Borderline personality disorder, also known as BPD, is a mental health A disorder that affects your ability to regulate your emotions and feelings about yourself and those around you. It affects approximately 14 million Americans. To be clear, it is different from the normal fluctuations of emotions and variations diagnosed as bipolar disorder.
People diagnosed with BPD experience long-term patterns of extreme and unstable emotions that impede their ability to function in everyday life. You can think of BPD as the extremes of everything – either very good or very bad. The opinions and perceptions of things change extremely fastleading to impulsiveness in relationships and actions.
Here’s what you need to know about borderline personality disorder and seeking help.
What causes borderline personality disorder?
Experts don’t fully understand what causes BPD, although current research suggests that genetic, social and environmental. contributing factors. some research investigating twins and families has found that personality disorders can be hereditary or family relationships can predispose you to BPD.
The next factor is environmental and social influences, especially in early childhood. Traumatic life experiences, such as a history of neglect, childhood abuse, or abandonment, can contribute to the development of BPD. One of the most tangible markers of BPD is the fear of abandonment and the willingness to do anything to stop it. The behaviors adopted are extreme, such as self-harm or aggressive actions physically keep a person there.
Finally, your brain structure may contribute to BPD. Research studying brain imaging of people with BPD found that the amygdala and hippocampus — brain structures crucial for emotional regulation and fear response — are smaller than in the average brain.
Signs and symptoms of borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is not just a roller coaster of emotions. It’s fundamentally affects how you interpret your feelings about yourself, your behavior and your relationships with others. While the experience of BPD symptoms will vary from person to person, there are typical behavioral markers that help therapists diagnose the condition. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual identify the symptoms of BPD What:
- have a intense fear of being abandoned by friends and family. For many with BPD, perceptions of being dumped or relationships ending are big triggers. They will frantically try to avoid both real and imagined abandonment.
- Significant mood swings it can range from happiness to anxiety and irritability. These episodes can last a few hours or up to a few days.
- A history of unstable personal relationships with friends and family.
- Impulsive and risky behavior. such as overeating and drinking, quitting a good job, reckless spending, and drug use.
- Frequent changes in how someone sees themselves. Goals and values can also change.
- self-destructive behavior and suicidal threats.
- periods of intense anger or bitterness, which can lead to physical fights.
The severity and frequency with which someone may experience these symptoms will depend on the person.
Treatment of borderline personality
The prognosis for borderline personality disorder is quite good, and even better if you seek treatment. It is essential to see a licensed mental health professional who will complete a comprehensive medical exam.
A therapist can help create a effective treatment plan including psychotherapy, medication management, or peer counseling. psychotherapy methods are the primary treatment for BPD, including cognitive behavioral therapy, schema-focused therapy Y dialectical behavior therapy. These therapy sessions help him develop long-term coping skills that he can use to manage his symptoms and reactions to situations.
Medications may also be part of the treatment plan for BPD. Mood stabilizers or antidepressants it can be prescribed to help offset the extreme mood swings of BPD, although no pill cures the symptoms.
No matter what your treatment plan is, the goal of BPD treatments is to help you work through emotional problems and manage the symptoms of the disorder.
Borderline personality versus bipolar disorder
Although on the surface, borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder appear the same due to their shared symptoms, they are two different disorders that cannot be grouped. BPD is a personality disorder, while Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder.
BPD is marked by instability in your emotions and actions, in how you perceive situations, and in how others see you. When someone with bipolar disorder is not in a manic or depressive episode, they have stability that people with BPD do not have.
Furthermore, bipolar disorder is more medication sensitive because it is biobased. BPD cannot be treated like a bipolar disorder because additional psychological factors must be addressed.
Finding Help for Borderline Personality Disorder
Living with borderline personality disorder or being a family member of someone who has it can be stressful. When you’re in the middle of it all, finding help can seem out of reach, especially if you don’t know where to start or how to find a therapist.
If you’re looking for a therapist in your area, you can contact your primary care doctor, who will refer you to a trained mental health professional to help you. When preparing for your appointment, write down your questions ahead of time and make sure you have a list of your current medications handy. He wants to bring as much information as he can. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Plus, it’s more than okay to bring a spouse, friend, or relative. You should feel empowered to do whatever it takes to make sure you are comfortable and in the best position to get help. Prognosis with long-term talk therapy is good, but improves the more willing you are to accept help.
Use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Behavioral Health, or SAMHSA, Treatment Services Locator to find the therapist in your area.
Self-Care Tips for Borderline Personality Disorder
The fact is that borderline personality disorder is not something you get rid of. But it doesn’t have to rule your life and wreak havoc on your self-image and relationships. In addition to talk therapy and support from mental health professionals, there are things you can do daily to take care of yourself.
- Set realistic goals.
- When you have a big task, break it down into smaller, more achievable steps.
- Make sure your family and friends know what situations or actions can trigger it. They can do things without meaning to, and setting expectations can help avoid those situations altogether.
- Allow yourself to look for things that bring you comfort. That can be a place, people or a certain situation.
- To integrate exercise in your routine to help reduce stress.
Borderline personality disorder is a lifelong condition. You should not expect your symptoms to go away or improve overnight. You will see gradual improvements in your thoughts and actions with therapy and self-care.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider regarding any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals.
