Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health diagnosis for people that experience an ongoing pattern of intensely varying moods, self-image, and behavior. The extreme nature of these symptoms often result in impulsive or dangerous actions and problems in relationships. People diagnosed with borderline personality disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days and can be triggered by fairly normal experiences. People with borderline personality disorder also tend to view things in extremes, such as all good or all bad. This can cause the images of themselves, interests, or opinions of other people to change swiftly. Other symptoms may include attempts to avoid real or perceived abandonment, oscillation between extreme closeness or extreme dislike of close family members, low self-image, threats of suicide or self-harm, inappropriate anger, difficulty trusting and feeling empty and/or cut off from one’s feelings or reality. Although an exact cause is not clear, family history of bpd, a history of traumatic events, significant separations in important relationships, neglect and abuse, and/or changes in the brain regions responsible for impulse control and emotional regulation are all cited as possible causes of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Because of the extremely intense nature of their relationships and the potential for unsafe behavior and drastic emotional rejection, Borderline Personality Disorder can be incredibly stressful on the entire family. At times family members trying to help may inadvertently worsen a person’s borderline symptoms. In addition to seeking individual or family treatment, NIMH also recommends that people with family members diagnosed with BPD should learn about mental illnesses, including Borderline Personality Disorder, to gain a better understanding about what their loved one is experiencing.
This article, My Life With Borderline Personality Disorder, helps the reader understand what it is like to live with borderline personality disorder from the perspective of a 31-year old woman who has the diagnosis.
If you or someone you know seems to be struggling with borderline personality disorder it could be beneficial to seek individual and family treatment for yourself as well as for your loved one. Psychological testing may also be appropriate since Borderline Personality Disorder can also co-occur with other mental health issues like depression, anxiety, substance abuse or eating disorders. To schedule an appointment at Birmingham Maple Clinic call (248) 646-6659 or visit www.birminghammaple.com.
Sources:
Borderline Personality Disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. The National Institute of Mental Health Information Resource Center. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml. retrieved June 19, 2018.
Heaney, Katie. My Life with Borderline Personality Disorder. https://www.thecut.com/2018/06/what-its-like-living-with-borderline-personality-disorder.html June 13, 2018.