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  • What We Treat
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    • Addiction Guide
      • Adderall Guide | Side Effects
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      • Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
      • Is bipolar disorder genetic and triggered later on?
      • Is cognitive therapy effective for bipolar disorder?
    • Children & Adolescents Guide
      • 10 Warning Signs of Teenage Mental Illness
      • Munchausen Syndrome
      • How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health?
      • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
      • Spotting Types of Depression in Children
      • Teen Suicide
      • Top Tips For Parents
      • Video Game Therapy for ADHD
      • What is a Residential Mental Health Facility for Teenagers Like
      • Why Is Mental Health on the Rise Amongst Teenagers?
    • Is Social Media Ruining Our Self-Esteem? 
    • Mental Health Guide
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Guide to Anxiety Medication
      • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
      • High Functioning Depression | Signs | Symptoms
      • How Can We Prevent Mental Illness in Youth?
      • How Do You Help Someone with Avoidant Personality?
      • How Does Online Counseling Work for Mental Health?
      • How Can a Mental Health Counselor Help
      • Mental Breakdown
      • Schizoid Personality Disorder
      • Postpartum Depression
      • Types of Mood Disorders
      • The Toll of Grief and How to Cope with It
      • What are The Major Affective Disorders?
      • What Cognitive Psychology Teaches Us About How We Think
      • What Is Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      • What are mental health symptoms you should never ignore?
      • What is Bipolar II Disorder? Symptoms and Treatment
      • What is the Difference Between Manic and Hypomanic?
      • What is schizoaffective disorder?
      • Is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) a mental illness?
      • What is substance induced mood disorder?
      • Is Depression a Permanent Mental Disorder?
      • What is the prognosis for Major Depressive Disorder?
    • Marriage Counseling | Benefits
    • Pandemic Related Issues
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Work Stress Post-Pandemic
      • Shocking Growth of Anxiety During the Pandemic
    • Relationship Issues
      • How to deal with toxic relationship?
      • How does a toxic relationship affect your mental health?
      • What is gaslighting in a relationship?
      • What is the best way to help a partner who has trust issues?
      • What’s the best way to work out relationship problems?
      • 10 ways to improve communication in relationships
    • Spirituality in Addiction Treatment  
    • Therapy
      • Can I See a Psychiatrist Without a Referral?
      • DBT Therapy for Adolescents
      • DCBT- Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      • Deep Brain Stimulation to Treat OCD
      • Do I Need a Referral to See a Therapist?
      • Family Therapy: Definition, Types, Techniques, and Efficacy
      • How Can Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Help Mental Disorders?
      • EMDR Therapy for Mental Health Conditions
      • Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist
      • Is Therapy Covered by Health Insurance?
      • Psychodynamic Therapy vs CBT
      • Psychotherapy
      • SMART Recovery
      • What Can Psychologists Treat
      • What is Group Therapy
      • What is Internal Family Systems Therapy
      • What Is the Role of the Counselor in Family Therapy
      • What Is Psychoanalysis
    • Trauma Bonding With Intimate Partner Violence
    • Teen Mental Health
      • Can a Minor Go to Therapy Without Parents Permission?
      • Teen Co-Occurring Disorders
      • What are the signs of depression in adolescents?
      • warning signs of suicide in adolescents
      • Mental Health Benefits of Exercise in Teens
      • How is the pandemic affecting mental health in teenagers?
    • Types of Disorder
      • Anti-Social Personality Disorder
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Avoidant Personality Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder Symptoms | Causes | Diagnosis
      • Diagnosing and Treating an Adjustment Disorder
      • Histrionic Personality Disorder
      • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
      • Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Veterans Guide
      • Functional Medicine for Military
      • Service Dogs Help Veterans with PTSD
    • Process Addiction
      • Gambling addiction
      • How do you know if you have an addictive personality?
      • What is Impulse-Control Disorder?
      • Process Addiction

Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

If you or a loved one have borderline personality disorder (BPD), read on to learn about symptoms and available treatments.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that causes intense mood swings, impulsive behaviors, and severe problems with self-image.1  Approximately 1.4% of the adult population in the United States suffers from BPD, making it one of the most common personality disorders. Although there is no cure for BPD, several effective treatment options are available in order to help manage symptoms.2 

This article will discuss the available treatments for people with BPD, along with tips on how to best support someone who has this disorder.

How Common is a Borderline Personality Disorder?

As stated above, BPD affects a little over 1% of the adult population in the United States. While that may seem like a small number relatively, it’s important to remember that BPD can be debilitating and those who suffer from it often need extensive treatment to manage their symptoms.

If you or someone you know displays signs of BPD, it’s essential to seek professional help. With proper treatment, many people with BPD can live healthy and fulfilling lives.

