen and unchosen relationships. It's often difficult, impossible or undesirable to end a relationship with a family member. The focus for the non BPD person here is in learning how to take charge of the relationship and how to set limits.
An additional segment in this section deals with "distortion campaigns" such as lies, rumors and accusations, and how these often represent what the BP is feeling. This area of the books also examines the BP's possible motives for such behavior and makes suggestions as to how non BPs can prevent the start of such a "campaign" in the first place.
Mason and Kreger end their book with several useful appendices. Among these is a section on the causes and treatments of borderline personality disorder, and a segment filled with useful resources including the title of books and websites devoted to the subject of borderline personality disorder.
From the onset, the authors state that their goal iin writing this book is to let non BPs know that they are not alone. They accomplish this objective well.
