All you need to know about Borderline Personality Disorder BPD

A Quick Guide

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental illness marked by difficulty controlling one’s emotions. Therefore, it is more difficult for those with BPD to regain a stable base following an emotionally upsetting event because they experience emotions more intensely and for longer amounts of time. Impulsivity, negative self-perception, unstable relationships, and strong emotional reactions to stressors are all possible consequences of this problem. Self-harm e.g. cutting and other risky behaviors can result from difficulties with self-control. In this article, we will discuss borderline personality disorder along with its causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder BPD

According to estimates, BPD affects 1.4% of adult Americans. Women make up nearly 75% of those with BPD diagnoses. According to recent research, men may also experience BPD symptoms but are frequently given the wrong diagnosis of PTSD or depression. Those with borderline personality disorder may feel extreme changes in mood and be unsure of their opinion of themselves. They have the ability to rapidly shift from intense closeness to intense dislike of others. Relationship instability and emotional suffering may result from these fluctuating emotions. Additionally, those who have borderline personality disorder have a propensity for having extreme viewpoints, such as all good or all bad. They may behave impulsively or recklessly, and their beliefs and passions can change rapidly.

Common Symptoms

Some signs or symptoms could be:

• A feeling of emptiness all the time
• An intense and volatile pattern of relationships with family, acquaintances, and loved ones
• An unstable and distorted perception of oneself
• Anger management issues or inappropriate, extreme rage
• Attempts to prevent actual or perceived abandonment include jumping into relationships headfirst or ending them just as swiftly
• Episodes of these intense and highly variable emotions can last anywhere from a few hours to several days
• Impulsive and frequently risky actions, such as shopping sprees, unsafe sex, drug misuse, careless driving, and binge eating. Please be aware that if these behaviors primarily occur when mood or energy are high, they may be signs of a mood disorder rather than a borderline personality disorder
• Persistent ideas of committing suicide or making threats
• Self-destructive actions, such as cutting
• Sensations of dissociation, such as being cut off from oneself or feeling as though one is watching oneself from outside one’s body

Not all people with borderline personality disorder will exhibit all of these signs. The person’s condition will affect the degree, regularity, and duration of their symptoms.

If you have suicidal thoughts

Immediately seek assistance if you experience suicidal ideas or fantasies about hurting yourself. You should instantly dial 911 or your local emergency number. Call a suicide prevention number, you can contact the 24/7, seven days a week 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States by calling or texting 988 or making use of Lifeline Chat. The services are both free and private. Contact your physician, therapist, or another healthcare professional. Speak to a family member, close friend, dependable associate, or coworker.

Talk to a family member or friend about visiting a doctor or mental health practitioner if you observe any of these signs or symptoms in them. However, you cannot compel somebody to seek help. You might find it beneficial to see a therapist on your own if the relationship is significantly stressing you out.

What sets bipolar illness apart from borderline personality disorder?

Considerable changes in mood and behavior are a feature of bipolar disorder as well, but it differs from borderline personality disorder in other ways. In contrast to bipolar disorder, where moods are much more prolonged and less reactive, in BPD, mood and behavior change swiftly when exposed to significant stress, particularly when engaging with other people. Contrary to those with BPD, those with bipolar disorder also experience considerable changes in energy and activity.

Who is affected by borderline personality disorder?

The majority of personality disorders start in adolescence when your identity is further developing and maturing. Consequently, most individuals with borderline personality disorder have a minimum age of 18 when they receive a diagnosis. Though anyone may develop BPD, having a family background of the disorder increases your chances of getting it. People with additional mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, are more susceptible as well.

Causes of BPD

Although the underlying cause of BPD is not completely understood, scientists believe that a number of factors, such as the following, contribute to it:

Brain activity: The emotional regulation system may be altered in those who have BPD, indicating that some of the symptoms may have a neurological foundation. Particularly, there may be poor communication between the brain regions in charge of feeling and judgment, and decision-making.

Environmental elements: People are more likely to acquire BPD if they go through traumatic life experiences like neglect or being separated from their parents or being physically or sexually abused as children.

Genetics: Despite the fact that BPD has not been directly linked to any one gene or gene profile, the study points to a potential increased risk for those who have a close relative who has the disorder.

Diagnosis of Borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder can be identified through a thorough interview and discussion of symptoms by a qualified mental health expert with experience in diagnosing and treating mental disorders, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. A comprehensive medical examination can also aid in excluding other potential causes of symptoms.

In order to diagnose the illness, healthcare professionals will talk to the patient about their symptoms and inquire about their family’s medical history, including any history of mental illness.

The diagnosis of borderline personality disorder typically occurs in late teens or early adulthood. Occasionally, if symptoms are severe and persist for at least a year, an individual under the age of 18 may be diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder.

What other conditions can exist alongside borderline personality disorder?

Other psychiatric disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD, frequently co-occur with borderline personality disorder. In particular, if symptoms of other illnesses overlap with those of borderline personality disorder, these co-occurring disorders can make it more difficult to identify and treat borderline personality disorder. The signs of major depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, drug abuse, or eating disorders, for instance, maybe more common in people with borderline personality disorder.

