Tami Green's Secrets for Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment and Recovery on a Budget!
People are getting very creative with their money these days! In honor of that current trend, I thought it might be helpful to pass along my best tips on how to move along your own recovery and save money at the same time. How fun!
To begin, let’s review how Borderline Personality Disorder recovery actually occurs:
1. We change our thoughts, which changes our emotions and changes our behaviors.
2. We learn to rest and calm ourselves.
3. We develop a strong sense of who we are.
4. We become compassionate, loving and generous people.
Changing Our Thoughts:
This is done primarily by getting feedback on what an effective thought is (versus pathology) and what is not. Where do we get this feedback? From therapists and coaches and wise counselors and support systems and accurate research materials that feed us healthy information.
We do this over and over and over again, practicing thinking thoughts that make us feel better and have healthier behaviors.
How important is finding a therapist who understands how to treat BPD? Very. It is the most effective source of information, feedback and direction.
But what if you aren’t able to locate a therapist who treats BPD? Or you are in a place where you have little money and can’t afford therapy? Or what if you are in therapy but are not progressing fast enough?
Or what if you are healthy now and want to maintain your recovery? Those of us who have recovered from BPD, and maintain our health, are practicing happy thinking every day. We have learned the tools to push the dark clouds away and invite blue skies into our lives in a pro-active way, each and every day.
There is a gold mine of resources I want to share with you on how to keep your thoughts healthy and on track. Here we go!
Law of Attraction quote of the day. I love this stuff! Also, go to YouTube and search for Abraham-Hicks videos. They are the best.
Joyce Meyers' Christian teaching on sound mind principles
Byron Katie's website Also find her on YouTube!
Taking Control of Your Thoughts Beginning with mindfulness exercises, this book will teach you how to banish your negative thoughts and replace them with powerful, positive ones.
DBT Self Help Worksheets On-line Excellent!
Mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn on YouTube! This stuff will absolutely change your life.
Learning to be Calm:
My book, Self Help for Managing the Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder, is packed full of tips for calming and resting oneself. To see more, you can order it on my website. Here is an excerpt for you!
1. Use medication and/or herbs.
2. Learn relaxation and breathing techniques.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Eat healthy foods.
5. Eliminate (or reduce) alcohol and limit caffeine.
6. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself and others.
7. Take baby steps with all changes you make in your life. Take a goal and divide it by half, then half again, then half again. Start there!
8. Take up hobbies you really love.
9. Play often.
10. Be silly and laugh!
11. Utilize good scents and lighting to set a good mood.
12. Get a manicure or pedicure.
13. Wash your hair and style it.
14. Shave.
15. Get a little sun.
16. Exercise.
17. Pray.
18. Listen to your favorite song.
19. Take yoga classes.
20. Go for a walk.
Finding Your True Self:
This is my favorite topic and what I do by profession: I help people find their true selves! The process of discovering your true self should feel freeing and strengthening at the same time.
Recovering Your True Self : I love to write about this stuff!
Martha Beck's blog (start with the oldest posts) and/or buy her book, Finding Your North Star.
Sweet Dreams Journal This journal each day brings a meditation that reveals our true, carefree self.
Google "find your true self" and have a ball!
Take on-line personality tests.
Pay attention to what you love and bring more and more of it into your life and home each day.
Becoming Compassionate and Generous:
The best resources to help us on the path to becoming more compassionate and generous are:
Kabbalah Go to their "Free Tools" and click on "Daily Meditation"
Dr. Blaise Aguirre on The Practice of Loving Compassion and Happiness
Oprah's incredible resources on spirit
Finding Friends Learn these things and more: Your relationship preferences,
how to surround yourself with the kind of people you truly love, and why giving to others makes you stronger.
Helping Someone You Love Recover from Borderline Personality Disorder See how your loved one, and your relationship, can get better with these simple tips.
Attend a free support group, such as is offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, or a twelve step group.
Also utilize the free teaching and support of local churches, synagogues, Kabbala centres, Buddhist temples…and more.
Happy healing on a budget. I did it. So can you!
With much love and gratitude,
Tami
For more free resources, check out our blog, our free newsletter, and attend our quarterly free teleconferences!
"Tami Green is living proof what our research states: that those with BPD can and do get better and stay better. Her encouragement to others to expect positive results from treatment is to be applauded."
--Dr. Gunderson, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA and Director, Center for Treatment and Research on Borderline Personality Disorder, at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
