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If you deal with emotions in a way that is harmful to yourself, and have difficulties with relationships, you may have a personality disorder. Here we explain what borderline is and how to get help.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EIPS). It is a mental illness and personality disorder characterised by significant emotional instability, intense relationships with others and a strong fear of abandonment. People with BPD may experience rapid and extreme mood swings, and their self-image may also be unstable.
This is a severe condition that often involves self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse. If you have these problems, you should speak to your GP for a referral to specialist psychiatry, In case of severe suicidal thoughts, you should call 111 immediately.
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Personality disorders, or personality syndromes, are psychological conditions that affect an individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a way that differs significantly from societal norms.
The causes of borderline personality disorder are not entirely clear, but may be a combination of genetic, biological and environmental factors, including early trauma such as sexual abuse.
There doesn’t have to be trauma, but there are also theories that the way people are treated growing up, if parents have had a lack of empathy and mirroring the child emotionally so that they feel seen and heard, can contribute to the problem.
In adolescence, there may be symptoms similar to borderline as this period involves an exploration of identity, but these symptoms usually resolve themselves. With borderline, however, the symptoms are more persistent but they also tend to improve as you get older.
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Approximately 1% of the UK population suffers with with BPD.
There are several symptoms of borderline. It is important to note that the severity and prevalence of symptoms can vary greatly between individuals. In addition, there may be co-morbidity with other mental health conditions, such as ADHD, autism, depression, eating disorders and PTSD, which can affect the expression of the profile. Diagnosis and treatment should be done by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. Here are some of the main symptoms and characteristics of borderline personality disorder:
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Personality disorders are often diagnosed by specialist psychiatrists through a personality assessment. This involves taking an initial medical history to review the background to the symptoms and completing assessment forms. A structured diagnostic interview and an interview with family members are then carried out to see how the symptoms manifest themselves in different areas. You will often see both a doctor and a psychologist, and the assessment may include a blood test to rule out an underlying medical cause.
Treatment for BPD usually involves a combination of psychotherapy, medication (to manage co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety) and self-help strategies. Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) is a form of therapy specifically developed to treat borderline and has been shown to be particularly effective. MBT, which is short for mentalisation-based therapy, is also helpful for borderline.
An important part of the treatment is mindfulness to manage emotions, but other strategies and tools are also used to increase self-understanding and improve the ability to manage emotions.
Be careful with boundaries: It is important to set clear boundaries to protect yourself and your own psychological well-being.
Seek professional help: It is not your job to diagnose or treat someone. Let this be handled by qualified healthcare providers.
Try not to judge: A personality disorder is a medical diagnosis and not a character flaw. It does not always excuse a person’s behavior, but it can explain it. Try to have an empathetic attitude.
Be aware of your own needs: Take care of yourself and seek support, either from friends, family or a professional therapist or psychologist.
Approaching the topic of personality disorder can feel overwhelming, but we are here to make the hard part easier. When you feel it’s time to talk to a psychologist or therapist, simply book an online session with us. Whenever you take that first step, our experienced team is always ready to help you or your loved ones.
A personality disorder is an enduring pattern of behaviour, worldview, and inner experience that is markedly different from what is expected of those around you. This is because personality disorders can affect one’s ability to relate to others and function effectively in everyday life.
Yes, borderline personality disorder is one of several types. It is a mental illness characterised by significant emotional instability, intense interpersonal relationships and a strong fear of abandonment.
A borderline diagnosis is usually carried out by a psychiatrist or psychologist and involves a detailed diagnostic interview and family interview.
Treatment usually involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Recommended psychotherapy is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Mentalisation-Based Therapy (MBT).
If you have experienced trauma and have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it is important to get a thorough assessment and treatment for your PTSD symptoms. It is possible to get help with trauma as part of the treatment.
Personality disorders are largely caused by environmental influences during childhood, so there are things you can do to prevent unhealthy personality development if you have children. Personality disorders mainly manifest themselves in adulthood, so consult a child psychologist if necessary or adult psychiatry if you think you may have a personality disorder as a parent.
DBT is a later development of CBT but they are based on the same foundation of learning theory and thoughts, feelings and behaviors. DBT also includes more mindfulness-based elements that have been inspired by Zen Buddhism.
It is equally common for men and women to be diagnosed with borderline, with about 1% of the population having it. However, it is much more common for women to seek care and receive DBT, about 75% of patients are women.
Emotionally Unstable Personality Syndrome is also known as borderline, but EIPS is often used in healthcare due to the stigma of the term borderline. EIPS is used in the ICD diagnostic manual while borderline personality disorder is described in the DSM-5 diagnostic manual.
The most important step is to encourage the person to seek professional help. You can also offer emotional support, but remember that you are not a substitute for qualified care.
No, you can’t force someone to undergo therapeutic treatment. It is rarely a good idea to force someone into therapy. A person needs to understand that they need to work on themselves. However, in cases of severe self-harm and suicidality, compulsory treatment can be given, but this is decided by a doctor in inpatient care.
If you think you need treatment, contact your GP for a referral to psychiatry. Lavendla also has a team of licensed psychologists who can help you with an initial assessment and make further referrals. If you have acute suicidal thoughts, call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk immediately.