WHAT IS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, DIAGNOSIS, AND MORE

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Borderline personality disorder is a mental health issue that affects how you think and feel about yourself and others, producing difficulties in daily life functioning. It includes concerns with self-esteem, difficulties managing emotions and conduct, and a history of unstable relationships.

You have a strong fear of abandonment or instability if you have borderline personality disorder, and you may find it difficult to tolerate being alone. Even if you desire to have meaningful and lasting relationships, improper anger, impulsiveness, and frequent mood swings may push others away.

Borderline personality disorder typically manifests itself during early adulthood. The problem appears to be worse in young adulthood and may improve with age.

Don't give up if you have borderline personality disorder. Many people with this disease improve with treatment and can learn to live fulfilling lives.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER?

Borderline personality disorder has an impact on how you feel about yourself, how you interact with others, and how you act.

Among the signs and symptoms are:

Gambling, reckless driving, dangerous sex, spending sprees, binge eating, or drug misuse, or sabotaging achievement by abruptly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship, which are impulsive and risky behavior.

Suicidal threats, action, or self-injury, frequently as a result of separation or rejection fears

Wide mood swings that might continue from a few hours to a few days, with strong happiness, irritation, humiliation, or anxiety.

Feelings of emptiness that persist

Inappropriate, excessive anger, such as losing your temper frequently, being sarcastic or spiteful, or engaging in physical fights

An great dread of abandonment, to the point of going to excessive lengths to prevent real or imagined separation or rejection.

A pattern of unstable intense connections, such as idealizing someone one moment and then believing the individual doesn't care enough or is harsh the next.

Rapid shifts in self-identity and self-image, including shifting goals and values and viewing oneself negatively or as if one does not exist at all.

Stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality that might range from a few minutes to a few hours

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER?

Borderline personality disorder, like other mental health illnesses, has unknown etiology. Borderline personality disorder may be connected to, in addition to environmental variables such as a history of child abuse or neglect, the following:

Genetics: Personality problems may be inherited or closely related with other mental health illnesses among family members, according to certain twin and family studies.

Abnormalities in the brain: Some studies have found abnormalities in brain areas related in emotion control, impulsivity, and violence. Furthermore, key brain chemicals that aid in mood regulation, such as serotonin, may not function effectively.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER?

Some personality development characteristics can raise the likelihood of acquiring borderline personality disorder. These are some of them:

Hereditary predisposition: If a close relative — your mother, father, brother or sister — has the same or a comparable disorder, you may be more vulnerable.

Stressful childhood: Many people with the illness report sexual or physical abuse or neglect as children. Some people have lost or been separated from a parent or close caregiver when they were young, or they have had parents or caregivers who struggled with substance abuse or other mental health concerns. Others have experienced aggressive fighting and volatile familial ties.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF BORDERLINE DISORDER?

Borderline personality disorder can have a negative impact on many aspects of your life. It can have a negative impact on intimate relationships, careers, school, social activities, and self-image, leading to:

Several legal issues, including jail time

Relationship conflict, marital hardship, or divorce

Self-harm, such as slashing or burning oneself, as well as frequent hospitalizations

Job changes or losses on a regular basis

Failure to complete an education

Participation in abusive relationships

Premature pregnancies, sexually transmitted illnesses, car accidents, and physical conflicts as a result of impulsive and dangerous behavior

Suicide attempt or completion

You may also have other mental health issues, such as:

Depression

Misuse of alcohol or other drugs

Anxiety problems

Eating problems

Bipolar illness

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

Other types of personality disorders

HOW IS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER DIAGNOSED?

Personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, are diagnosed using the following criteria:

In-depth conversation with your doctor or mental health provider

Psychological testing, which may include the completion of questionnaires

Exam and medical history

Discussion of your symptoms and signs

Borderline personality disorder is typically diagnosed in adults rather than adolescents or teenagers. This is because what appear to be symptoms of borderline personality disorder may fade as children grow older and more mature.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER?

Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for borderline personality disorder, however medication may also be used. If your safety is jeopardized, your doctor may potentially urge hospitalization.

Treatment can assist you in learning strategies for managing and coping with your disease. Treatment is also required for any other mental health illnesses that frequently co-occur with borderline personality disorder, such as depression or substance abuse. You can feel better about yourself and have a more secure, rewarding life with treatment.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, commonly known as talk therapy, is an important treatment option for borderline personality disorder. Your therapist may modify the type of therapy to match your specific needs. The goals of psychotherapy are to assist you in the following ways:

Concentrate on your current ability to function.

Learn how to deal with unpleasant feelings.

Reduce your impulsiveness by assisting you in observing your emotions rather than acting on them.

Improve your connections by being conscious of your own and others' sentiments.

Find out more about borderline personality disorder.

Psychotherapy types that have been demonstrated to be helpful include:

MBT (mentalization-based therapy): MBT is a sort of talk therapy that assists you in identifying your own thoughts and feelings at any given time and developing an alternative perspective on the issue. MBT emphasizes the need of thinking before acting.

STEPPS (Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving): STEPPS is a 20-week treatment that involves working in groups with family members, caregivers, friends, or significant others. STEPPS is used in conjunction with other forms of psychotherapy.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): DBT consists of group and individual therapy that is specifically developed to address borderline personality disorder. DBT teaches you how to manage your emotions, endure distress, and strengthen your relationships through a skills-based approach.

Schema-focused therapy: Individual or group schema-focused therapy might be used. It can assist you in identifying unmet needs that have led to bad life patterns that may have been helpful for survival at one time but are now harmful in many areas of your life as an adult. Therapy focuses on assisting you in meeting your needs in a healthy manner in order to establish beneficial life patterns.

TFP (transference-focused psychotherapy): TFP, also known as psychodynamic psychotherapy, seeks to help you understand your emotions and interpersonal challenges by fostering a relationship between you and your therapist. You then apply your newfound knowledge to current problems.

Excellent psychiatric care: This therapeutic strategy is based on case management, with treatment anchored in the expectation of work or school engagement. It focuses on making sense of emotionally difficult situations by taking the interpersonal context of sentiments into account. Medication, groups, family education, and individual treatment may all be used.

Medications

Although no pharmaceuticals have been approved by the FDA particularly for the treatment of BPD, certain medications may help with symptoms or co-occurring disorders such as depression, impulsiveness, aggression, or anxiety. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers are examples of medications.

Consult your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of drugs.

Hospitalization

You may require more intensive treatment in a psychiatric hospital or clinic at times. Hospitalization may also prevent self-harm or treat suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

It takes time to recover.

It takes time to learn to control your emotions, ideas, and habits. Most people improve significantly, but some symptoms of borderline personality disorder may persist. You may have periods when your symptoms improve or worsen. However, treatment can help you operate better and feel better about yourself.

When you visit a mental health physician that has experience treating borderline personality disorder, you have the best chance of success.