Mental Health - Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

The following article will give you a broad overview of Borderline Personality Disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder has only been adopted as an official diagnosis in 1980 so it is a very recent addition to the personality disorders.

Remember Michael Douglas and Glenn Close in the film Fatal Attraction? She played a woman with many characteristics of the borderline personality. Another example is Winona Ryder as the girl she played in Girl, Interrupted.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

People who suffer from this disorder show impulsivity and instability in relationships, moods and self-image. Emotions can be erratic and shift abruptly, particularly from passionate idealization to contemptuous anger. It is obvious that these people are emotionally unstable in their personality.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Patients of BPD often show up as being argumentative, sarcastic, quick to take offense, irritable, and are generally hard to be around or live with. Their behavior is regularly impulsive and unpredictable. Habits, which may include gambling, spending, unselective sexual activities and eating sprees can potentially be self-damaging.

Individuals are often manipulative, very sensitive to the way they are treated by others, specifically reacting strongly to criticism and being and or feeling hurt. They often show risk of self-harm and have suicidal tendencies.

Where does it come from?

BPD has a lot of connection with the environmental factors and the psychosocial dynamics of the patient's families. Evidence shows that this disorder runs in families, suggesting it may have genetic components and that it is related to traumatic events that happened during childhood.

BPD typically begins in early adulthood and is more common in women than in men.

Treatment options

Medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers are used regularly to treat the co-existing symptoms of depression however the evidence for benefit for BPD is weak.

Therapeutic support in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic therapy have been studied and used. For a therapist to be working with BPD patients it takes a lot of flexibility and the ego strength to be projected at with negative attributions.

In many cases psychiatric hospitalization is required or at least outpatient services.

Get help

Dealing with BPD yourself or in your family is not something that can be managed on your own.

Remember: If you're concerned that your loved one is dealing with Borderline Personality Disorder seek external support and get them checked out by a medical professional.

Want to know more? Have a look at my blog.

Nathalie Himmelrich is the founder of 'Reach for the Sky Therapy' on Sydney's Northern Beaches and specialises in 'relationship related issues'. She is working with individuals and couples using techniques ranging from Counselling, Neuro Linguistic Programming to Journey Therapy. She supports clients in their personal growth in a supportive and professional environment.

Visit my website: http://www.reachforthesky.com.au or visit my blog: http://reachforthesky.wordpress.com and sign up for our newsletter today.

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