Questions from Sweden (about BPD and self injuries)

Now you´ve got a visitor from far away Smile I'm an "ex-borderliner" from Sweden, now studying to be a nurse. Most of all I had a severe self destructive behavior for many years, but now I call myself recovered ... Whatever that is. I can still feel anxiety sometimes, but not as often. And when I do, I can handle it. I like my life and consider myself quite "normal".

My life took a strange turn in 2004, when scientist´s came with really chocking results about how common self injuries are in Sweden. I guess you were first with SI in the States as usual ... When I started at the age of 14 in 1998, I had never heard of self injuries. In 1998, you probably had?

Well, when theese numbers got out in Sweden, the media was on immediately. I was on my way to recover by then, and after being a guest in "Good morning Sweden!" I realized: Maybe I could help people! Maybe if I recovered, somone else would start beliving that she also can do it ...

And I started fighting.

Since then I´ve written a book about my life, that was the first book written about self injuries/eating disorders (which I also had) in Swedish. Now it´s been translated into two other languages (but not in English yet ...). I've started lecturing and has begun my education to be a nurse. I actually have an american girl in my class ... Even if I can't understand why you go to the little town of Lund in the south of Sweden to study when you are from California. Well, whatever.

As you're always first with everything in the US, I'm really curious about how you treat BPD and self injuries compared to we do in Sweden. In Sweden the Dialectic Behavior Therapy has grown much and quickly in the last 2-3 years. The first team started here in 1999. Everyone with borderline is talking about DBT now! It's almost lika a big DBT-club. Is DBT something that is common in the US? When someone is hurting herself/himself or have big problems witch impulsive, suicidal behavior, what treatments are you recommended?

I also wonder if you have any advice for me. I'm thinking of going to the US during the summer -08, doing 10 weeks of practical training on a hospital/clinic. I'd like to work with BPD/ self injuries/ eating disorders in the future and wonder if you could recommend any good hospital or clinic, where I could try to get to do my practical training. Remember: It has to be a GOOD clinic! I want to learn, not to get scared away Wink

One last question: Have you heard about the S.A.F.E alternatives clinic? Tried it?

Thanks for your help!

/Sofia (www.sofiaakerman.com)