Lost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder [Paperback]

Richard Moskovitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

Borderline personality disorder accounts for almost 25 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations in this country. Lost in the Mirror takes readers behind the erratic behavior of this puzzling disorder, examining its underlying causes and revealing the unimaginable pain and fear beneath its surface.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Persons with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have often been abused physically, psychologically, or sexually; most are women. Moskovitz describes variations of the condition and how it affects patient, family, and friends. The sufferer may experience guilt, self-hate, suicide, self-mutilation, and other symptoms and signs, and Moskovitz provides several patient histories to bring BPD to life. No case is more considerable than that of Sara, which Moskovitz parcels out in segments at the ends of chapters--a tactic that first seems artificial and confusing but cumulatively makes a greater impression than it would if presented whole. Moskovitz is especially adept with analogies, using everyday situations to clarify his points rather than just adorn the text. He imparts that while there is no drug just for BPD, some drugs help with specific symptoms, and he dispenses practical advice to family and professionals as well as patients. William Beatty --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

This is a book where empathic insights. clinical wisdom and therapeutic optimism will usefully inform anyone who is interested in understanding BPD patients. This book . . . is distuinguished by a dedicated effort to convey vividly and understandale a great deal about people with the disorder. Readers will be rewarded with welcomed appreciation. (Tina Beychok Psychiatric Times )

Moskovitz is especially adept with analogies, using everyday situations to clarify his points rather than just adorn the text. He imparts that while there is no drug just for BPD, some drugs help with specific symptoms, and he dispenses practical advice to family and professionals as well as patients. (Booklist )

Moskovitz offers a coherent picture of this disorder as a distinct syndrome...the author conveys, in a very empathetic and touching way, his understanding of what it feels like to be borderline. (Meir Winokur The Jerusalem Post )

Mention the word "borderline" and you're sure to see smiles fade and demeanors bristle. Lost in the Mirror [is] an excellent field guide into the exploration of this mysterious condition. Moskovitz views borderline personality disorder as being rooted in past trauma and closely linked to dissociation disorders. Together, the therapist and the patient embark on the task of discovering and sorting through these memories, piecing them together to form a sensible whole. (Chris Dunn, PhD Professional Counselor )

Mention the word "borderline" and you're sure to see smiles fade and demeanors bristle. Lost in the Mirror [is] an excellent field guide into the exploration of this mysterious condition. Moskovitz views borderline personality disorder as being rooted in past trauma and closely linked to dissociation disorders. Together, the therapist and the patient embark on the task of discovering and sorting through these memories, piecing them together to form a sensible whole. (Chris Dunn, PhD Professional Counselor )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 2nd Edition edition (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878332669
• ISBN-13: 978-0878332663
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Personality Disorders

More About the Author

I am a Harvard educated practicing psychiatrist, who once knew everything about psychotherapy, but have found that learning the imperfect art of restoring broken spirits is a lifelong journey. I am the author of the best-selling non-fiction work LOST IN THE MIRROR: AN INSIDE LOOK AT BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER and the psychological mystery novel CAROUSEL MUSIC, which examines the issue of recovered memories and false memories in psychotherapy via a courtroom struggle between a psychiatrist and a father accused of molesting his daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 139 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, Gentle, Caring, and Informative, May 12, 2001

By 

Patty E. Fleener "Webowner - Mental Health Today" (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder (Paperback)

I am the webowner of "Borderline Personality Disorder Today".

Finally I got a copy of Dr. Moskovitz's book "Lost in the Mirror," I sat down and cried shortly into the first chapter. It was the very first time that someone understood me and not only that, it was as if the author had his arm around me through the entire book.

Lost in the Mirror is so beautifully and gently written and it was also the first time that I realized that I was not miserable because I was a bad person which is what I had always thought.

The magic of "Lost in the Mirror" is the mixture of the tremendous clinical experience and knowledge the author has (he is up to date with the research), with his very gentle, warm and caring personality.

I have heard from many family members how helpful this book has been for them.

Dr. Moskovitz brings you right up to date with his second edition in regards to treatment. He discusses the latest about psychotropic medication, EMDR and DBT.

It is important to know that the BPD is treatable and that you can get better.

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellant Read for Troubled Souls, June 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder (Paperback)

When I was first informed that I had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder I was angry, really angry. I had also previously been told that I had Dissociative Identity Disorder,and I was confused as to how I could suffer from both. My doctor asked me to read his copy of this book so that I could get a better understanding of what BPD was and was not. As I read this book I became confused. Confused because I felt like the author had written it about me. Over time I came to realize and accept the diagnosis and finally work through the confusing and troubled personality styles that make up what is known as BPD. I came to see that this book was written about and for the many others in this world, not just me, who suffer from BPD and have a glimmer of hope to heal from it. I found the chapter Dr. Moskovitz wrote about DID was very loosly written in it's connection with BPD. With my own experience of healing from both disorders, I found that they are truely seperate from each other and yet are linked by some shared features such as the ability to dissociate. I felt comforted and hopeful that I could heal from both DID and BPD after reading this chapter. Through the reading of this book I learned more about myself and my effect on others and began to see how I needed to change me and not those around me. I thank Dr. Moskovitz for the writings and teachings he offers clients and families, known and unknown to him, and the hope of healing that he gives to all. This book is one of the better reads on the topic of Borderline Personality Disorder and I recommend it to all who want a better understanding of what the disorder is, and is not.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Breakthrough for BPD's Who've Been Told They Can't Heal, November 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lost in the Mirror: An Inside Look at Borderline Personality Disorder (Paperback)

As both a clinical social worker and someone living with BPD, I recommend this book to people all the time. There are a lot of writings out there that make BPD seem like a hopeless diagnosis: This is NOT one of those books. By using both a clinical and narrative approach, this author has captured BPD in an accessible manner that is absent in other BPD books.

Excellent for people living with BPD and their families.