Rating: 
Summary: Not very helpful for family members
Review: This book has some good information and details one specific case. As I was reading this book I kept thinking, "no, that doesn't explain my mother at all". The book doesn't do a very good job of explaining the different types of personalities someone with bpd exhibits. I already know that my mother has bpd. I already know what bpd is. I bought this book to help me learn how to avoid being manipulated and emotionally hurt by my mother. This book didn't really offer much to help family members at all. I think it is a decent resource for someone with bpd, I only wish I could get my mother to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Not very helpful for family members
Review: This book has some good information and details one specific case. As I was reading this book I kept thinking, "no, that doesn't explain my mother at all". The book doesn't do a very good job of explaining the different types of personalities someone with bpd exhibits. I already know that my mother has bpd. I already know what bpd is. I bought this book to help me learn how to avoid being manipulated and emotionally hurt by my mother. This book didn't really offer much to help family members at all. I think it is a decent resource for someone with bpd, I only wish I could get my mother to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent analysis: split-dialogue of textbook and therapy.
Review: This book is interesting and helpful to anyone with virtually any particular personality traits or disorders. Who has never suffered depression? Those who have suffered depression probably considered suicide! This book is so rewarding from a textbook point of view, but even more from its practical application with an actual case study as work in progress, a parallel story of the author explaining his opinions of how the BPD works and how he actually faced a real life example. The stories are carefully webbed together to bring one of the best self-help books I've ever read. Good reading for anyone who wants to feel better.
Rating:
Summary: Be Careful
Review: This book was interesting and had useful information in identifying various symptoms and behaviours of BPD, however I think the line it takes in explaining (almost justifying) the behaviour of BPD's can be dangerous when considering that many BPD's might be reading it. One of the things that BPD's continually do is to justify their inappropriate and destructive behaviour when it involves hurting other people close to them. The expression "Give'em an inch and they'll take a mile" comes to mind.
My partner was diagnosed with BPD and he really loved the aspect of his therapy and on anything he read, which focussed on depression (which was only a small part of his symptoms - the emphasis with him was on raging, obsessive behaviour, sexual dysfunctionality and revenge.) He started to go into a "poor me" mode, wallowing in the whole issue of how he had suddenly discovered he had suffered from depression and how terrible it was that this is what he'd been going through. This was his excuse to avoid confronting the appalling violence, destructive and abusive behaviour which was so predominant. He didn't get any better from any of this when he was going down this track. The greatest improvements, not only in his treatment of me, but also to his own level of happiness and joy, came after times when he had faced some of the most horrendous aspects of his behaviour and was, to some extent, told in no uncertain terms by his therapist that this behaviour was unacceptable. I realise it's a lot more complicated than that, but I am always concerned to see anything on BPD that, in the name of improving self-esteem and providing some dignity, go too far in being "understanding" towards the BPD sufferer. BPD's love nothing more than excuses, they are obsessed with twisting things onto their loved ones, and I know in the case of my partner this only gives him the opportunity to become self-obsessed over these aspects rather than face anything else that might make him look bad. The book talks about patients being taught to find their own identity and understand their own feelings, but the difficulty with this is that BPD sufferers can take this to mean that whatever irrational perceptions they are experiencing should be given credence, and they then become enraged if they are not able to be accepted by others. The other thing is that it has been said that 90% of BPD sufferers also have another disorder. This needs to be taken into account when making suggestions because if you combine symptoms of 2 disorders it can become even more dangerous to recommend a certain approach based solely on BPD issues. eg If the patient also is narcissistic too much focus on self-esteem building feeds into their obsession with attention and they become much more grandiose and super-confident, starting to feel OK in all respects, and this includes an even greater tendency to justify their vengeful destructive rages.
Rating:
Summary: Reader friendly, helpful
Review: This book was very informative. I haven't been specifically dz with borderline personality but I meet the guidelines. I look back at my life and everything and I feel as though I am crazy. Reading this helped me realize I'm not and it takes time to heal from abuse. I wondered about my behaviors now I know. A must for anyone who feels they may suffer from BPD. best wishes to all who suffer from any mental illness.
Rating:
Summary: A touching, informative book on life with BPD
Review: This is a smart and sensitive look at the causes, treatment, and struggles of Borderline Personality Disorder. The case study of Sara depicts the tortures both patients and their families deal with in the wake of this disorder. The chapters are helpful in understanding this illness and offer hope to those affected by it. I recommend this book to anyone with BPD, to anyone who is treating someone with BPD, and to families and friends of those with BPD.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is an absolutely excellent book. Although I don't have all the symptoms that would necessarily qualify me as having BPD, I have enough of them that I could relate to the content of this book. It made me feel as though I'm okay, even though I have certain problems. I think it would also be a great read for anyone living with someone who has BPD.
Rating:
Summary: The best book out there for people with BPD.
Review: This is an easy to read book with a lot of great information. It has helped me through the rough times.
Rating:
Summary: I finally have found some answers
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who has BPD or for family members and friends of those with BPD. I was recently diagnosed with the disorder. When I first learned that I had it, I was in complete denial and thought that I was crazy and that there was no one else out there like me who felt the things that I feel. I was shocked to read Lost in the Mirror and see that there ARE others out there like me. It gave me such a huge sense of relief. I have read the book 3 times in 2 weeks just for re-confirmation. I have even used the book while in therapy. It puts feelings that I have had into words that even helped my therapist understand me a little better. The book helped me to understand why I am the way I am and that there is hope. A GREAT READ!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, easy to read, informative
Review: This is the third book on borderline personality disorder that I have read. It is the best, even better than the highly rated "Elcipses" in my opinion. Easy to read format, highly educational for those suffering from BPD, those who live with persons suffering from BPD, and mental healthcare workers working with BPD sufferers; and suffer they do! Please read this book!
| 
