Eric Bellman LCSW

Inspiration and Education

                                               The Bellman Syndrome

I have been successfully treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for many years
and have found a multivariate approach using multiple therapies i
including dialectical cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic,
 medical, addictive and somatic therapies to be most effective.
Essentially this is what we use to call a biopsychosocial situation 
 that calls for a good assessment process, treatment plan,
\and caring  perspective and case management.

Over the years in treating BPD or PTSD I have observed a syndrome
that my fellow clinicians now refer to as the "Bellman Syndrome"
a title I modestly (sic) accept.
 It is simply stated thus; chronic pain and medication addiction
 are directly associated with Borderline Personality Disorder
 or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a complex interaction.

In treating many patients both in-patient
and out-patient over the years,
I noticed that many people had become addicted
 to pain medication for chronic pain,
 as I treated these clients over time it became clear that;

  1. these were mostly middle class housewives

             without a "standard" profile for drug addiction
             that therapy in most cases disclosed to a BPD-like symptomatology
             of early child abuse, mood swings, dissociate states etc. 
      
     2.   successful treatment resulted from a team approach 
            
             of easing the pain with meds, acupuncture etc.
             recovering from addiction and therapy for the abuse,
             and to address the needs of the client with cognitive
             and psychodynamic treatment for moods and develop
             appropriate support systems.


This success with clients confirmed my "person in a situation" training
and the importance of case management.
But it also sparked my interest in research,
so I became a Diplomat in the American Academy of Pain Management,
 there the research has focused on the ways that pain escalates
the need for pain medication and that pain medication
 then escalates the pain in a vicious interactive cycle,
 which also changes physiology in the brain,
 research themes that affords the academy credit.

I believe that the etiology of the initial painful injury
goes back to early childhood abuse;
that in a state of rage or disassociation
the client twisted their back pulling the vacuum cleaner
or doing laundry, or so it is often reported
 although this may be a "doing everything for them" metaphor.

Pain-addiction-emotional trauma thus causes brain
and personality change in a complex interaction
is the very treatable syndrome.

Eric Bellman LCSW
32129 Lindero Cyn. Rd. #108E
Westlake Village, CA 91361
Phone;805-493-2492
email;westlakedr@aol.com


            

 









updated on 10/17/2022

 

Update:

Please note that this was written quite awhile ago

and much of the new research focuses on the genetic propensities for developing disorders.

As well as early life caregiving experiences that affect personality developement

and the responses of caregivers interacting with unexpected infant reponses.

These theories expand our understanding of Disorders but still speak to the cycle of abuse

through time and families and the societal values underlying harsh early environements.


 
 
 
Contact Eric Bellman LCSW at: westlakedr@aol.com  
 Office
32129 lindero Canyon Road Suite 108-E
Westlake Village
CA. 91361   

updated  10/17/2022
     

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