Borderline personality disorder: Understanding causes, symptoms and treatment
You must have experienced unstable emotions, insecurity, and self-doubt - borderline personality disorder (BPD) is an intense version of that. BPD causes confusion in every emotion, affecting mood, thinking, behavior, relationships, and even identity. They can be easily triggered by small things. To help you understand more about this disorder, here's a comprehensive guide about the symptoms, causes, and available treatment options.
What is borderline personality disorder?
BPD is a complex condition characterized by how a person feels about themselves and others. Struggling with high emotional instability, people with BPD experience dissociation and paranoia when most distressed - causing relationship turmoil. The inability to self-soothe can lead to impulsive, risky behavior such as gambling, reckless driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating, or drug abuse, among others.
Indicators of BPD
A pattern of erratic, intense connections is seen, such as suddenly believing someone is nasty or uncaring while the next instant idealizing them. Rapid shifts in aims and values, as well as a negative or nonexistent perception of oneself, might affect one's self-identity and self-image. Suicidal threats, actions, or self-harm, frequently brought on by a fear of being abandoned or rejected is another symptom.
What causes BPD?
BPD may result from genetics, abnormalities in the brain, environmental circumstances, or all three. It is difficult to predict who will develop it due to the large range of possible risk factors. One major cause observed is early childhood trauma such as child abuse or neglect. Some research suggests genetic inheritance may be linked with other mental disorders among other family members.
Mostly occurs in early adulthood
Borderline personality disorder is usually seen in early adulthood. Young adulthood seems to be when the problem gets worse, and it may progressively become better as people age. Don't give up if you have borderline personality disorder. With treatment, many persons with this disease become better over time and can learn to lead fulfilling lives.
BPD does not occur alone
BPD often occurs with other mental illnesses. A person with borderline personality disorder, for instance, may also be more susceptible to major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, or eating disorders. The diagnosis and treatment of BPD become more challenging, particularly when the symptoms of the co-occurring disorders coincide with it.
How can it be treated?
Some people with borderline personality disorder may need intensive, often inpatient, care to manage severe symptoms, while others may be able to manage their symptoms with outpatient care. Psychotherapy is the main treatment for people with BPD and medication isn't usually the primary method of treatment. However, psychiatrists may sometimes prescribe medicine to treat particular symptoms or co-occurring mental disorders like depression.
