In your daily life, you observe some people who are confused, sad and over-react on even little things. These people are all the time blaming and under pressure about their relationships and even their personal lives. It is the state known as borderline personality disorder, whose signs can be managed through effective consultation with some psychiatrists.
Equally, such an issue becomes challenging over time when not treated properly. Therefore, early treatment is vital to continue your worry-free ahead. Here in this guide, we’ll explain BDP, its symptoms and possible treatment options. Continue reading this interesting information and collect gems of useful insights!
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
A borderline personality disorder is a treatable mental disorder affecting the way a person thinks, feels, and acts. Similarly, the situation becomes difficult to manage some parts of life. It makes people feel confused with themselves and their relationships, and they also experience confusion and lack of control in emotional or impulsive states.
In addition, BPD affects 1 in 100 adults, according to studies. While it is more prevalent in women, it occurs as often in men. The disorder usually begins during the period of adolescence or early adulthood and later on cause many other issues such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.
Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder
The borderline personality disorder symptoms include:
- Feeling hollow or low self-esteem.
- Overwhelming emotions and feelings.
- Anger, irritability, or unstable moods.
- Fear of abandonment and avoiding rejection in relationships.
- Challenges with self-image or one’s sense of identity.
- Self-injury, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts.
- Impulsive or risky actions or unwanted thoughts.
Call us today to schedule your Telehealth
or in-office psychiatric appointment!
Borderline Personality Disorder Causes
Healthcare providers consider that the cause of BPD is multi-factorial, which includes:
- Childhood abuse and trauma, such as sexual, emotional, or other forms of childhood abuse, affect 70% of persons with BPD. Others include maternal separation, disturbed maternal attachment, inappropriate boundaries in the family, as well as parents with an active substance use disorder.
- Genetics is also a major factor in causing BDP is said to be inherited well through genetics since the condition often runs in families. Greater risk, and no guarantee you have family members who have a history of BPD.
- Brain changes are also involved in causing BPD, where parts in the brain responsible for emotion regulation and behavior are not communication-friendly in a person having BPD. Such imperfections affect how the working of the brain would operate.
Statistics about Borderline Personality Disorder
People living with BDP frequently suffer from additional mental health issues, such as:
- Mood disorders (80%-96%).
- Anxiety disorders (88%).
- Substance use disorder (64%).
- Eating disorders (53%).
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (10% to 30%).
- Bipolar disorder (15%).
- Somatoform disorders (10%).
Borderline Personality Disorder and Relationships
A romantic connection with someone with BPD is, in a word, turbulent. The experience of significant upheaval and instability is not rare. Meanwhile, individuals with BPD can be very tender and care for others. Most people can see that a partner’s passion is likable. An individual with signs of borderline personality disorder can also be overly intimate and want to spend copious amounts of time around their partner.
Additionally, individuals with BPD are sensitive to feelings of abandonment or rejection. Many are hypersensitive to perceived signs of borderline personality disorder that a romantic partner is unhappy or may leave them.
It can be pretty rough navigating all these emotional switchbacks. They can sometimes lead to scenes in public that can be very distressing. A partner’s impulsivity when suffering from BPD might put at risk not only their safety but that of their loved one. However, a steady presence could greatly ease those emotional sensitivities that characterize individuals with BPD.
Related Read: Cluster C Personality Disorders: Manage Internal Fear and Worries
Types Of Borderline Personality Disorder
1. Discouraged Borderline Personality Disorder
Discouraged BPD is also called Quiet BPD. Patients with this issue are often fearful of abandonment. For this reason, they engage in extreme actions to prevent real and imaginary abandonment.
In comparison, individuals with discouraged BPD keep their emotions hidden like others. It has been observed that they like self-blaming rather than the other way around.
2. Petulant Borderline Personality Disorder
They can be irate one moment and sulky or depressed the next, and their emotions fluctuate drastically. They believe they are unworthy or unloved, which results in relationship conflict and an excessive demand for control.
In addition, petulant BPDs are also super manipulative. They’re never satisfied in their relationships. So, it’s easy for them to turn to substance abuse and other bad behavior.
