Cycle 17 - Flashcard Set 1
What is emotional avoidance behavior in BPD?
A behavior engaged in by people with BPD to maintain a false sense of internal security by avoiding unwanted emotions.
What can trigger emotional avoidance behaviors in BPD?
Even trivial things.
How can partners and family members enable the BPD pattern?
By behaving in ways that maintain the BPD person’s emotional avoidance behaviors.
Do emotional avoidance behaviors in BPD always involve cutting or threatening suicide?
No, they can be subtle and not necessarily involve cutting or threatening suicide.
What can emotional avoidance behaviors become for people with BPD?
An unconscious way of life.
What can happen if emotional avoidance behaviors do not solve problems or meet essential needs for people with BPD?
Life dysfunction and lost connections.
Are emotional avoidance behaviors always bad for people with BPD?
No, but if an emotion makes sense for a situation, one should take responsibility to ‘feel through’ it.
What can overwhelming life stresses result in for people with BPD?
Judgments of self-worthlessness and more emotional avoidance behaviors.
What can lead to ineffective or unsolved life problems for people with BPD?
The need to avoid painful emotions, leading to ineffective or unsolved life problems.
What can happen when a person with BPD does not understand themselves and their emotional struggles?
The urge to give up on life can become potent.
What can lead to the persistence of shame feelings and the urge to give up on life for people with BPD?
Feelings of shame can be some of the most difficult to endure.
What can help people with BPD effectively solve life problems and manage emotional struggles?
Emotional awareness and mastery.
