Borderline Personality Disorder
What is borderline personality disorder (BPD)?
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by a repetitive pattern of instability in relationships and intense emotional reactions that make it difficult for a person to return to a healthy emotional baseline after the individual gets distressed. It can affect our ability to be able to regulate our emotions and form lasting bonds with others. Borderline personality disorder can also severely impact the way a person functions in everyday life. Here are borderline personality disorder symptoms:
- Fear of abandonment and rejection which can lead one to take extreme measures to avoid real or perceived abandonment
- Lack of stability in relationships, oscillating between idealizing and devaluing others
- Challenges in self-image and an unstable perception of one’s own identity
- Patterns of impulsive behavior that could potentially be dangerous such as promiscuity, gambling, overspending, and drug use
- Suicidal ideation or self-harm
- Mood fluctuations that can last from hours to days and difficulties in managing intense negative emotions
- Feelings of emptiness
How is borderline personality disorder treated?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is usually treated using a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and support from loved ones. The specific treatment approach depends on the severity of symptoms and the individual needs of the person with BPD.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is the most common treatment for borderline personality disorder. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of psychotherapy that has been specifically developed for the treatment of BPD. Research indicates that DBT may reduce the risk of suicide in individuals experiencing borderline. Other types of therapy that may be used include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), schema-focused therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) and group therapy.
Medication: While medication is not a cure for BPD, it can help to manage certain symptoms or co-occurring mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and impulsivity. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications may be prescribed depending on the individual’s symptoms.
What is the difference between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder are two separate and distinct mental health conditions that can sometimes have similar symptoms. However, there are important differences between the two:
Symptoms: BPD is characterized by emotional dysregulation, impulsive behavior, unstable relationships, a distorted self-image, and a fear of abandonment. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings between depressive episodes and manic or hypomanic episodes.
Mood Duration: In bipolar disorder, mood episodes can last for days, weeks, or even months. In BPD, mood swings can be more rapid and may last for hours or days.
Borderline personality disorder’s symptoms can impact many areas of life including performance at work and school, personal relationships, and self-care. It is integral to know that with treatment symptoms of BPD can improve. If you’re dealing which symptoms of borderline personality disorder, don’t lose hope. Our psychotherapists at Emergence Psychotherapy can offer treatment plans to help you move toward healing and to learn strategies to manage symptoms more effectively. We are a Toronto- based practice and we also offer online therapy for borderline personality disorder that allows you to receive help from the comfort of your home. Take the first step and contact us.