Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Individuals with borderline personality disorder often experience intense and turbulent relationships, characterized by alternating idealization and devaluation of their loved ones. Borderline personality disorder symptoms may include intense mood swings, which can be triggered by relatively minor events, leading to feelings of anger, sadness, and anxiety. Engaging in risky behaviors like substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving, or unsafe sexual practices is common among individuals with BPD. BPD sufferers may have a distorted sense of self, experiencing periods of feeling empty, uncertain about their identity, or exhibiting unstable self-esteem. Due to a deep fear of being abandoned or rejected, people with BPD may go to great lengths to avoid real or imagined abandonment, which can lead to emotional reactivity or clinginess. Some individuals with BPD resort to self-harm or suicidal behaviors as a means of coping with their emotional pain or to get attention.

Borderline personality disorder treatment is primarily done with psychotherapy, specifically Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT helps individuals regulate emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and develop mindfulness skills. While there are no specific medications approved for BPD, certain medications, such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics, may target specific symptoms of BPD, such as depression, anxiety, or impulsivity. Supportive group therapy, such as DBT skills groups or general therapy groups, can provide a safe space for individuals with BPD to share experiences, learn from others, and develop better coping strategies. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary, especially during periods of suicidal ideation or self-harm, to ensure the safety of the individual.