Symptoms, Treatment, and Support
Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be challenging for individuals and their loved ones. Unfortunately, there is often a lot of negative stigma and misunderstanding surrounding BPD, which can make it even harder for those affected to seek the support they need.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
BPD is a mental health disorder that affects a person’s ability to regulate their emotions, and can often be characterised by unstable moods and relationships, impulsive behaviours, intense emotions and low self-esteem. People with BPD may experience anger, self-harm, mood swings, fear of abandonment and suicidal thoughts. However, it is important to know that with the right support, individuals with BPD can learn to better understand and manage their mental health in the long term.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for BPD
At our practice, we offer individual therapy using skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which is considered as the gold standard treatment for BPD.
Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder and DBT
Your psychologist is clinically trained and will be able to assess for and diagnose BPD.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is made up of four main components, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- Distress tolerance helps individuals cope with intense emotions without turning to harmful behaviors.
- Emotion regulation focuses on identifying and managing emotions in a healthy way.
- Finally, interpersonal effectiveness helps individuals build and maintain positive relationships with others.
Treatment Options for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
DBT has traditionally been run in group therapy sessions, but these can be expensive in the private system or have long waiting periods in the public system. Therefore, working with an individual therapist to learn these skills can be a more accessible and affordable option for many.
Causes and Risk Factors of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition that is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Research suggests that individuals with a family history of BPD or other mental health disorders, childhood trauma, neglect or abuse, and unstable family environments may be at a higher risk for developing the disorder. Additionally, some experts believe that neurobiological factors such as brain structure and function may contribute to the development of BPD. However, it is important to note that not everyone with these risk factors will develop BPD, and not all individuals with BPD have experienced these risk factors. The exact causes of BPD are not fully understood, but a comprehensive assessment by a mental health professional can help to identify potential contributing factors and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
At our practice, we provide a safe and compassionate environment for individuals with BPD to learn and grow, as we appreciate that each person’s journey is unique.
Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Coping Strategies and Support
Through using skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other evidence-based approaches, we help our clients build a strong foundation of coping skills and strategies to manage their symptoms and thrive in their lives. Our goal is to empower individuals with BPD to live full and meaningful lives, despite the challenges they may face.