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Mental Health Dictionary - Letter B

Uploaded 6/29/2023, approx. 3 minute read

Okay, so the letter after A happens to be B. It's a mental health dictionary, the letter B.

Now I've opened a new playlist on the channel, surprisingly called Mental Health Dictionary. I'm going to upload there, I'm going to add all the various letters, A, B, C, D.

You see, I know the alphabet, and when it's all done, I'm going to issue a single video compilation of all the letters so that you can download it and have your own personal Wackenin Mental Health Dictionary.

Okay, my name is Sam Vaknin, I'm the author of "Alignant Self-Love: Narcissism, Revisited." I'm a former visiting professor of psychology and currently on the faculty of SIAS, and straight to the letter B. That is, if I find it.

Okay, here we are. Blocking, halted, frequently interrupted speech to the point of incoherence indicates a parallel disruption of thought processes. The patient appears to try hard to remember what it was that he or she was saying or thinking as if they lost the thread of conversation.

And the big one, borderline personality disorder, also abbreviated as BPD, a controversial mental health diagnosis in the cluster B of personality disorders, the erratic, dramatic cluster.

Borderlines are characterized by stormy, short-lived and unstable relationships matched by wildly fluctuating labile self-image and emotional expression, unstable affect.

Some scholars suggest that BPD is merely Emotionally Disregulated Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Emotionally Disregulated Complex Trauma.

Borderlines are impulsive and reckless. Their sexual conduct is frequently unsafe. They binge eat, gamble, drive or shop carelessly and/or are substance abusers. There is recklessness present.

Borderlines also display self-destructive and self-defeating behaviors such as suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, gestures or threats and self-mutilation or self-injury.

The spectre of abandonment provokes anxiety in the borderline as do feelings of engulfment or enmeshment.

Borderlines make frantic and usually counterproductive efforts to preempt or prevent both conditions, abandonment and engulfment.

Codependent acts are followed by idealization and then by an abrupt devaluation of the borderline's partner and this is known as approachavoidancerepetitioncompulsion and splitting.

Borderlines have pronounced mood swings, shifting between dysphoria, sadness or depression and euphoria, manic self-confidence and paralyzing anxiety, irritability and then indifference.

Borderlines are often angry and violent, usually getting into physical fights. They throw temper tantrums and have frightening rage attacks.

Under stress, some borderlines become briefly psychotic or develop transient paranoid ideations and ideas of reference, the erroneous conviction that one is the focus of derision and malicious gossip.

Dissociative symptoms such as amnesia, derialization and depersonalization are common, losing stretches of time or objects and forgetting events or facts with emotional content.

Borderline Personality Organization Scale (BPO) a diagnostic test developed in 1985. It sorts the responses of respondents into 30 relevant scales. It indicates the existence of identity disturbance, primitive defenses and deficient reality testing and that is all for today in the letter B.

Looking forward to the letter C which follows even in my world the letter B.

To be or not to be, that is the C section.

If you enjoyed this article, you might like the following:

Borderline Woman: Partner Devaluation, Self-harm, Alcoholism

The lecture discusses the psychological mechanisms underlying borderline personality disorder, focusing on splitting, self-destructive behaviors, and substance abuse. Splitting is described as a primitive defense mechanism that leads individuals to oscillate between idealization and devaluation of others, often rooted in childhood experiences. Self-destructive behaviors manifest in various forms, including reckless actions and unhealthy relationships, driven by internalized self-hatred and a fear of abandonment. Substance abuse is explored as a coping mechanism that exacerbates these issues, allowing individuals to escape emotional pain while simultaneously leading to further self-harm and relational difficulties.


How To Recognize Collapsed/Covert Personality Disorders

The lecture discusses the need for simplification in the understanding of personality disorders, particularly within the Cluster B category, suggesting that they may all stem from a single underlying phenomenon related to narcissism and the confusion between internal and external objects. It proposes that individuals with these disorders can transition between different states—overt, collapsed, and covert—based on external stressors and their responses to reality. The speaker emphasizes that both narcissists and individuals with borderline traits experience feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, leading to various maladaptive behaviors and coping mechanisms. Ultimately, the lecture argues for a unified approach to understanding these disorders, highlighting the dynamics of personality and the interplay of internal and external influences on mental health.


