Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a highly stigmatized disorder, even by some mental health professionals. This stigma can make it more difficult for you to live independently and as normally as possible. BPD can be isolating and overwhelming and make people misunderstand you. However, BPD can be treated and even cured so that you can live how you want and deserve to. You are not alone in this.

Overview of the Condition

BPD is a mental health disorder that causes difficulty in your ability to regulate your emotions, which can increase your impulsiveness. This dysregulation of emotion and impulsiveness can lead to problems in relationships and negative thinking about yourself. 

Stigma Surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder

The stigma surrounding BPD is that those with this disorder are chaotic, uncontrollable, and even volatile. Unfortunately, this is also how the entertainment industry portrays people with BPD, which means this is the widespread depiction upon which people base, making their judgments. This leads to people with BPD being misjudged and makes it harder for them to reach out for help because they feel they won't be believed. 

The stigma also causes isolation and negative feelings about oneself and can escalate to substance use, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. Mental health professionals can also hold the stigma, making finding proper care even more difficult. Going to an inexperienced or unqualified mental health care professional can do more harm than good. They can treat you according to your stigma, which can cause you to feel frustrated and perhaps wary of seeking further care. 

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of BPD can mimic those of other conditions and be the same as many co-occurring conditions. This can make diagnosing BPD very difficult. Some signs and symptoms include:

• Intense mood swings

• Jumping into relationships to avoid a feeling of abandonment

• Difficulty maintaining healthy relationships

• Partaking in dangerous or reckless behaviors, such as:

  • Shopping sprees

  • Substance abuse

  • Promiscuity

  • Self-harm

• Sisassociation

• Problems with anger management

Risk Factors

Certain factors increase the possibility that an individual will develop BPD. These factors include:

• Family history

• Traumatic life events

• Structural and functional differences in your brain

While these factors can increase the risk of developing BPD, it is not guaranteed you will.

Diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder

BPD can be difficult to diagnose because it is usually accompanied by other conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You will need to be evaluated by a mental health professional, where you will discuss symptoms, have a medical exam, and discuss your personal and family history.

Treatment Options

Seeking and maintaining treatment can help prevent other medical or mental conditions. Treatment options include different types of therapy.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the first stage of treatment and consists of talking to a trained mental health professional. This therapy can be conducted in both single and group sessions. Participating in group sessions can help in effective communication and allow you to see that others with BPD have the same experiences as you. Several types of psychotherapy are used to treat BPD, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Medications

Medication is not regularly used other than to treat symptoms. This is because the effectiveness of using medications is unclear, and the risk of side effects is too problematic. 

Inpatient 

Depending on the severity of your BPD, it may be best to enter an inpatient program that can better cater to your needs. Usually, hospitalization is short-term to stabilize a person during a crisis.

Next Level Recovery

Next Level Recovery is an outpatient treatment facility that treats addiction and co-occurring conditions. They are highly trained, compassionate professionals who work to provide the best treatment plan for you. They can help develop a treatment plan for substance use disorder (SUD), digital addiction (the compulsive need to use digital devices or the internet), and other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

They provide recovery companions and trained professionals who work with you one-on-one during recovery. They can provide various services, such as accompanying you to treatment, creating healthy daily schedules, providing extra support during stressful situations, attending social events and vacations to help maintain treatment, and finding triggers that may affect your recovery. 

What Should Family Members Do

Family members should also look into seeking help. Having a loved one with BPD can also be stressful and challenging for you. Getting help for yourself and finding your support system can better equip you to help your loved one. 

You can also participate in family therapy with your loved one. This would allow you to learn how to support and care for someone with BPD. It will also give you time to express your concerns and ask questions to help determine if you feel capable of taking on the responsibility of caring for someone with BPD. 

How Can Family Help

If you have a family member with BPD, you can help them in many ways, including the following:

• Educate yourself on BPD

• Offer support and compassion to your loved one with BPD

• Encourage treatment maintenance

• Seek out treatment and make sure to ensure you are taking care of yourself

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be stressful, isolating, and overwhelming. It makes regulating your emotions and impulses difficult. This diagnosis can affect many aspects of your life, from relationships to work and health. The stigma surrounding this condition can make your life even more difficult and make people misunderstand you, but the stigma is not valid. This condition can be treated and managed so you can live an independent and normal life. Know that you are not alone, and there are people who want to help you. At Next Level Recovery, we provide a personalized experience to ensure you get everything you need to thrive. For more information, email us at consult@nextlevelra.com.