These books can be read by consumers and supporters as well. If you are a supporter, you may have figured out on your own that we consumers are very sensitive to what you say to us.

There is a reason for that, and I'll point out right here that the flip side to us getting upset about things so easily is that we feel all emotions deeply, including our love for you. But, I digress...because we feel so deeply, especially early in our recovery, there are some things that a supporter can read that a consumer possibly could not. One of those books is Stop Walking on Eggshells. If you are a supporter and are looking for answers on how the heck to talk to us (quick!), there is a chapter on communicating with us that is right on! Next, get in to effective treatment. I'll tell you in a nutshell, to save you a lot of time, what the current thought is on treatment. For some of us medication is helpful and for some not necessary. For all of us therapy is essential, and if your therapist doesn't know how to treat BPD, she may be doing more harm than good, so find one who knows your disorder! For all of us, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills training can be enormously helpful and downright awesome! Some of the things you will learn are how to effectively regulate your emotions and how to avoid black and white thinking. Find yourself some support. The illness usually forces sufferers into social isolation, which only compounds the symptoms. Part of your healing will be to slowly get back into life. Once you have learned some basic skills, you will be able to tolerate social interactions, and will grow to enjoy them once more. The key is to finding people who understand and are supportive of you, right where you are. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has Nooflex support groups that encompass all brain disorders. BPD is a newcomer to their list of disorders, so some chapters may be more helpful than others. However, many Borderline Personality Disorder sufferers are diagnosed with multiple illnesses, so NAMI may be a supportive environment for a range of disorders. I recommend the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEA-BPD) for your family members. They are an informed, passionate and helpful organization who offer the Family Connections class at a price that can't be beat. This class will help those you love to understand your illness and teach skills to be more effective in their relationship with you. Are you easily distracted? Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you depressed or sad one moment and full of confidence and optimism the next time? Do you find it difficult to concentrate? Are you reckless and aggressive at times only to lose interest in everything you do the next moment? If you answered "yes" to the above questions, chances are you're suffering from bipolar disorder - a mental disorder that affects 222 million people worldwide and is the sixth leading cause of disabilities worldwide. Bipolar disorder is a serious and debilitating mental illness that is also known as manic-depression or manic-depressive illness. This mood disorder often affects adults and may persist throughout life. "Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. 

They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives," according to the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The manic phase of this disorder is characterized by feelings of euphoria, extreme optimism, and a high self-esteem. There is rapid speech, agitation, and reckless behavior. Other symptoms are poor concentration, difficulty sleeping, poor judgment, and an unrealistic belief in one's abilities and powers. In the depressive phase, the patient may have persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or guilt, sleep problems, loss of appetite, irritability, chronic pain with no known cause, and recurring thoughts of suicide. "Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings - from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression," said NIMH experts. The cause of bipolar disorder is unknown but it can be triggered by drug abuse and stressful or traumatic events. The condition tends to run in families, leading some researchers to believe that the problem may be genetic or due to a hormonal imbalance. Untreated, the condition can lead to substance or alcohol abuse and suicide. "Bipolar disorder can have devastating effects on relationships as well as finances stemming from spending sprees during a manic episode or nearly complete isolation and withdrawal during a depressive phase," said the Mayo Clinic. 

The term "autism" is often used most commonly used to describe any one of the 5 different types of pervasive developmental disorders. These pervasive developmental disorders are collectively known as "autism spectrum disorders." There are many theories about how these disorders relate to one another. While some researchers believe that they are all separate disorders with similar symptoms, other researchers say that there is a "spectrum" of severity that ranges from extremely mild to incapacitating. In the most severe cases of autism, the one inflicted will not be able to function and live independently. Autism is a chronic brain disorder that manifests in developmental difficulties in the areas of social interaction, verbal skills and communication. If your child is autistic, he is likely to have repetitive and narrow interests. In addition, he finds it hard to cope with changes in schedules and environment. He can react violently when any changes occur or if there is a disruption to his normal schedule. Unfortunately, it is not known what causes autism but some scientists and researchers believe that it is a genetic abnormality. Yet others say that it is caused by an injury to the brain or exposure to an environmental toxin. This can be supported by the fact that in some population areas, autism is at higher rates of incidence than it is elsewhere. You may start observing some odd developmental problems of your child between the ages of 12 and 36 months old. It may be that your child is not hitting some milestones with underdeveloped or delay in speech and communication skills. You may also begin to notice that his social interactions are poor. However, if your child only has mild autism, you may not be able to detect that anything is wrong until he enters school.

In some cases, your child may go un diagnosed until he reaches middle school, which is when social and communication skills become more important. If you have an autistic child, you may fear that his disorder may worsen over the years. However, research shows that autism is non-progressive, meaning that it does not get worse in time. The 5 types of pervasive developmental disorders include: 1. Autism. Autism's symptoms can be recognized before a child turns 3-years-old. However, it may be diagnosed much later than this. If your child is diagnosed with autism he will have difficulty making or maintaining eye contact, have disturbances in his social functioning and be overwhelmingly absorbed with himself. 2. Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome is similar to autism in that it tends to show up before your child turns 3 years old. However, your child will be able to function at a higher level than an autistic child. Your child can still have difficulties with social functioning, communication and speech. He will also be easily absorbed with narrowly defined interests. But with some therapy and help, most asperger children are able to live independently when they get older. 3. Rex syndrome. Some doctors would argue that Rex syndrome is not a type of autism. However, there are still doctors who do think that this is a form of autism. This syndrome almost exclusively afflicts girls. Usually your child will develop normally for 6 to 18 months and then show a remarkable loss of skills in such areas as speech and the ability to control her hands and her feet. 

This syndrome can be tested for with an 80% accuracy rate. Dr. Schulz is a world renowned medical intuitive, behavioral neuroscientist, practicing psychiatrist and a best-selling author whose latest book "The New Feminine Brain" explores the hidden potential of women and gives practical, grounded instructions on how to capitalize and manifest inherent mental gifts. She is a foremost authority on brain function and blends her expert "right brain" with "left brain" medical intuition consultations. The focus of her life work is to capitalize a person's potential for maximum health both on the physical and emotional level. For over 20 years, her groundbreaking research has helped to accelerate an acceptance and inclusion of non-linear approaches to medical healing outside conventional western medical techniques. Dr. Schulz teaches us how to become aware of how our symptoms of illness are part of our intuition network, letting us know when something in our lives is out of balance. During a medical intuitive consultation, there is no physician/patient relationship, no diagnosis is given nor is any psychotherapy being performed. Mona Lisa will educate you in how specific emotional situations in your life are associated with the increased risk of illness in a specific organ in your body. Like many gifted psychics, Dr. Schulz was encouraged as a child by very accomplished parents to develop her intellect through logic and analysis. Although she was able to intuitively solve difficult math problems before the age of ten, family and cultural conditioning caused her to block her intuition. Surprisingly, her success was more limited as a result. Dr. Schulz has herself had to overcome challenges that many people would have used as an excuse to not succeed in life. She has ADD and was diagnosed with a brain disorder similar to narcolepsy in college. Narcolepsy is a condition whereby a person falls asleep out-of-the-blue no matter what they are doing at the time.