Borderline Personality Disorder in 15 Minutes and 10 Questions

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by a fragile sense of self and identity disturbance, leading to significant changes in values, beliefs, and behaviors. Individuals with this disorder often experience a profound sense of emptiness, rely on others for emotional regulation, and exhibit impaired reality testing, which can result in paranoia and psychotic episodes under stress. They are prone to self-harm and impulsive behaviors, driven by internalized negative self-perceptions and a desire for connection, yet they simultaneously fear abandonment and intimacy. Despite its challenges, borderline personality disorder is treatable through psychotherapy, particularly cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies, and understanding the disorder's complexities can lead to more effective support and relationships.


Covert Borderline: Narcissist or Psychopath (Primary, Secondary) ( Differential Diagnoses)

The lecture discusses the concept of covert borderline personality disorder, emphasizing its similarities and differences with other personality disorders, particularly narcissism and psychopathy. Covert borderlines exhibit grandiosity and an internal locus of control, yet they also experience emotional dysregulation and mood lability, which distinguishes them from classic narcissists and overt borderlines. The speaker argues that covert borderlines often seek love and intimacy but struggle to maintain meaningful relationships due to their underlying issues, leading to a cycle of disappointment and maladaptive behaviors. Ultimately, the lecture advocates for a reevaluation of personality disorder classifications, suggesting that many disorders share common traits and should be viewed as interconnected rather than strictly separate.


Ideal Love Fantasy Borderline And Covert Borderline ( Odd Couples Part 3)

Civilians are suffering and dying in ongoing conflicts, highlighting the harsh realities of the world today. The lecture focuses on the complexities of relationships between individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and covert borderline traits, emphasizing the intricate dynamics that arise when these two types interact. The discussion includes the psychological mechanisms behind these disorders, the impact of childhood experiences on their development, and how these individuals seek to fulfill their emotional needs through their relationships. Ultimately, the interplay between their respective traits can lead to a cycle of idealization, devaluation, and emotional turmoil, complicating their connections and exacerbating their mental health challenges.


Covert Borderline Predicted: Standard Model of Personality Disorders (McGill University)

The lecture presents a proposed standard model for understanding cluster B personality disorders, emphasizing the interplay between covert and overt states, as well as the concept of narcissistic mortification as a key transitional process. It argues that personality disorders can be reconceived as post-traumatic conditions, with trauma leading to dissociation and the development of multiple self-states. The model suggests that individuals can fluctuate between different personality traits and states, challenging the notion of trait constancy. Additionally, it highlights the importance of understanding the confusion between internal and external objects in these disorders, which can lead to significant psychological distress and comorbidity.


Borderline’s Mating Strategies, Mismanaged Aggression

Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the role of aggression in Cluster B personality disorders, particularly in borderline personality disorder. He explains that healthy aggression is externalized and sublimated, while unhealthy aggression is both externalized inappropriately and internalized self-destructively. This ambivalent duality leads to approach-avoidant behaviors and decompensatory acting out in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Vaknin suggests that Cluster B patients need to learn how to externalize aggression safely and sublimate it in socially acceptable ways to improve their mental health and relationships.


Shapeshifting Borderline, Morphing Narcissist Identity Disturbance

Individuals with borderline personality disorder experience significant identity disturbances, often switching between different self-states, which can resemble dissociative identity disorder. This condition is characterized by feelings of emptiness and a lack of a coherent self, leading to emotional dysregulation and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. The concept of identity disturbance has evolved over time, with historical ties to schizophrenia, and current research suggests a strong correlation between identity issues and the development of borderline pathology. Ultimately, the experience of living with borderline personality disorder can be profoundly challenging, both for the individual and their loved ones, as it creates a chaotic and unstable relational dynamic.


Borderline Triangulates with Rescuer to Silence Pain, Abandonment Anxiety

Professor Sam Vaknin discusses Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and its similarities to narcissism. BPD is currently thought to be a female manifestation of secondary psychopathy and involves dissociation. Borderlines often have a diffuse identity and rely on their intimate partners to regulate their internal environment. They may engage in dysfunctional attachment strategies, such as running away or triangulation, and experience dissociation during sex or other emotionally intense situations.


Psychopathic, Covert Borderlines (Literature Review)

The lecture discusses the distinctions between various types of borderline personality disorders, particularly focusing on the newly proposed category of covert borderline, which exhibits traits of both narcissism and psychopathy. It emphasizes the concept of self-states in borderlines, where individuals may switch between different identities, leading to identity disturbance and emotional dysregulation. The lecture also highlights the overlap between borderline and psychopathic traits, suggesting that many borderlines may exhibit psychopathic behaviors, particularly in their interpersonal relationships and emotional responses. Recent literature is reviewed to support the idea that these personality disorders may share common features, indicating a need for a more integrated understanding of their complexities.

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