Psychiatrists in Illinois
Daniel Ross
Psychiatric Nurse, MSN, RN, PMHNP
Verified Verified
Barrington, IL 60010
It is not uncommon to find ourselves somehow off track and disconnected from who we thought we were. Our relationships may seem stuck and deeply unsatisfying. We feel lost and unsure of our place in the world. This may be accompanied by feelings of depression, anxiety or as physical problems. It can be experienced as a deep alienation, sadness and suffering. When we are called to make a change and resist, it can cause havoc in our lives; this can happen whether the change is in the outer circumstances of our life, our inner attitude, our world view, or some combination.
It is not uncommon to find ourselves somehow off track and disconnected from who we thought we were. Our relationships may seem stuck and deeply unsatisfying. We feel lost and unsure of our place in the world. This may be accompanied by feelings of depression, anxiety or as physical problems. It can be experienced as a deep alienation, sadness and suffering. When we are called to make a change and resist, it can cause havoc in our lives; this can happen whether the change is in the outer circumstances of our life, our inner attitude, our world view, or some combination.
Alexander E. Obolsky
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Chicago, IL 60602
From time to time, our lives take an unexpected turn for the worse. We may suffer injury; succumb to physical or emotional illness, or experience conflict, loss, misfortune. Trauma and chronic disability may affect our loved ones or us. Life adversities may temporarily overwhelm our ability to carry on. We may turn pessimistic, doubtful, and hopeless. Feel demoralized, worried, and anxious. Suffer sadness, distress, and anguish. Become angry and resentful. Feel distrustful and quarrel with others. Recognize our isolation and loneliness. At such times, we could benefit from a psychiatric evaluation and treatment, including psychotherapy and prescription medicine.
From time to time, our lives take an unexpected turn for the worse. We may suffer injury; succumb to physical or emotional illness, or experience conflict, loss, misfortune. Trauma and chronic disability may affect our loved ones or us. Life adversities may temporarily overwhelm our ability to carry on. We may turn pessimistic, doubtful, and hopeless. Feel demoralized, worried, and anxious. Suffer sadness, distress, and anguish. Become angry and resentful. Feel distrustful and quarrel with others. Recognize our isolation and loneliness. At such times, we could benefit from a psychiatric evaluation and treatment, including psychotherapy and prescription medicine.
See more therapy options for Illinois
Borderline Personality (BPD) Psychiatrists
What is the most successful approach to treating borderline personality disorder?
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is considered the gold standard of treatment for borderline personality disorder. An evidence-based treatment, it addresses the extreme emotional reactivity, the relationship difficulties, and the acts of self-harm that create so much distress for BPD patients. DBT is a comprehensive program that includes both regular individual psychotherapy sessions and weekly group sessions of skills training.
What happens in treatment of borderline personality disorder?
Treatment typically consists of weekly individual therapy sessions that last an hour and group skill-focused instructional sessions that may last up to two hours. Patients are typically given homework “assignments” in which they are asked to practice in their daily life the skills they acquire in therapy. Patients also keep a diary tracking their emotions and impulses as a way to know which situations are most problematic and to help them gain control over their own behavior. Difficult situations and feelings are typically reviewed in therapy sessions and more constructive solutions found.
What kinds of problems does BPD treatment help with?
DBT was initially developed to dampen the self-destructive impulses of chronically suicidal patients. It is now the treatment of choice for borderline personality disorder, a serious condition marked by extreme emotional reactivity, relationship instability, and self-injurious behaviors. Treatment of BPD helps patients tolerate the flux of emotions without acting on them, often with a specific focus on tolerating negative emotions. DBT addresses the core problems of BPD—fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and impulsivity.
What is the goal of treatment in borderline personality disorder?
The goal of treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is to relieve the extreme emotional distress that patients experience—to curb their emotional reactivity, to minimize their inclination to self-harm, and to reduce their impulsivity. Toward these ends, patients are not only taught an array of new coping skills and techniques for emotional regulation, they are given opportunities to practice them. Another major goal of treatment is interpersonal effectiveness; patients learn and problem-solve ways to effectively communicate in relationships, especially how to ask for what they need as a way to minimize hurt feelings.