Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder is characterised by intense emotional swings, shaky relationships, and a warped sense of self.
This article will discuss the signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis procedures, available treatments, and the significance of getting help for individuals who are impacted by this disorder.
How does it feel?
A person with borderline personality disorder may experience constant instability in a variety of areas of their life, such as their relationships, emotions, thoughts, behaviours, and even sense of self.
In fact, people with BPD frequently describe their condition as having an exposed nerve, which leaves them extremely sensitive to even small impulses or things and prone to reactivity.
When this happens, a person may feel:
Emotional Instability: Abrupt and rapid mood fluctuations that persist for several hours or days, frequently triggered and brought on by thoughts of abandonment or imagined conflicts with others.
Impulsive Behaviour: Taking part in risky activities, as a coping method for intense emotions, such as drug addiction, reckless driving, or self-harm.
Unstable Relationships: Intense but short-lived relationships characterised by extreme swings between idealisation and devaluation of the other person in the relationship.
Distorted Self-Image: Sometimes they face an inconsistent sense of self that causes uncertainty and confusion about one's identity and long-term objectives.
BPD typically first appears in adolescence or early adulthood, but its impact can be profound, having a significant negative influence on one's ability to maintain connections with others, find and keep work, and generally lead a high-quality life.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of BPD?
A variety of problematic behaviours can be observed in people with BPD, and early intervention depends on early recognition of the signs and symptoms..
Common symptoms include:
- Mood Swings and Emotional Dysregulation: Intense and explosive emotional feelings and responses leading to anger are common. Extreme mood fluctuations are also typical in those with the illness; they can be ecstatically happy one minute and terribly depressed the next.
- Self-Harming Behaviors: Frequent engagement in self-harming behaviours or suicidal thoughts and actions, often as a coping mechanism for emotional distress.
- Chronic Feelings of Emptiness: Many individuals experience a persistent sensation of emptiness or worthlessness, which can trigger substance addiction or other coping strategies to try to fill the perceived void. It can also manifest as impulsive and destructive behaviours like extensive drug and alcohol use, risky sexual behaviour, and reckless driving and shopping.
- Fear of Abandonment: Extreme reactions to perceived rejection or separation, which can lead to frantic efforts to avoid abandonment. Extreme responses to separation or rejection that result in desperate attempts to prevent being abandoned by partners, friends or family.
- Difficulty Managing Relationships: Unstable relationship patterns are characteristic. The person may admire and idolise someone one minute, then quickly devalue them the next.
- Feeling disconnected from reality: People affected by BPD might experience dissociation, a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity. This comes with suspicion or paranoia about those around them.
The severity and length of these symptoms might vary.
Crucially, borderline personality disorder can be confused with other personality disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, mood disorders, paranoid personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and others due to the variety of symptoms it exhibits. Therefore, a diagnosis is crucial to developing a successful treatment plan and assisting people in managing their daily lives.
The Cause
Although the precise origin of BPD is unknown, research suggests that it can be caused by environmental and genetic factors. Some of the important factors to consider are:
Genetic Predisposition: Research indicates that having a family history or other mental health conditions may increase one's risk of getting the disorder.
Childhood Trauma: Traumatic experiences in childhood such as being abused, neglected, or having an unstable childhood are a major risk factor.
Brain Structure and Function: BPD may have a neurobiological component, as evidenced by differences in the brain regions that control emotions and impulse control.
How is BPD Diagnosed?
A comprehensive psychological assessment by a mental health professional, such as a clinical psychologist, is necessary to diagnose BPD because effective management and therapy depend on a precise diagnosis.
Through psychological assessments, the procedure usually entails talking with a psychologist, about symptoms, personal history, and behavioural patterns.
Diagnostic criteria, like those found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), are used to evaluate symptoms.
In addition, standardized psychological questionnaires can help measure personality traits and emotional functioning.
What Does Untreated Borderline Personality Disorder Look Like?
Left untreated, it can have serious consequences on the person with the disorder as well as those around them. This is why it is very important to address and treat it.
For instance:
Relationship Difficulties: People with BPD have problems with intimacy and trust. This is why they isolate themselves from the community and loved ones.
Challenges at work: Because of emotional instability and impulsive behaviours, people with BPD may find it difficult to maintain jobs. Their work performance and chance for advancing in their career can be affected by them lashing out at work and struggling to complete tasks.
Risk of Self-Harm: This condition proposes a high likelihood of self-injurious behaviours or suicidal thoughts, and when left untreated can lead to suicide.
Treatment
Receiving a diagnosis doesn't mean that a person will always struggle with the symptoms. With proper treatment, these symptoms can come and go.
In fact, many individuals with BPD are able to continue to lead productive, happy and well-functioning lives.
Seeking professional help is crucial.
Treatment often involves a many-sided approach:
One part includes psychotherapy and counselling. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the most effective treatments for borderline personality disorder. It focuses on teaching coping skills for distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Medication can also be used. No specific medications are approved for BPD. This being said a psychiatrist may prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and/or antipsychotics to help manage symptoms.
Self-care, mindfulness and support groups can help in managing symptoms as well.
At Psychology Blossom, we have a range of specialised services for individuals affected by this condition. Our qualified psychologists and counsellors are dedicated to providing complete care tailored to your unique needs.
We offer:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A structured therapy that focuses on teaching four core skills to help you create a good life for yourself. DBT is the most effective tool for BPD because it helps individuals develop skills for mindfulness, acceptance & distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This method focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours, it can help individuals gain tools to manage emotional responses effectively and work on any distorted thinking patterns.
Schema Therapy: Aimed at identifying and changing deeply ingrained patterns or "schemas". This approach helps to address the underlying issues, roots and triggers, that contribute to the symptoms.
Self-Care Resources: At Psychology Blossom, we aim to offer workshops, materials and group therapy sessions for mindfulness practices, coping strategies, and lifestyle adjustments to support your mental health journey.
If you or someone you know is struggling with BPD, don’t hesitate to reach out. Seeking help is the first and most important step toward recovery.
Contact us at Psychology Blossom to schedule an appointment and explore how our team can assist you in managing symptoms and improving your quality of life.
Contact us
150 Cecil Street #07-02
Wing on Life Building
Singapore 069543
Message: +65 8800 0554
Phone: +65 8686 8592