Sometimes I Act Crazy

A source of hope, expert advice, and guidance for people withborderline personality disorder and those who love themDo you experience frightening, often violent mood swings that makeyou fear for your sanity? Are you often depressed? Do you engage inself-destructive behaviors such as drug or alcohol abuse, anorexia,compulsive eating, self-cutting, and hair pulling? Do you feelempty inside, or as if you don't know who you are? Do you dreadbeing alone and fear abandonment? Do you have trouble finishingprojects, keeping a job, or forming lasting relationships?If you or someone you love answered yes to the majority of thesequestions, there's a good chance that you or that person suffersfrom borderline personality disorder, a commonly misunderstood andmisdiagnosed psychological problem afflicting tens of millions ofpeople. Princess Diana was one of the most well-known BPDsufferers.As a source of hope and practical advice for BPD sufferers andthose who love them, this new book by Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman andHal Straus, bestselling authors of I Hate You, Don't Leave Me,offers proven techniques that help you:* Manage mood swings* Develop lasting relationships* Improve your self-esteem* Keep negative thoughts at bay* Control destructive impulses* Understand your treatment options* Find professional help

A Note to the Reader.Preface.Acknowledgments.1. Borderline Basics. Action Steps: A Quick BPD Checklist.2. Fears of Abandonment. Action Steps: Dealing with BorderlineFears of Abandonment.3. Unstable Interpersonal relationships. Action Steps: Dealingwith Intense Relationships.4. Identity Disturbance. Action Steps: Establishing a Sense ofSelf.5. Destructive Impulsivity. Action Steps: ManagingImpulsivity.6. Suicidal Behaviors and Self-Mutilation. Action Steps: Dealingwith Self-Destructive Behaviors.7. Mood Instability.8. Emptiness. Action Steps: Filling the Emptiness.9. Anger. Action Steps: Strategies for Coping with borderlineRage.10. reality Distortions: Paranoia and Dissociation. ActionSteps: Dealing with Borderline Psychosis.11. Treatment Strategies and Communication Techniques. ActionSteps: Finding the Right Therapist. Action Steps: GeneralApproaches to Communication.12. Prognosis and Directions of Future Research.Resources.Notes.Index.