
Many people worry about being abandoned or left on their own. They struggle with relationships as a result. However, this condition may be more than they realize. Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that impacts a person’s daily life. This condition affects the way they feel about themselves and those around them.
Individuals with borderline personality disorder often engage in intense relationships that lack stability. They struggle with impulsiveness and don’t have a healthy self-image. Extreme emotions are common in these individuals, and they may act without thinking.
These men and women want to have stable relationships that last; however, their fear of abandonment often results in anger and mood swings. They become impulsive and may injure themselves, leading others to walk away. Treatment is available if a borderline personality screening shows an individual is struggling with this condition.
This condition usually doesn’t show up until early adulthood, and this is when it is at its most serious. The anger, impulsiveness, and mood swings seen with borderline personality disorder often ease off as a person ages. However, the individual will continue to struggle with self-image issues, the fear of abandonment, and relationship problems.
Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms
Early intervention helps men and women with borderline personality disorder. However, they must recognize the symptoms and seek help. What should an individual and their loved ones look for that may indicate they are struggling with this mental health condition?
Individuals with borderline personality disorder fear abandonment, either real or imagined. They work hard to avoid being left behind, and they may engage in frantic behaviors to try to keep others nearby. They frequently enter into intense relationships that don’t last very long. While in these relationships, they either idolize or devalue the other party.
Borderline personality disorder comes with rapid mood swings. The person’s mood might change after only a few hours, or it can persist for a few days. These individuals frequently take part in risky or impulsive activities, such as substance abuse or uncontrolled spending.
A person struggling with this mental health condition often has a distorted self-image. They frequently feel empty or hollow and may become uncontrollably angry. Once the anger fades, they feel guilt or shame. Paranoia or disassociation is another symptom of borderline personality disorder.
Many individuals struggling with this condition has a dual diagnosis. They have symptoms of other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety. When these symptoms co-occur, it becomes harder to diagnose and treat the individual. Professional help is needed to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Relationship Issues
A person with borderline personality disorder often struggles to maintain personal and professional relationships. They have trust issues and frequently misinterpret the actions and intentions of other people. As a result, they usually deal with conflict and isolation. It may be hard to keep a job or handle everyday responsibilities because their emotions and behavior are so unstable. Early treatment helps improve outcomes for these individuals. With professional help, they can typically lead an everyday life.
Treating Borderline Personality Disorder
Treating borderline personality disorder requires a comprehensive treatment program. A mental health professional conducts a detailed assessment to learn more about the symptoms the individual is experiencing. They need to know how long these symptoms have been present and collect other information to ensure the proper diagnosis is made.
As part of this assessment, the mental health professional will do a clinical interview. This interview allows them to gather information about the symptoms the individual is experiencing, their relationship struggles, and any concerning behaviors. Family members may be a part of this interview process.
Upon completion of the interview, the mental health professional reviews the diagnostic criteria found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, an individual must have at least five of the nine diagnostic criteria outlined in the manual for this disorder.
The mental health professional will also look for co-occurring conditions. The patient may be depressed, struggle with anxiety, or have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These issues must also be addressed as part of the treatment plan for the best outcome.
Once it has been determined that the individual is struggling with borderline personality disorder, therapy is the recommended treatment. The mental health professional might recommend dialectical behavior therapy, specifically designed for this condition. During the therapy, the individual will learn how to regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, and improve their relationships.
Cognitive behavioral therapy might also be recommended to help the individual learn how to identify and change any negative thought patterns and behaviors they exhibit. Schema-focused therapy might be used in conjunction with other methods to address any deep-seated patterns of thinking and behavior the person has regarding their self-image and relationships with others.
The mental health professional might also recommend lifestyle changes that will help improve the individual’s emotional stability while supporting the therapy. The patient will need a regular sleep routine, exercise, and stress management techniques to keep their symptoms under control. A strong support system is also beneficial in helping the individual recover.
When to Seek Help
A person struggling with borderline personality disorder may not realize they have a problem. They struggle with relationships and often have difficulty completing everyday tasks. However, they believe they can handle the problem on their own.
These individuals need persistent help to overcome their fear of abandonment and relationship struggles. The therapist will help them handle their emotional reactions that are preventing them from completing daily activities. Furthermore, the therapy will address any impulsive or risky behaviors they engage in.
Therapy addresses any feelings of emptiness or worthlessness. The individual learns how to handle intense anger and emotional outbursts in a healthy way. Techniques will be taught to overcome suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviors. For the best outcomes, a patient must be open and honest about their symptoms and the impact of these symptoms on their daily life.
Untreated borderline personality disorder can lead to serious issues for an individual. Early treatment helps these individuals live a higher quality of life, and therapeutic techniques currently used have shown great success in helping them. Any person who is showing signs of this disorder should seek help immediately. The sooner they do so, the sooner they can get their life back on track.