Can borderline personality disorder be prevented?

Evidently, borderline personality disorder cannot be prevented. BPD is frequently inherited (passed down through families), so if you have a history of the condition in your family, your risk of getting it is increased. Consult your doctor about how to spot symptoms of a disorder so you can start treatment as soon as feasible.

Treatment for BPD

Psychotherapy and occasionally medication are the primary forms of treatment for borderline personality disorder. If your well-being is in danger, your doctor might also advise that you go to the hospital. You can acquire coping mechanisms and management techniques through treatment. Treatment is also required for any additional mental health conditions that frequently co-occur with borderline personality disorder, such as depression or drug abuse. You can live a more stable, fulfilling existence and feel better about yourself with treatment.

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is a key component of the management of borderline personality disorder. To best meet your requirements, your therapist might modify the type of therapy. The purpose of counseling is to:

• Be mindful of your own and other people’s emotions as you work to strengthen your relationships
• Become familiar with borderline personality disorder
• By encouraging you to notice your emotions rather than react to them, you can lessen your impulsivity
• Concentrate on how you can operate right now
• Understand how to control uncomfortable feelings

Psychotherapy models that have been proven to be successful include:

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) 

Individual and group therapy are both a part of DBT, which is particularly intended to treat borderline personality disorder. DBT teaches you how to control your feelings, put up with discomfort, and strengthen relationships using a skills-based technique.

Effective psychiatric management

The case management component of this therapeutic strategy grounds treatment in the expectation of participation in work or school. It focuses on understanding emotionally difficult situations by taking the interpersonal context of emotions into account. It could combine therapy, groups, family education, and medication.

Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)

MBT is a form of talk therapy that enables you to recognize your own thoughts and emotions at any given time and develop an alternative viewpoint. Thinking before reacting is a key component of MBT.

Schema-focused therapy

Individual or group schema-focused therapy can be used. It can assist you in identifying unmet needs that have given rise to unhealthy living patterns that, though they may have once been necessary for survival, are now hurtful in many aspects of your life. Therapy centers on assisting you in meeting your needs in a healthy way and promoting healthy lifestyle habits.

Systems training for emotional predictability and problem-solving (STEPPS)

Working in groups, STEPPS is a 20-week therapy program that includes your loved ones, caretakers, friends, or significant others. STEPPS is used alongside other forms of counseling.

Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP)

TFP, which is also known as psychodynamic psychotherapy, aims to improve your understanding of your feelings and interpersonal issues by fostering a close bond between you and your mental health professional. You then use these understandings in current circumstances.

Medications for BPD

Healthcare professionals typically don’t recommend medications as the primary treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD) because the advantages of doing so are unclear. However, a psychiatrist may occasionally suggest drugs to address particular symptoms or co-occurring mental health issues. Medication can be used to address depression and anxiety, control mood swings, and rein in impulsive behavior. Antipsychotic medications benefit some BPD patients.

Hospitalization

You might occasionally require more intensive therapy in a mental health facility or clinic. A hospital stay may also help you avoid self-harm or deal with suicidal ideas or behaviors.

Recovery requires patience

It takes time to develop the ability to control your feelings, thoughts, and actions. The majority of people make significant improvements, but you might always battle with some BPD symptoms. Your symptoms could occasionally get better or worse. However, receiving therapy can increase your capacity for function and boost your self-esteem. Consult a mental health professional who has expertise in treating borderline personality disorder to increase your chances of success.

What is the outlook for borderline personality disorder?

In most cases, BPD symptoms get better over time. In some cases, symptoms go away in the 40s. With the proper care, those with BPD can learn to control their symptoms and enhance their quality of life.

Without treatment, those who suffer from borderline personality disorder run a higher chance of developing:

• Alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder
• Depression
• Self-harm
• Suicide

People with BPD have a 40 times higher suicide risk than the general community. Suicide accounts for 8% to 10% of deaths among Individuals with BPD. Numerous people with the condition also struggle to maintain stable or orderly interpersonal relationships and have difficulty finding and maintaining a job. They are more likely to experience divorce, family estrangement, and troubled partnerships. Financial and legal issues are also frequent.

How to support an individual who has borderline personality disorder?

Here are some methods you can assist someone you know who has borderline personality disorder:

• Encourage your loved one to receive BPD care, and if they are a relative, inquire about family therapy.
• If you’re under a lot of stress or showing signs of a mental illness, like anxiety or depression, seek therapy for yourself. Choose a mental health professional who is not the same as the one your loved one is seeing.
• Provide patience, understanding, and mental support. People with BPD may find change challenging and frightening, but therapy can help their symptoms get better over time.
• Spend some time learning about BPD to better comprehend what your loved one is going through.

Self-harming and suicidal behavior are considerably more common in people with BPD than in the general population. Individuals with BPD who are contemplating self-harm or suicide need assistance immediately. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline toll-free at 988 if you or someone you know is experiencing immediate distress or considering harming themselves.

We hope you found this article helpful in learning more about Borderline personality disorder along with its sign &  symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook. 

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