Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex condition that impacts 1.4% of adults in the United States. While your experience is unique, you may recognize common symptoms of this condition, such as intense and unstable emotions or feelings of self-doubt. People with BPD may also struggle with relationships, behavior and identity. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for BPD.
With the right treatment and coping strategies, you can manage symptoms and lead a fulfilling life.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by mood instability, inconsistent behavior, impulsive actions and self-image troubles. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines the BPD diagnostic criteria as experiencing five or more of the following symptoms:
While often confused for bipolar disorder, BPD and bipolar disorder are two separate conditions. To differentiate BPD vs. bipolar symptoms, note that bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of mania or hypomania and depression, while those with BPD experience intense emotions like desperation, abandonment, anger and hopelessness.
Additionally, mood changes for people with BPD are often short-lived and last a few hours at a time, while bipolar episodes are much longer.
BPD is a mind and body condition that typically manifests in the early teen years and gradually improves in adult life. While every experience is unique, here are some signs of BPD that can impact daily life:
People with BPD describe the condition as having an exposed nerve ending, where little things may feel intense and overwhelming to deal with. It can be tough to return to a stable state afterward, feeling as though you are drowning in your emotions or overflowing with feelings, whether it's happiness, sadness, shame, fear or something else.
Intense emotions may be triggered by social and interpersonal situations — people with BPD may be in mid-conversation and then suddenly find themselves overcome with feelings of shame or sadness they struggle to hold back.
Intense emotions for people with BPD can be linked to thinking in extremes. BPD splitting is a common symptom and defense mechanism, causing a person to see everything in black and white or have all-or-nothing thinking.
Instead of working with complex relationships or situations, for example, BPD splitting may cause a person to see them all as good or bad — idealizing them or devaluing them. An example would be a person with BPD cutting someone out of their life and then expressing feelings of abandonment.
People with personality disorders may have trouble identifying how they feel and think about themselves and others. This can also impact their sense of self, so people feel like they don't know “who they are.” Identity disturbance in people with BPD may look like:
People with BPD may feel isolated and alone, believing that no one can truly understand them. They may feel uncomfortable in their skin and have a higher risk of experiencing other mental health conditions, like depression. It can be challenging for them to sustain a stable job as a result.
People with BPD often act impulsively when most distressed. The inability to self-soothe can lead to reckless behaviors like:
People with BPD may also constantly be on the move, seeking out new people to avoid feelings of loneliness and abandonment.
A history of traumatic experiences can be common in people with BPD, often stemming from the lack of emotional validation from caretakers as a child. As a result, people with BPD often have intense relationships with others. They may shift between the extremes of needing intimacy to rejection, causing unstable connections with people in their lives.
People with BPD may also conjure a close connection with a favorite person who becomes the target of their attention, adoration and sometimes indifference. A “BPD favorite person” could be anyone from a teacher to a best friend or family member. They may shower love and attachment on their favorite person before experiencing a strong dislike, often when they feel their emotional needs aren't being met.
For example, someone with BPD may feel affectionate one minute and then smothered or overwhelmed the next, causing them to push away their partner they had just been drawing closer. The dynamic can lead to rocky relationships.
Borderline personality treatment is one of the most stigmatized mental health conditions, and there is a misconception that it is difficult to treat. While a complex condition, newer, evidence-based treatments are offering those with BPD a better quality of life with fewer and less severe symptoms, such as:
Additionally, self-care activities like regular exercise, getting plenty of restful sleep and eating a nutritious diet may help reduce common symptoms of BPD like mood changes, impulsive behavior and irritability.
At Diamond House, we treat clients with evidence-based modalities under the guidance of experienced medical professionals. We have helped many people find peace with comprehensive psychological support, helping individuals with conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder.
Our goal is to treat every client as an individual. When you come to us, we will assess you to determine the best course of action. Expect compassionate, comprehensive and evidence-based care to help you lessen symptoms and improve your quality of life. Consider our testimonials for real accounts of the difference we can make in your life.
Borderline personality disorder is a complex condition that can lead to emotional dysregulation, relationship troubles and instability. If you or a loved one is experiencing BPD, you may find it difficult to function at work, school or home. If this sounds like you, do not hesitate to reach out to Diamond House. Our compassionate team of medical professionals will assess your needs and develop a comprehensive treatment program to support your path to wellness.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help with borderline personality disorder treatment in Northern California.
