Borderline Personality Disorder

Managing Emotions and Relationships

Have you ever felt like you are simply unable to manage your emotions? Has your lack of emotional control led to increased impulsivity, insecurities, and trouble managing relationships? These are actually landmark characteristics of borderline personality disorder. It is estimated that 1.6% of people have borderline personality and is associated with multiple medical and psychiatric co-morbidities.

The adult U.S. population experiences BPD

0 %

People diagnosed with BPD are women

0 %

Symptoms

Unsure if you or a loved one has borderline personality disorder? There are a number of signs and symptoms to look out for. Keep in mind that it is possible to exhibit some or all of these symptoms, which include:

Constant fear of abandonment & taking action to avoid real or perceived abandonment
A general pattern of intense and unstable relationships
Distorted and unstable self-image
Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance misuse, reckless driving, and binge eating. However, if these behaviors happen mostly during times of elevated mood or energy, they may be symptoms of a mood disorder and not borderline personality disorder.
Recurring thoughts of suicidal behaviors or threats
Intense and highly variable moods, with episodes lasting from a few hours to a few days.
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Inappropriate, intense anger or problems controlling anger
Feelings of dissociation, such as feeling cut off from oneself, observing oneself from outside one’s body, or feelings of unreality

Risk Factors

Just like any other condition, some factors could make an individual more or less likely to develop borderline personality disorder. For instance, with 75% of cases being among women, one’s sex or gender if one of those factors. Additional factors include:

Genetics – The presence of borderline personality disorder in family members.
Environmental factors – Past traumatic life experiences such as physical, emotional, or sexual assault.

Diagnosis & Treatment

As with any mental health condition, you should consult your physician or a mental health professional if you are experiencing symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Your care team may conduct a number of tests to evaluate your physical and mental state. A diagnosis will ultimately be determined based on whether you meet the criteria set out in the DSM-V.

As borderline personality disorder does have several common co-morbidities, residential treatment programs are typically an effective option for individuals with this diagnosis. While treatment plans are always individualized, they most often include multiple types of talk therapy such as:

Cognitive behavioral therapy
Dialectic behavioral therapy
Family therapy

For stabilization purposes and for those who do not respond to talk therapy alone, medications are a reasonable and effective option for managing the symptoms of this condition.

Learning to Live with Borderline Personality Disorder

While there is no “cure” for borderline personality disorder, it is possible to learn to live healthy and happy life long after a diagnosis. At Onyx, our care team is here to set you up for success with tools, tips, and strategies for managing your diagnosis. We are here to help you live your best life one day at a time. If you are ready to take the first step to overcoming your mental health challenges give us a call right now.