Order The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook by Dr. Fox: https://goo.gl/LQEgy1'>https://goo.gl/LQEgy1

It is very common for people with BPD, or those along the BPD spectrum, to catastrophize their view of self, others, their future, and especially their personality disorder. In this video we are going to discuss this very thing and some techniques to help you.

Research shows that individuals with BPD choose less distraction and reappraisal strategies (adaptive methods of emotional and behavioral control), and are more likely to engage in rumination, catastrophizing, and selfblame in daily life. But it doesn’t have to be this way (see below for citations).

Tips for managing catastrophizing:

How do you manage it/control it? Tips for lessening/controlling catastrophizing:
1. Distract yourself from the perceived catastrophe – easier said than done but important. Do some deep breathing, exercise, video games, engage in something to occupy your mind so you’re not focused on the catastrophe.
2. If it is something you must do, recognize this and tell yourself and visualize yourself engaging appropriately in the situation and managing the situation effectively. You must see the success in your mind’s eye to make it real!
3. Recognize that catastrophizing is selfdefeating, unlikely, and irrational. Bring some truth to it and resist letting it be a runaway train in your brain. Recognize what it is and do not blame yourself for engaging in it. Berating yourself never helps…
4. Use positive affirmations about you and the situation. You can handle it, you’ve handled other situations in the past and you can handle this. Tell yourself, “I can do this, and I’ll take it as it comes”. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Take a moment and ask yourself, do you catastrophize most when under the influence? A lot of folks do, but recognize this. Make a sober message on your phone telling you this. You can watch this when your inebriated or high to help bring some reality to your thinking. Sobriety is best, especially when managing PD Sx and learning techniques.
5. Bring reality into it. Recognize that the worst case scenario is rare and that there is a higher probability of a better outcome than the catastrophe. Ask yourself “what are some lessnegative options?”

Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Texas, international speaker, and a multiaward winning author. He has been specializing in the treatment and assessment of individuals with personality disorders for over 15 years in the state and federal prison system, universities, and in private practice. His specialty areas include personality disorders, ethics, burnout prevention, and emotional intelligence.

He has published several articles in these areas and is the author of:

The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook: An Integrative Program to Understand and Manage Your BPD. Available at: https://goo.gl/LQEgy1'>https://goo.gl/LQEgy1

Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic and Histrionic Workbook: Treatment Strategies for Cluster B Personality Disorders (IPBA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award Winner): https://goo.gl/BLRkFy

Narcissistic Personality Disorder Toolbox: 55 Practical Treatment Techniques for Clients, Their Parents & Their Children: https://goo.gl/sZYhym

The Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Personality Disorders: https://goo.gl/ZAVe9v

Dr. Fox has given numerous workshops and seminars on ethics and personality disorders, personality disorders and crime, treatment solutions for treating clients along the antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality spectrum, emotional intelligence, managing mental health within the prison system, and others. Dr. Fox maintains a website of various treatment interventions focused on working with and attenuating the symptomatology related to individuals along the antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality spectrum (www.drdfox.com).

YouTube:    / drdanielfox  
Dr. Fox’s website: http://www.drdfox.com/
Facebook:   / appliedpsychservices  
Twitter:   / drdanieljfox1  
LinkedIn:   / drdfox  
Instagram:   / drdfox  
Amazon Author’s Page: amazon.com/author/drfox

Thank you for your attention and I hope you enjoy my videos and find them helpful and subscribe. I always welcome topic suggestions and comments.

Citations:
Glenn, C. R., & Klonsky, E. D. (2009). Emotion dysregulation as a core feature of borderline personality disorder. Journal of personality disorders, 23(1), 2028.

Mun, C. J., Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., & Kim, H. (2016). Borderline personality features and pain severity: Exploring the mediational role of depression and catastrophizing. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 35(5), 386400.