Description

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it difficult to function in daily life. Includes a pattern of instability, strength of relationships, as well as impulsivity and a bad way of looking at themselves. Impulsivity involves having extreme emotions, and of acting or doing things without thinking about them in the first place.

People with borderline personality disorder have a strong fear of abandonment or being left alone. Even though you want to have loving and lasting relationships, the fear of being abandoned, often leads to mood swings and anger. It also leads to impulsiveness and self-injury that can push other.

Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The condition is more severe in young adulthood. Mood swings, anger, and impulsivity often improve with age. But the main problems of self-image and fear of being abandoned, as well as the problems of relationship, go.

If you have borderline personality disorder, we know that many people with this condition to improve with treatment. You can learn to live stabler, more-fulfilling life.

Symptoms

Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, interact with others, and behave.

Symptoms may include:

  • A strong fear of abandonment. This includes going to extreme measures so that it is not separated or rejected, even if these fears are made.
  • A pattern of instability, intense relationships, such as to believe that someone is perfect for a moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn't care enough or is cruel.
  • The rapid changes in how you see yourself. This includes the change of objectives and values, as well as seeing yourself as bad or as if it does not exist.
  • Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality. These periods can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
  • Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, dangerous driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating, drug abuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship.
  • Threats of suicide or self-injury, often in response to fears of separation or rejection.
  • Wide mood swings that last from a few hours to a few days. These mood changes can include periods of being very happy, irritable, or anxious, or feeling shame.
  • Ongoing feelings of emptiness.
  • Inappropriate, strong anger, such as losing your temper, often, being sarcastic or bitter, or physical fight.

When to see a doctor

If you are aware that you have any of the symptoms above, talk with your doctor or other regular health professional, or see a mental health professional.

If you have thoughts of suicide

If you have fantasies or mental images about harming yourself, or have thoughts of suicide, get help right away if you take one of these actions:

  • Call 911 or the local emergency number immediately.
  • In contact with a direct line of suicide. In the united states, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat . The services are free and confidential.
  • United states veterans or service members who are in crisis you can call 988, and then press "1" to the Veterans Crisis Line . Or text 838255. Or chat online.
  • The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the united states has a Spanish language of the phone line in 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).
  • Call your mental health professional, physician, or other member of the health team.
  • Reach out to a loved one, a friend, colleague or co-worker.
  • Please contact with someone from your faith community.

If you notice any symptoms of a family member or a friend, talk to that person about to see a doctor or mental health professional. But you can not force someone to change. If the relationship causes a great amount of stress, you may find it helpful to see a therapist.

Causes

As with other mental health conditions, the causes of borderline personality disorder are not completely understood. In addition to environmental factors — such as a history of abuse or neglect of child — borderline personality disorder may be linked to:

  • Genetics. Some studies of twins and families suggest that personality disorders may be inherited or strongly related to other mental health conditions among members of the family.
  • The changes in the brain. Some research studies have shown that changes in certain areas of the brain affect the emotions, impulsivity, and aggression.

Risk factors

The factors associated with the development of the personality that may increase the risk of borderline personality disorder are:

  • Hereditary predisposition. You may be at higher risk if a blood relative — mother, father, sister or brother has the same or a similar disease.
  • Stressful childhood. Many people with the report on the condition of being sexually or physically abused or neglected during childhood. Some people have lost or were separated from their parents or close caregiver when they were young or had parents or caregivers with substance misuse or other mental health problems. Others have been exposed to hostile conflict and unstable family relationships.

Complications

Borderline personality disorder can cause damage to many areas of your life. It can negatively affect close relationships, jobs, school, social activities, and how you see yourself.

This can result in:

  • The repeated job changes or loss.
  • Do not finish an education.
  • Various legal issues, such as time in jail.
  • Conflicting relationships, stress in the marriage or the divorce.
  • Injuring yourself, such as, for example, cutting or burning, and frequent stays in the hospital.
  • Abusive relationships.
  • Unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, motor vehicle accidents, and physical fights due to the impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors.
  • Suicide attempt or death by suicide.

Also, you may have other mental health conditions, such as:

  • Depression.
  • Of Alcohol or other substances of misuse.
  • The anxiety disorders.
  • Eating disorders.
  • The Bipolar disorder.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Other personality disorders.

Diagnosis

Personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder, is diagnosed based on a:

  • Detailed interview with your doctor or a mental health professional.
  • Mental health evaluation that may include completing a series of questions.
  • The medical history and exam.
  • The discussion of your symptoms.

A diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is usually made in adults, not in children or teenagers. That is because what may seem to be symptoms of borderline personality disorder in children or teenagers may go away as they grow and mature.

Treatment

Borderline personality disorder is primarily treated with psychotherapy, which is also known as talk therapy. But the medication can be added. Your doctor may also recommend you to stay at the hospital if your safety is at risk.

The treatment can help you learn skills to manage and cope with your condition. You must also be treated by any other mental health conditions that often occur along with borderline personality disorder, such as depression or substance abuse. With treatment, you can feel better about yourself and have a stabler, more fulfilling life.

Talk therapy

Talk therapy is a basic treatment approach for borderline personality disorder. Your mental health professional can adjust the type of therapy to best meet your needs.

Talk therapy for help:

  • Focus on your ability to function.
  • Learn to manage the emotions that feel uncomfortable.
  • Reduce impulsivity, helping you to note the feelings instead of acting on them.
  • Work on making the relationship better to be aware of their feelings and those of others.
  • Learn about borderline personality disorder.

