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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
The Buddha and the Borderline: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder through Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Buddhism, and Online Dating by Kiera Van Gelder
6 reviews
lidia7's review against another edition
very triggering and there's casual fatphobia and ableism, meaning it's unchallenged and it seems like it's the author's opinion but the book was published more than a decade ago so i'm hoping she's educated herself on these topics too.
buddhism as a religion feels uncomfortable for me as do all religions. to me it feels like another way to lose yourself and organized religion without fail scares me. (i often wish i could be religious because it seems easier that way but there's something about organized religion that deeply disturbs me). i was more interested in the philosophy but that aspect was severely lacking in this book. only the last fifth of the book was about buddhism and it wasn't in depth. it also didn't feel respectful...
DBT wasn't explained in depth enough either... i understand it's a memoir and not a recovery guide but i would've preferred it if it was explained better.
kind of surreal to read the prejudice of medical professionals 20 years ago, it feels like we've come far but still have a long way to go.
overall, not a helpful book for me and although it was riveting, it was also very uncomfortable.
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and Medical content
Minor: Ableism, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
noonanjohnc's review
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Medical content
Moderate: Addiction and Sexual assault
ellieangel's review
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
madelonpaige's review
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
empathephant's review
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship
The opening chapter contains a very graphic, detailed description of self-harm and the associated emotions. Tread lightly. I was in a fairly stable mental health position when I read this book and I still found the beginning quite disturbing and difficult to manage my reaction to (although it was also validating and I understand why the author needed to include it).evasiveplant's review
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide