Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Borderline Personality Disorder also known as BPD is a very complex disorder that has a large amount of misinformation out there on it. A person who struggles with BPD may have many more difficult times with many different areas that others who struggle with well-being may not. Often,individuals who struggle with BPD may have a harder time regulating and processing emotions that come into their lives. This also could come out in ways where they have hard time controlling impulses. Individuals with BPD may be more aware than others of changes in mood that could be dependent on the setting. Which may cause some changes in their reactions. When thinking about what might cause BPD, there has been research conducted on some things that might point towards why people may have BPD. This could be due to a person's genetics and inheritance with a possible mix of environmental fluctuations. Additionally,some potential ties to childhood traumatic events that may have occurred with a mix of the environment one grew up in. Unfortunately BPD is something that is not easily diagnosable for many individuals but getting that support plus seeking help is always a first step you or a loved one can take.
Symptoms of BPD
Each individual may struggle with different types of symptoms that may come up; each person struggles differently and may be affected differently by these symptoms. There are some common symptoms that are seen for individuals who have BPD, however, know these might change, decrease or increase depending on the person. Individuals with BPD may struggle with suicidal ideation, with or without non-suicidal self injury. Large amount of feelings of abandonment may consume a person that you love about individuals in their lives. This may cause relationships to become more difficult for an individual with BPD. Individuals may experience impulsive or emotional behaviours that may be seen as abnormal in society. Individuals with BPD may have intense times of depression, anxiety or even anger due to them feeling emotions much stronger than most. Continuing on this there may be impulsive behaviours this could be doing something that they normally wouldn’t like excess substance usage or risky behaviours. BPD may cause paranoia and dissociative states that may lead to times where that individual may be less responsive to painful events. Remembering that each individual may handle these symptoms differently or even experience them differently is really important.
How does this affect a person
BPD can cause many individuals to struggle day-to-day without the support of others. Having intense emotions and reactions to changes that may not be noticed by others; may be emotionally taxing and exhausting. People may feel extremely isolated in their symptoms or thought process everyday. Even with having individuals support them. It is seen as being a constant cycle of different emotions coming in that one person has to deal with which is mean for more than one. Large amount of upsets with having to deal with this disorder as well for the person. They may feel like a burden to others, feel humiliated by something they do even if it's not that bad. Overall, knowing that there is a large amount of struggle but understanding that as much as it may affect you as a lover of this person it also affects them.
What are correlations the to other mental illness
Talking about early BPD may be hard to diagnose and you may ask why this is? Well there is a large amount of symptoms and overlap between other disorders. Individuals with BPD may struggle with times of depression which may correlate to states of them being depressed. Substance use disorders which may occur when this individual is going through irrational behavioural states but also could just be another comorbid disorder. Eating problems may arise for someone who has BPD being aware of this and addressing it if need be. PTSD or Bipolar disorder this individual might struggle with. Social phobias which in turn relate to those periods of anxiety. All of these things may overlap with someone who is struggling with BPD. Knowing and educating yourself on how these might interact and noticing when someone might also be struggling with these things as well.
What can you do to support a person
Supporting a person you love and cherish or even yourself if you have concerns about BPD may be scary and nerve wracking. Taking the time to assess the situation and taking that first step to find treatment is highly beneficial. It may take time before you or a loved one is ready to do this although it is highly beneficial to seek treatment. Knowing that it might take time to find the right person for you or someone you love is highly important. Letting therapy take its time to work when you are supporting someone who has BPD they might have a hard time accepting treatment or getting it started. Being there for a person along the way and giving the support that they desire and need. Knowing what your limits as a person who loves them is, do you need to set some boundaries for yourself? This could be a question you might have to ask yourself as well. As this is a very complex and intense disorder, being able to figure out what you also need to support this person can be highly beneficial not only to you but the person you are supporting. Next step would be doing your own research on BPD looking at what you can learn about it to see what the person is dealing with that you are supporting. Take time to process what they might be going through. See what the individual might need to be supported once they are in treatment, do they need you to come to therapy sessions, what might they need to get through seeking treatment. Overall, just doing your best to be there for a person is a big step in the right direction.
Resources:
https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/borderline-guide-en.pdf