3. Self-Destructive Borderline Personality Disorder
Self-hating BPD sufferers argue with themselves and are furious about it. Borderline personality disorder examples of behaviors in self-destructive include:
- Self-harm behaviors: burning, cutting, hitting, scratching
- Substance abuse: prescription and recreational drugs
- Risky adrenaline activities: no preparation
4. Impulsive Borderline Personality Disorder
A BDPr is a characteristic of impulsivity. BPD individuals act impulsively and carelessly. They frequently do this with little consideration for others or the repercussions. Impulsive BPD can be:
- Energetic
- Charismatic
- Distant or elusive
- Motivating or interesting
- Flirty
Bipolar Disorder Vs Borderline Personality Disorder
Bipolar Disorder | Borderline Personality Disorder |
| A mood disorder characterized by extreme mood swings between mania/hypomania and depression. | Emotions, relationships, and self-image volatility are characteristics of this personality disorder. |
| Mood swings and fluctuations in days, months, and weeks. | Mood swings occur rapidly, sometimes within hours or minutes. |
| Genetic, biological, and environmental factors. | Often linked to trauma, abandonment, or emotional neglect in childhood. |
| Episodes last for extended periods, even months. | Symptoms are persistent and ongoing, affecting daily life. |
| It can vary during mood swings, typically stable otherwise. | Unstable self-image, often feeling like they don’t know who they are. |
How To Manage Borderline Personality Disorder?
If you know someone with BDP, here’s how you can help:
- If you take the time to study BPD, you will better comprehend what your loved one is experiencing.
- Encourage your loved one to get treatment for BPD and ask about family therapy if they’re a family member.
- People with signs of borderline personality disorder are afraid of change, but with therapy, their symptoms can improve.
- Get therapy for yourself if you’re feeling overwhelmed or experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. Choose a different therapist from the one your loved one sees.
Treatment For Borderline Personality Disorder
Previously, assisting patients with BPD was difficult. Now, new borderline personality disorder treatments give people much more hope. Doctors have found ways to help people with BPD feel better and live happier lives. People with this illness can learn to manage their powerful emotions and form stronger connections. A healthcare provider first held a borderline personality disorder test to find out the exact cause of the issue you are facing.
Furthermore, people with BPD frequently find that merely talking to someone who knows their condition may help them get through a crisis. In a few circumstances, you may be prescribed a brief course of medication, such as a tranquilizer, to help you relax.
Schedule your appointment today
Medication Management for Borderline Personality Disorder
Medications are not the primary treatment for BPD, but they can play a supporting role in managing specific symptoms. Healthcare providers typically approach medication carefully, focusing on treating individual symptoms rather than the entire condition. Psychiatrists may prescribe the best antipsychotic for borderline personality disorder to address the following:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Impulsive behaviors
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
Common medications used for BPD patients include:
- Antidepressants
- Mood Stabilizers
- Antipsychotic Medications
To Sum Up
Signs of borderline personality disorder often lessen with age. Some people’s symptoms resolve in their forties. With the correct therapy, many people with BPD may learn to control their symptoms and live a more fulfilling life. Suicide rates among persons with BPD are 40 times higher than in the general population. 8-10% of persons with BPD commit suicide.
Hence, many people with untreated BPD also have unstable or chaotic personal relationships and can’t hold a job. They have a higher risk of divorce, estrangement from family members, and rocky friendships. To get a better treatment and telehealth consultaion session, you may reach out to us at MAVA Behavioral Health. We are here to tackle all your concerns and give the best suggestion either which option suits you and how to manage your issue.
FAQ’s
1-What does high functioning look like?
High-functioning individuals with BPD often excel professionally and maintain stable relationships while privately struggling with intense emotional turmoil. They appear successful and competent externally but internally battle complex emotional challenges, perfectionism, and deep-seated fears of abandonment that remain hidden from most people.
2-At which age BDP is at its peak?
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) typically peaks in early adulthood, with symptoms often most intense between ages 18 and 30. After this period, many individuals experience a natural reduction in symptom severity, with many people showing significant improvement by their mid-30s to early 40s.
3-Does BPD get worse with age?
While BPD symptoms can be most intense in early adulthood, many individuals experience natural symptom reduction over time with proper treatment and personal growth. Most people with BPD see improvements in their late 30s and 40s, especially if they engage in consistent therapy and develop robust coping strategies.
4-Can people with BPD ever be normal?
People with BPD can live a happy, calm life by getting help from caring doctors and taking medicines that help balance their emotions. With some helpful medicines, you can learn to handle your feelings better and create good relationships with others.
5-What are challenging mental health issues that need struggle to manage?
Some of the hardest mental health issues to live with include schizophrenia, which can cause severe disconnection from reality, and BDP, which leads to intense emotional instability and difficulty in relationships. Both conditions often require extensive long-term care and support.
