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People with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorders have a serious mental illness that primarily affects their intimate, personal, and family relationships. Often they appear to be normally functioning at work and in public interactions, and Narcissists may even be highly effective, in the short term, in some work or social situations. However, in intimate relationships, they can be emotional, aggressive, demeaning, illogical, paranoid, accusing, and controlling-in the extreme. Their ability to function normally or pleasantly can suddenly change in an instant, like flipping a switch. These negative behaviors don't happen once in a while, they happen almost continuously in their intimate relationships and most often, and especially with their Caretaker family member.
Here, Margalis Fjelstad describes how people get into a Caretaker role with a Borderline or Narcissist, and how they can get out. Caretakers give up their sense of self to become who and what the Borderline or Narcissist needs them to be. This compromises the Caretaker's self-esteem, distorts their thinking processes, and locks them into a Victim-Persecutor-Rescuer pattern with the Borderline or Narcissist. The book looks at the underlying rules and expectations in these relationships and shows Caretaker's how to move themselves out of these rigid interactions and into a healthier, more productive, and positive lifestyle-with or without the Borderline/Narcissistic partner or family member. It describes how to get out of destructive interactions with the Borderline or Narcissist and how to take new, more effective actions to focus on personal wants, needs, and life goals while allowing the Borderline or Narcissist to take care of themselves. It presents a realistic, yet compassionate, attitude toward the self-destructive nature of these relationships, and gives real life examples of how individuals have let go of their Caretaker behaviors with creative and effective solutions.
List of contents
PART I: UNDERSTANDING THE CARETAKER ROLE
INTRODUCTION: HOW CAN I TELL IF I'M A CARETAKER?
1: IS MY PARTNER REALLY A BORDERLINE OR NARCISSIST?
2: WHY THE BORDERLINE/NARCISSIST NEEDS A CARETAKER
3: LEARNING TO BE A CARETAKER
4: CARETAKING INVOLVEMENT LEVELS
5: EMOTIONAL DISTORTIONS OF CARETAKERS
6: THOUGHT DISTORTIONS OF CARETAKERS
7: BEHAVIORAL DISTORTIONS OF CARETAKERS
8: DISTORTIONS IN THE SENSE OF SELF
9: RELATIONSHIP DISTORTIONS OF CARETAKERS
PART II: LETTING GO OF CARETAKING
INTRODUCTION: HOW DO I MAKE CHANGES?
10: STAGES OF HEALING
11: CHALLENGING THE BP/NP FAMILY RULES
12: BEGINNING TO HEAL: EMBRACING NEW BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS
13: INCREASING YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE
14: NURTURING AND CARING FOR YOURSELF
15: ANXIETY REDUCING SKILLS WITH THE BP/NP
16: CHANGE CREATING SKILLS WITH THE BP/NP
17: LEAVING OR STAYING
PART III - REBUILDING
INTRODUCTION: HOW DOES IT LOOK TO NOT BE A CARETAKER?
18: MOVING FORWARD IN A HEALTHY WAY
19: REACHING OUT TO OTHERS
20: THE NEW YOU
APPENDIX I: CARETAKER TEST
BIBLIOGRAPHY
About the author
Margalis Fjelstad, PhD, LMFT, has a private psychotherapy practice in Ft. Collins, CO, specializing in work with clients who are in relationship to someone who has borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, and she facilitates groups on Caretaker recovery. She has previously been an Adjunct Faculty member at Regis University in Colorado Springs and at California State University in Sacramento.
Summary
People with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorders are master manipulators; Caretakers fall for them every time. This book helps Caretakers break the cycle and puts them on a new path of personal freedom, discovery, and self-awareness, through the use of real stories and practical suggestions from a seasoned therapist.
