If a person suffers from mental and emotional conditions for long periods without being diagnosed, they may develop patterns of chaotic problem relationships. This may well have come about as a result of having impulsive tendencies which give them no control over their emotions and moods. This overall unhealthy life may see the affected person taking extreme risks, deliberately cause harm to themselves or even attempt suicide. These affected people with self destructive behaviours, which could be categorised as borderline personality disorder, display traits of severe interpersonal difficulties and extreme instability of moods. The severe emotional pain suffered by these people, the discontent experienced by failed relationships and the lack of a balanced and generally healthy lifestyle can all be treated. Evidence based programs are available to assist these affected people to gain a more healthy and fulfilled life. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, or Mindfulness is well known to be of assistance in such cases. Participants are taught to change and regulate self destructive and impulsive disorganised behaviours and are also provided with new problem solving strategies. The participants are required to commit to changing their self harming behaviour whilst participating in the program. The new skills that are learned in such crisis intervention programs include;
• Distress tolerance
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Emotional regulation
• Mindfulness skills

Mindfulness, or DBT, involves looking at the world and your place in it in a particular way, that is;
• On purpose
• In the present moment
• Looking at one thing at a time
• Non judgementally

When mastered, mindfulness enables the complete control of the mind by observing, accepting and tolerating "what is". Mindfulness draws from Eastern philosophies and is considered to be a higher state of awareness. As always, I wish to encourage those who may be suffering from self destructive and negative impulsive behaviours to immediately seek help and advice from your doctor. I wish you well on your journey to a higher and more controlled state of awareness and wellbeing.

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