Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition. It is one of many types of personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder can cause people to have unstable relationships. It may lead to a rapidly changing sense of self and other symptoms that disrupt daily functioning.
People living with BPD can benefit from comprehensive treatment that includes therapy and medications. Treatment can help people with BPD have healthier relationships, improve functioning, and have a better quality of life.
This article will explore what borderline personality disorder is and how to treat it. You will learn:
If you or someone in your life lives with borderline personality disorder, treatment is available at Agape Behavioral Center. Reach out to our specialists to find treatment for BPD or to schedule an intake appointment.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a type of personality disorder. This personality disorder can severely impact people’s abilities to regulate emotions.
Lack of emotional regulation can affect many aspects of a person’s life and functioning. People with borderline personality may experience:
People with borderline personality disorder often struggle with feelings of emptiness. They may exhibit destructive or dangerous behaviors, including suicidal behavior, unsafe sex, and substance use disorder.
People with BPD can benefit from holistic treatment that includes specialized types of talk therapy.
People with borderline personality disorder often live with symptoms that significantly impact their ability to function in daily life. Some symptoms of BPD include:
People with BPD may experience some of these symptoms or all of them. Their symptoms may change over time. The severity and type of BPD symptoms vary from person to person.
An estimated 1.4% of U.S. adults have BPD. 75% of people with BPD are women. Borderline personality disorder can affect a person’s functioning in many ways. Here are some of the ways BPD can make life more challenging.
People with BPD often struggle to maintain consistent or healthy relationships with others. They may act in ways that hurt others’ feelings. They may have “hot and cold” relationships that are confusing to their loved ones.
Family members or friends may take on a caretaking role for someone with BPD. This is especially common if they struggle with self-harm or other challenges. People with BPD can also have intense mood swings that make them unpredictable or volatile.
People with BPD may struggle to maintain employment because of intense interpersonal difficulties. Impulsive or reckless behaviors can make it hard for people with BPD to maintain long-term employment.
People with BPD often live with feelings of emptiness. They may isolate or have intense interpersonal difficulties that lead to emotional turmoil.
People with BPD often struggle with impulsivity. This makes them more likely to engage in destructive behaviors like substance abuse or risky sex.
Feelings of emptiness can also lead to a higher risk of self-harming behaviors, including cutting and suicidal behaviors.
Many mental health professionals agree that treating BPD can be very challenging. However, new treatments and therapies have shown to be more effective at helping people with BPD manage their symptoms.
Here is an overview of the treatment for BPD.
Dialectical behavior therapy is a specialized type of talk therapy. During DBT sessions, people learn specific skills to reduce the impact of BPD symptoms. These skills include:
People who learn and practice these skills can improve their relationships and sense of self. They can also help reduce BPD symptoms and improve functioning.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people identify and change destructive thoughts and behaviors. It also teaches people how inaccurate perceptions of themselves can affect their behaviors and emotions.
CBT helps people to develop skills that can improve relationships, reduce anxiety, and minimize mood swings. These improvements can lead to a reduction in self-harm and better functioning.
There are no medications developed to treat borderline personality disorder. However, mental health practitioners may recommend medications to address depression or mood instability.
If you or someone you love lives with symptoms of BPD or another mental health condition, you are not alone. Contact the intake team at Agape Behavioral Center to explore our holistic personality disorder treatment programs. You may also contact us with questions or to schedule an intake appointment.
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