BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health issue with a combination of symptoms. It impacts the way you feel and think about yourself and other people, which causes problems functioning in your daily life. It also includes self-image and self-esteem issues, difficulty managing emotions and behavior, and also a pattern of unstable relationships. People with BPD are extremely sensitive and even small things can trigger intense reactions. People with borderline personality disorder have fear of being abandoned and being left alone. Even something as simple as a loved one arriving home late from work or school can trigger intense fear in them.
Following are the symptoms of borderline personality disorder
- FEAR OF ABANDONMENT
- RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES
- IMPULSIVE AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR
- SELF-HARM AND SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
- RAGE AND STRONG EMOTIONAL REACTIONS
- CHRONIC FEELINGS OF EMPTINESS
- DIFFICULTY IN REGULATING EMOTIONS
- SEEKING APPROVAL FROM OUTSIDE
- INTENSE GUILT AND SHAME
- DISSOCIATION
- FEELING MISUNDERSTOOD, AND NEGLECTED.
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
The cause of borderline personality disorder is not clearly understood and it is unlikely there is one single cause in most cases. Some of the possible causes are childhood trauma, neglect (not every person with BPD has a history of trauma), insecure attachment to a parent or guardian during childhood and genetic twin studies have shown that BPD has a 40% heritable rate.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BPD
PEOPLE WITH BPD CAN NOT HAVE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS
Although people with BPD may have unstable relationships, not everyone with BPD experiences this symptom. People with BPD who go through relationship challenges can learn and enhance their skills to manage and improve their relationships. These people want and wish for more stable relationships and are really willing to work on it. Therefore, friends and family must be supportive and help them recover more quickly.
PEOPLE WITH BPD OVERREACT AND SAY HURTFUL THINGS INTENTIONALLY
People with BPD have a hypersensitive amygdala (a part of the brain). This part of the brain detects threats and danger. Hence it means these people do not choose to overreact on purpose. People with BPD themselves are in intense emotional pain. Their behavior and reactions depend on the amount of danger and threat their brain perceives.
BPD IS AN INCURABLE DISEASE
Recovery from borderline personality disorder is possible. Research has shown that 80-85% of people with a borderline personality disorder may recover. Most people may not even meet the criteria for diagnosis after a few years.
NON-THERAPY RECOVERY FOR BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
Considering therapy is the best option for recovery from BPD. But some people may not even accept their diagnosis and refuse to talk to a therapist. So here are some tips to recover from BPD that are simple.
- Practice mindfulness
- Seek support from family and friends
- Keep a journal to track your thoughts and overcome them
- Reading recovery stories
- Accepting help without waiting for the right time
For a person with borderline personality disorder reading this is not just a post on the internet, it is a feeling that is relatable. Someone out there is reading to seek help. So, please be supportive for it can not just be helpful but also life-saving for a person who has suicidal thoughts.
