Maybe all those annoying holiday songs are getting on your nerves, but there is a lot of research to suggest that listening to music that conveys a certain mood can in fact lead to a change in emotional state.

I've had quite a few clients who have used this strategy with success: when you are stuck in a certain mood, listen to some mood incongruent music (i.e., music that conveys the opposite mood from the one you are in). For example, if you are sad, listen to something upbeat. If you are angry, listen to something soothing. Just don't get pulled into that latest Evanescence song!

How to Cope Using Music

For the past several months, both here on the blog and in our BPD forum, we've been having a conversation about the name "borderline personality disorder," the stigma associated with the name, and whether a name change could help reduce stigma. Now that the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM-V) is drawing closer, this is an important conversation to be having!

This site is not the only one that is generating interest on the topic. Check out this article by Elizabeth Bogod on stigma and BPD published on the Borderline Personality Disorder Today website.

Ms. Bogod has also started a petition targeted at the chair of the DSM-V task force to ask for a name change. If you want to sign the petition, take action here.

As the holidays approach, lots of people with BPD (and people with BPD in their families) struggle. Holidays are complicated-- there are so many expectations that we should be "happy," that families should be together, and that joy prevails. But what if you're not all that happy, or if family is a major stressor?

Here are some tips on surviving the holidays for BPD families. Hope these help get you through what can be a very difficult time.

This Veteran's Day got me thinking about the unique challenges that military service (or the military service of a loved one) could present to someone with BPD. Long absences with deployment, uncertainty about living circumstances, and the stressors of the military could be very difficult for someone with BPD.On the other hand, the structure and routine of military life could provide comfort.

Readers, do you have experience with BPD and the military? What issues have you faced?

A topic that comes up quite frequently in the BPD forum is whether or not to tell other people about your BPD diagnosis. BPD is such a stigmatized condition that sometimes you may feel reluctant to tell even mental health providers that you've been diagnosed with BPD.

What experiences have you had with disclosing your diagnosis? Have you ever dreaded telling someone you have BPD and then had it go better than expected when you actually told? Or, have you had experiences of rejection when you shared your diagnosis? Share your story of disclosure...

I was reading an article today on teen stereotypes and teen behavior. The main research finding in this article was that if parents believe that their teen is likely to conform to negative behaviors (e.g., teen drinking) then then their teen actually DOES engage in more negative behavior.

What does this have to do with BPD? Well, it got me thinking that perhaps the same kind of self-fulfilling prophecy could happen with BPD. There is so much stigma attached to BPD, and many people expect those with BPD to "behave badly." Is it possible that knowing what others expect of you actually makes you conform to this expectation by acting out? What do you think?

Difficult relationships are very common for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). A key symptom of BPD is fear of abandonment. This symptom may cause you to need frequent reassurance that abandonment is not imminent, to go to great lengths to try to avoid abandonment, and to feel devastated when someone ends a relationship with you.

But people with BPD also tend to have more unstable, chaotic relationships than others, and these relationships often end prematurely due to conflict. So, in many ways, it's a double-whammy...read more.

A new study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that more than 8 million Americans seriously consider suicide over the course of a year. That's roughly 3% of the U.S. population.

The study demonstrates just how common suicidal thoughts are in the general population. People with BPD have very high rates of suicidal ideation, as well as suicide attempts and completion. Want to learn more about suicidality and BPD? Check out these articles:

• Suicide in Borderline Personality Disorder
• Understanding Suicide Risk Factors

Just a reminder that this week is National Mental Illness Awareness Week in the U.S.

The week was established by Congress to promote awareness of the millions of Americans who have a severe mental illness.

What are you doing to observe the week? Spread the word by posting on your blog, updating your Facebook status with a reminder, or tweeting your support for those with mental illness.

In October, PBS will be presenting"Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness." The program promises to be an attempt to engage citizens, policy makers, and mental health professionals in an honest and open conversation about the current U.S. mental health system.

The website for the program has a number of very interesting features, and previews of the program are entertaining and provocative. You can also check the website to find out when your local PBS station will be airing the show. This is one program that may be worth checking out.