The Difference Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

BPD and bipolar disorder are both mental illnesses that can cause significant distress and disruption to a person’s life. Both disorders are characterized by dramatic mood swings, impulsive behaviors, and volatile relationships. However, there are some critical differences between the two disorders.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania or hypomania followed by periods of depression. During mania, a person may experience elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, grandiose thinking, and also start participating in risky behavior. The depressive phase is characterized by low mood, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and potentially thoughts of suicide. Bipolar disorder usually emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood.

On the other hand, BPD is characterized by a pattern of unstable relationships, impulsivity, emotional instability, and marked shifts in mood, but the shifts in mood are generally not as drastic as those who have bipolar disorder. People with BPD often fear abandonment and are acutely sensitive to perceived slights or rejection. They may also exhibit self-harming behaviors.3

Who Does Borderline Personality Disorder Affect?

BPD can affect people of any age, race, or gender. However, the disorder is most common in young adults. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with BPD than men as well.

Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

The most common signs and symptoms of BPD include:

  • Fear of abandonment
  • Unstable, intense relationships
  • Unstable self-image or sense of self
  • Rapid mood changes
  • Impulsive and dangerous behavior
  • Repeated self-harm or suicidal behavior
  • Persistent feelings of emptiness
  • Anger management issues
  • Temporary paranoid thoughts

What Causes Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that causes problems with emotional regulation, impulsivity, and relationships. People with borderline personality disorder often have a history of childhood abuse and trauma (either physical, emotional, or sexual), genetic factors that could lead to BPD, along with potential chemical brain changes resulting from trauma or other events.4

While these factors might cause BPD in some people, others may develop it in different ways, and these causes are not true for everyone. It’s important to keep an open mind and be aware of BPD symptoms if you or a loved one think you may have it.

Risk Factors of Borderline Personality Disorder

Several risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing borderline personality disorder; these will be detailed below.

Involve Children in Boundary Setting Discussions

People with borderline personality disorder are more likely to have a family history of the disorder. This suggests that there may be a hereditary predisposition for developing BPD.

There is some evidence that genetics may play a role in BPD, however studies have not been conclusive enough for anything concrete. Genetic factors play a role in many other mental disorders however, including anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders.

If an agreed-upon boundary is violated, a parent needs to be prepared with consequences directly related to the violation.

Stressful Childhood

A stressful or abusive childhood can increase the risk of developing BPD. Children who experience neglect or abuse are more likely to develop borderline personality disorder when they grow into their teens or early adulthood.

Many scientists think this is because trauma can rewire our brains in certain ways, and many children or teenagers will develop BPD as their brain’s way of coping with these stressors or abusive environments.

Complications of Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder can cause serious and long-term issues if not treated. These complications may include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Eating disorders
  • Substance abuse
  • Problems with work or school
  • Relationship problems
  • Suicide attempts or completed suicide
  • Self-injury
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

If you or someone you know is struggling with BPD, it’s essential to seek professional help.

Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

While there is no cure for BPD, certain treatments can help manage the symptoms. These solutions may include:

  • Psychotherapy
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
  • Schema-focused therapy
  • Medication
  • Antidepressants
  • Antipsychotics to treat aggressive symptoms
  • Anti-anxiety medication

Coping With Borderline Personality Disorder

Living with borderline personality disorder can be difficult. However, there are things you can do to manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life. These coping strategies can include:

  • Identifying certain causes
  • Avoiding drugs and alcohol
  • Eating healthy
  • Exercising regularly
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Building a support system
  • Joining a support group for people with BPD
  • Seeking professional help like a therapist
  • Get an accurate diagnosis
  • Sticking to your treatment plan

Getting professional and specialized treatment for BPD can help manage the symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms, it may be time to reach out to a treatment center today.

Get Treatment For Borderline Personality Disorder at Pacific Beach Health

Individuals with borderline personality disorder often have difficulty regulating their emotions, leading to impulsive and risky behaviors. They may also experience intense fears of abandonment and have distorted self-image. While the exact cause of BPD is unknown, it is believed to be a result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Treatment Avenues and Opportunities

Treatment for borderline personality disorder typically includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Our team of skilled mental health professionals at Pacific Beach Health provides comprehensive care for individuals with BPD.

We offer various evidence-based treatments designed to help our clients manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. If you or someone you love is struggling with borderline personality disorder, please contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

Living With Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder is a complex and challenging condition to treat. There are many different approaches, and no one treatment is suitable for everyone.

However, with the help of a qualified mental health professional, it is possible to find an effective treatment plan. With the right support, people with BPD can learn to manage their symptoms and live healthier, happier lives.

References:
  1. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder
  2. https://nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Borderline-Personality-Disorder
  3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9762-borderline-personality-disorder-bpd
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080475/

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