WHAT IS BPD? ALL ABOUT BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER!
Borderline Personality Disorder:
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that influences the manner in which one thinks and feels about oneself and others, leading to problems in the functioning of day to day life. It includes self-image issues, difficulty in managing emotions and behaviour, and a pattern of unstable relationships.
People with borderline personality disorder may experience feelings like a strong fear of neglect, struggle to keep up healthy connections or relationships, have extreme emotions, act impulsively, and may even face paranoia and dissociation.
SYMPTOMS:
A few symptoms of BPD are as follows:
Extreme acts of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days.These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships
People may experience intense mood swings and and show uncertainty about themselves and their role in the world.Their interests and values can also change very quickly
People see things as only all good or all bad. Someone who they considered as their friend one day may be considered an enemy on another. These emotions can often lead to unstable relationships
Feelings of dissociation, such as feeling cut off from oneself, seeing oneself from outside one’s body, or feelings of unreality and chronic feelings of emptiness
Impulsive and dangerous behaviors such as spending sprees, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating, etc.
Difficulty in trusting which is sometimes accompanied by an irrational fear of other people’s intentions
TREATMENTS:
For people with borderline personality disorder, psychotherapy is the first line of treatment. It includes a one on one session between the therapist and patient or can also be done in a group. The group sessions may teach people how to engage with others and express themselves in an effective manner. It is key that people in therapy get along with and have complete trust in their therapist. The nature of (BPD) is such that people may find it difficult to build a comfortable and trusting bond with their therapist.
Examples of psychotherapies used to treat borderline personality disorder include:
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT):
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was specially developed for people with BPD-borderline personality disorder.
The technique uses concepts of mindfulness and acceptance or being aware of and attentive to the current situation and emotional state. DBT also teaches skills that can help in controlling extreme or intense emotions, reduce self-harming patterns, and also improves relationships.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a technique that helps people with BPD recognize, identify and change core beliefs and behavioural patterns that are based on wrong or inaccurate perceptions of themselves and others and also in issues interacting with other people. This therapy can also be helpful in reducing mood and anxiety problems and a number of suicidal or self-destructive patterns.
For more information on BPD or if you would like to book an appointment with one of our therapist that specializes in BPD please give us a call 647-267-9853 or email us info@vaughanpsychotherapist.com.