Management of borderline personality disorder is primarily focused on making sense of the moments that are emotionally hard for them to think about what happened in their relationship that led to these moments. The good mental health of the management tends to include a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, family education, and medications related conditions.

Types of psychotherapy that have been found to be effective include:

  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT includes group and individual therapy designed to treat borderline personality disorder. DBT uses a competency-based approach to teach you how to manage your emotions, manage anxiety, and better understand the relationships.
  • The cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps you to change your beliefs that come from the distorted ways of seeing things. It can also help with relationship problems. The goal is to learn to identify negative thoughts and deal with those thoughts. This treatment can reduce the changes of mood and make you less anxious. You can also make it less likely that you are going to harm themselves or attempt suicide.
  • Schema-focused therapy. Schema-focused therapy focuses on changing negative thought patterns.
  • Mentalization based therapy (MBT). MBT help you note your thoughts and feelings and see things in a different way. MBT insists on think before you react.
  • Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and problem solving (STEPPS). STEPPS is a 20-week treatment program where they work in groups that include family members, caregivers, friends, or significant others. STEPPS is used in addition to other types of psychotherapy.
  • Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP). Also called psychodynamic psychotherapy, TFP aims to help you learn about their emotions and issues related to the other through the creation of a relationship between you and your therapist. Then, apply what you learned to other situations.

Medications

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drugs specifically to treat borderline personality disorder. But some medications can help with the symptoms. And some medications can help with conditions that occur with borderline personality disorder, such as depression, impulsivity, aggression or anxiety. Medications used to treat these conditions may include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood-stabilizing drugs.

Talk with your doctor or mental health professional about the benefits and side effects of medications.

Hospitalization

Sometimes, you may need to be treated in a psychiatric hospital, or clinic. The stay in the hospital can also keep you safe from harm yourself, or help you to talk about the thoughts or behaviors associated with suicide.

Recovery takes time

Learn to manage your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors takes time. The majority of people are improving greatly, but some people will always struggle with some of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder. You may have times when symptoms are better or worse. But the treatment may make it easier to function and help you feel better about himself.

You have the best chance for success when you work with a mental health professional who has experience in the treatment of borderline personality disorder.

Coping and support

Symptoms related to borderline personality disorder can be stressful and difficult for you and those around you. You may be aware of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that are harmful to himself. But you may feel that you do not know how to handle them.

In addition, to get the professional treatment, you can help to manage and cope with your condition if:

  • Learn about the condition so that you can understand its causes and treatments.
  • Know what can make you angry or impulsive.
  • Seek professional help and stick to your treatment plan. Attend all sessions of therapy and take medications as directed.
  • Work with your mental health professional to create a plan for what to do the next time a crisis occurs.
  • Stay away from drugs and alcohol.
  • Consider the possibility that people close to you in your treatment to help them understand and support.
  • Manage strong emotions through the practice of coping skills, such as the use of breathing techniques and meditation.
  • Set limits for yourself and others learn to express their emotions in a way that does not alienate others or making them feel abandoned, or unstable.
  • Don't assume that what people are feeling or thinking about you.
  • Reach out to other people with borderline personality disorder to share their experiences and what they've learned.
  • Build a support system of people that can understand and respect you.
  • To maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet, being physically active and taking part in social activities.
  • Do not blame yourself for your condition. But to assume responsibility for their treatment.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by seeing your primary care physician or other health care professional. After the first appointment, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional, like a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Any symptoms that you or the people close to you have noticed, and for how long.
  • Key personal information, including traumatic events in the past and present of the main factors of stress.
  • Your medical information, including the physical or mental health.
  • All the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, the medicines available without a prescription, vitamins, and other supplements — and dose.
  • The questions that you want to do so that you can make the most of your appointment.

Have a friend or family member, if possible. Someone who has known for a long time, you may be able to share important information with your doctor or mental health professional, with your permission.

Basic questions to ask at the appointment are:

  • What is the cause of my symptoms or condition?
  • What are the treatments most likely to be effective?
  • Will my symptoms improve with treatment?
  • How often should I therapy sessions and for how long?
  • There are medications that can help?
  • What are the possible side effects of the drugs you can prescribe?
  • Do I have to take any precautions or to follow all the restrictions?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • How can my family or close friends who help me in my treatment?
  • Do you have any printed material that I can take? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

A doctor or mental health professional is likely to ask you some questions, such as:

  • What are your symptoms? When did you first notice them?
  • How are these symptoms that affect their lives, including their personal and work relationships?
  • How often do you experience a mood swing every day?
  • How many times have you felt betrayed, victimized or abandoned? Why do you think that happened?
  • How to control anger?
  • How well do you manage to be alone?
  • How do you see your value as a human being?
  • Have you ever felt bad or evil?
  • Have you had a problem with the behavior that is risky or harmful to himself?
  • Have you ever thought or tried to harm themselves or attempt suicide?
  • Make use of alcohol or recreational drugs or misuse of prescription drugs? If so, how often?
  • How would you describe your childhood, including their relationship with their parents or caregivers?
  • They were physically or sexually abused or neglected as a child?
  • Have any of your blood relatives or caregivers has been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as a personality disorder?
  • Have been treated for other mental health problems? If yes, what diagnoses are made, and what were the most effective treatments?
  • Are you being treated for any other medical condition?

Be prepared to answer questions to make sure that there is no time to go through all the points that you want to focus on.

Symptoms and treatment of Borderline personality disorder