I’ve recently received a diagnosis of Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder, which I knew even before I received the diagnosis from plenty of reading. To be honest, I wanted the diagnosis more for the people in my life, as as least my behaviour was related to a mental disorder. Anyhow, it seems that people with EUPD, or BPD have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which relates to reasoning during triggers. For ten years, I’ve had no idea of my condition, or what was causing me to want to run a mile during these ‘splitting’ episodes, until I picked up a mental health leaflet in a local doctors surgery, that described Borderline Personality Disorder on its back page. I just thought I had depression, but had no understanding of what I now understand is called splitting, fear of abandonment, rejection, self-harm, paranoia, reactional mood swings, and impulsivity.
So is there is a way to strengthen the prefrontal cortex? There sure is? With Psalm 23.
In this brain imaging study, as detailed in the book: Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality, the six subjects underwent a PET scan where they silently read or recited Psalm 23. The brain images showed a significant activation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the subjects focusing on Psalm 23, compared to the other subjects who were either focusing on the ‘happy’ task, a well-known German nursery rhyme, or gathering instruction on how to use a phone card from the Dusseldorf telephone directory, also called the ‘neural’ task.
I’ve been reciting Psalm 23 for twenty minutes morning and evening for two days now, and I have experienced lower episodes of sadness, depression, and emptiness throughout the day. I have yet to experience whether this will help me to gain control during a panic, but I am determined to continue reciting or meditating on Psalm 23 morning and night.
Now moved up to thirty minutes, and incorporated 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 into the session, all while listening to classical music. Had a few crisis’ but I am determined to stick with reciting the scriptures.