Dear Parent,

My 20-year-old daughter is a study in Reactive Attachment Disorder grown up into what could be diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder.  I am not going there.  My husband went there years ago, but he admittedly is an appraiser.  While he would like to think he knows everything; (also admittedly) he knows he doesn’t.

Whenever I set a small boundary with my daughter (now that she is back living at home), she erupts into an emotional hurricane, swirling between hating me and hating herself. She is victim and I am perpetrator.  She is worthless, and I am omnipotent. Everything is illogical and binary.

Life around my house is a chaotic, topsy turvy storm waiting for the calm aftermath.  The good news is that I find I love her more and more every day.

She has more insight now. She can see herself be over the top, out of control, desperate for security, and hellbent on creating chaos.  She sees herself right in the midst of it.  In that moment, she comes crawling, quietly crying into my bed, “Mommy, I am sorry.  I feel crazy.  I know you are trying to help me. I know you love me.  I appreciate you.  I can’t help these emotions.”  And I know for sure in my heart that she can’t.

I understand, honey.  I love you, and you will get through this.  We will get through this.  

Love matters,

The Attach Place Center for Strengthening Relationships

Ce

​Jennifer Olden, LMFT presents a ​“Hold Me Tight​”​ Couples Workshop at The Attach Place Center for Strengthening Relationships in Sacramento, CA on May 28-29th.  If you are looking to improve your relationship​,​ this workshop will teach you how to create a stronger bond, lessen conflict, and increase trust and intimacy.  Based on Dr. Sue Johnson’s model for couples therapy:  Emotionally Focused Therapy.  Proven effective. Research based. ​Read more and register here.

The next 8 hr. Trust Based Parent Training is scheduled for April 23rd and 30th from 12noon to 4pm.  $200 per couple.  Childcare available for $30 each day, second child $10 additional. To sign up email Jen@attachplace.com and she will register you.