April 2007 MIM Meeting

This is how it started on this highly anticipated Second Monday – the one in April; A reading by Therese gave a reading from Sabbatical Journey by the great Henri Nouwen:

"During the Eucharist we talked about God's covenant.  God says, "I am your God and will be faithful to you even when you won't be faithful to me."  Through human history, this divine faithfulness is shown to us in God's increasing desire for intimacy.  At first God was the God for us, our protector and shield.  Then, when Jesus came, God became the God with us, our companion and friend.  Finally, when Jesus sent his Spirit, God was revealed to us as the God within us, our very breath and heartbeat.

Our life is full of brokenness---broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations.  How can we live that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives?  Without this "place" of return, our journey easily leads us to darkness and despair.  But with this safe and solid home, we can keep renewing our faith, and keep trusting that the many setbacks of life move is forward to an always greater bond with the God of the covenant."
Hospitality Hall was crowded with MIM members and colleagues of the speaker. Late arrivals were greeted by a low buzz of amiable conversation accompanied by folks gathering at small tables and on chairs to enjoy a light supper.

After cheers and accolades, gold stars were given to the members who proudly talked of their strides toward greater and greater wellness. People were having fun and couldn’t wait to talk about it!

Michael Miller, Psy. D(right) from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School began his presentation: Mythbusters : Borderline Personality Disorder.

What is the truth? Dr. Miller, using slides, presented a thorough examination of the varieties of diagnoses and the Diagnostic Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder.

These criteria were presented with an admonition that the disease is extremely complex to diagnose and to treat.

  1. Pattern of intense and unstable interpersonal relationships.
  2. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
  3. Identity disturbance or problems with sense of self
  4. Impulsivity that is potentially self-damaging.
  5. Recurrent suicidal or parasuicidal behavior
  6. Affective instability
  7. Chronic feelings of emptiness
  8. Inappropriate intense or uncontrollable anger
  9. Transient stress-related paranoid ideation or severe disassociative symptoms.
  10. (Cutting is frequently observed.)
Ronnie Angelus says: "There are three things that make my life work: Talking to my daughter who opens vistas to me and makes me laugh; being in the circle of the Divas, my writing group, who shout "go girl" and give me standing ovations with their smiles and tears; sitting next to Mary and Claude Paradis during Sunday Mass at St. Joan of Arc, which is as close to pure goodness as I will know in this lifetime."
One treatment that has been used extensively with multiple groups and settings successfully is DBT (one third of their subjects do not improve.) DBT is Dialectic Behavioral Therapy designed by Marsha Linehan, Ph. D. Books and other information is available by going to Marsha Linehan’s website, http://faculty.washington.edu/linehan/. There is also a book on treating Borderline Personality Disorder by Dr. Linehan. DBT includes: Medication may prove helpful as well as classes to emphasize positive responses by the individual. The treatment is described as long and intensive, and may call for managing more than one symptom at once.

The group was extremely interactive, questioning and grappling with the perplexities raised by the very thorough presentation. People were left with many concrete questions and an expressed desire to further study and discuss the ‘nuts and bolts’ of Borderline Personality Disorder .

The next Second Monday: May 14, 2007 6:15 to 9:15 PM. There will be a panel of parents and significant others to talk about experiences, wishes, hopes, challenges, strengths and more.