Do you know someone with low self-esteem who experiences intense and rapid mood changes? Sometimes, they may be loving to the point of clinginess, while at other times, they may distance themselves and even seem to hate you. If your friend, relative or partner exhibits these symptoms, they may have borderline personality disorder (BPD), a mental illness that makes someone feel inadequate and impairs their ability to control their emotions and actions.
These symptoms make BPD relationships very tumultuous, and people often distance themselves from someone who exhibits them. As a result, your loved one may feel unlovable and become overly possessive of you.
BPD affects nearly 5 million Americans, 75% of whom are women. Children as young as 12 can be diagnosed with BPD. However, most people start experiencing symptoms in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Fortunately, BPD symptoms can be managed through proper treatment. Follow along as experts from Mental Health Hotline (MHH) discuss the symptoms and causes of the condition and outline how to help someone with BPD.
Signs of BPD
BPD symptoms are often similar to those of anxiety, substance use disorder, eating disorder and bipolar disorder. Thus, a thorough evaluation is necessary to reach a diagnosis.
Psychiatrists use the symptoms outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) to diagnose BPD. The patient may have to fill out a questionnaire and answer some interview questions to establish a history of their self-image, BPD relationships and behavior.
Someone may be diagnosed with BPD if they exhibit five or more of the following symptoms:
- An intense fear of abandonment, resulting in extreme measures to avoid real or imagined rejection
- A history of tense or unstable personal relationships characterized by unfounded feelings of idealization and devaluation
- Poor or unstable self-perception and self-image, including doubting their existence at times
- Impulsive behavior that threatens their life, health or finances
- Paranoia and dissociation lasting a few hours to multiple days
- Persistent feelings of emptiness
- Emotional instability characterized by spontaneous and intense anger or bitterness
- Threats or attempts to self-harm or complete suicide in reaction to feelings of rejection, separation or abandonment
If your loved one experiences one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to find professional help immediately.
Causes of BPD
BPD is a serious and complex mental illness with various possible causes, including:
- Genetics: The genes for BPD may be passed down and shared between family members. A person may develop BPD if they have a family member with the condition. However, scientists haven’t identified a specific gene responsible for causing BPD.
- Neurobiological factors: Changes in the areas of the brain responsible for emotional and impulse regulation can cause BPD symptoms. Moreover, poor functioning of hormones, such as serotonin, can affect the brain’s ability to regulate mood.
- Environmental factors: Parental neglect and abandonment or physical and sexual abuse experienced while growing up can contribute to BPD symptoms.
- Mental health: Mental illnesses such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders and substance use disorder can contribute to BPD symptoms.
Treatments for BPD
The symptoms of borderline personality disorder can be managed through various proven interventions. While there are no FDA-approved medications for BPD treatment, a psychiatrist may prescribe mood stabilizers and antipsychotics to manage symptoms such as paranoia and dissociation. However, talk therapy remains the most effective treatment method for the illness.
Three forms of therapy are commonly used to treat people with BPD.
Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)
MBT is one of the leading forms of BPD treatment and helps people with the condition learn the difference between their emotions and those of others. MBT also teaches them how to recognize the effect of poor mental health on their behavior to improve their emotional regulation mechanisms.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is useful for repairing borderline personality relationships since it teaches people to recognize and regulate their emotions and behavior. Group DBT is particularly helpful for BPD relationships as it lets people practice resolving conflict without resorting to threats, manipulation or violence.
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP)
TFP is another intervention for BPD that explores how past experiences contribute to BPD symptoms. During therapy sessions, the patient explores past trauma, including their relationship with their parents, to see how it affects their current relationships.
Help for BPD
Treatment for BPD tends to be very successful, especially as time passes. Studies show that 35% of people with BPD experience recovery from its symptoms within 2 years of treatment, 91% recover within 10 years and 99% recover after 16 years. So if you’re interested in how to help someone with BPD, get them into treatment for symptoms as soon as possible.
MHH has connected people from all over the country to BPD treatment specialists. Call us any time of the day or night to find a reputable treatment center near you and start repairing your BPD relationships.