The Borderline Personality Disorder Guide

Borderline Personality Disorder Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

2007-12-13T00:54:00.001-08:00

Borderline personality disorder (BPD is a common disorder with estimates running as high as 10-14% of the general population. Social factors in BPD reflect many of the problems of modern society. Borderline personality disorder affects approximately 2% of the general population. About 75% of those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are females. Treatment includes psychotherapy which allows the patient to talk about both present difficulties and past experiences in the presence of an empathetic, accepting and non-judgemental therapist.

Sometimes medications such as antidepressants, lithium carbonate, or antipsychotic medication are useful for certain patients or during certain times in the treatment of individual patients. Brief hospitalization may sometimes be necessary during acutely stressful episodes or if suicide or other self-destructive behavior threatens to erupt. The goals of treatment could include increased self-awareness with greater impulse control and increased stability of relationships. A positive result would be in one's increased tolerance of anxiety. Therapy should help to alleviate psychotic or mood-disturbance symptoms and generally integrate the whole personality.

Causes of Borderline Personality Disorder

Common Causes and Risk factors of Borderline Personality Disorder

Genetics.

Environmental factors.

Brain abnormalities.

Social factors

Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Sign and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood.

Chronic feelings of emptiness.

Fear of being alone.

Difficulty controlling emotions or impulses.

Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Common Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Treatment includes psychotherapy which allows the patient to talk about both present difficulties and past experiences in the presence of an empathetic, accepting and non-judgemental therapist.

Sometimes medications such as antidepressants, lithium carbonate, or antipsychotic medication are useful for certain patients or during certain times in the treatment of individual patients.

Brief hospitalization may sometimes be necessary during acutely stressful episodes or if suicide or other self-destructive behavior threatens to erupt. Hospitalization may provide a a temporary removal from external stress.

Outpatient treatment is usually difficult and long-term - sometimes over a number of years. Therapy should help to alleviate psychotic or mood-disturbance symptoms and generally integrate the whole personality.

Juliet Cohen writes health articles for health diseases and disorders. She also writes articles on women beauty tips.

Borderline Personality Disorder Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

2007-12-13T00:54:00.000-08:00

Causes of Borderline Personality Disorder

Common Causes and Risk factors of Borderline Personality Disorder

Genetics.

Environmental factors.

Brain abnormalities.

Social factors

Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Sign and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood.

Chronic feelings of emptiness.

Fear of being alone.

Difficulty controlling emotions or impulses.

Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Common Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Treatment includes psychotherapy which allows the patient to talk about both present difficulties and past experiences in the presence of an empathetic, accepting and non-judgemental therapist.

Sometimes medications such as antidepressants, lithium carbonate, or antipsychotic medication are useful for certain patients or during certain times in the treatment of individual patients.

Juliet Cohen writes health articles for health diseases and disorders. She also writes articles on women beauty tips.

ecognizing a Borderline Personality Disorder

2007-12-13T00:53:00.000-08:00

In this article I will discuss how to recognize an emerging borderline personality disorder. The definition of this disorder is that a person suffering from borderline personality fears being abandoned and will seek out ways to prevent this. They may use self-manipulation by slashing arms or legs; they may overdose repeatedly, exhibit sexual promiscuity, addictions and other self-destructive behaviors.

They experience feelings known as “splitting.” They see a people as being only “good” one day and only “bad” the next. They are unable to distinguish that there is both bad and good in everyone.

Recognition of borderline personality disorder has been established since the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual, 3rd Edition (a diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals), included it in 1980. However, characteristics of the disorder have been acknowledged since as far back as 1930.

Development of Borderline Personality Disorder

When a symptom such as the inability to meet developmental demands of separation and individuation are evident, the person with borderline personality disorder has then obviously shown that they are unable to integrate external relationships and internal representation. This is just one of the many symptoms which may develop in these personalities; some others are impulse control problems, chronic anxiety and a number of other defenses.

Aspects of Borderline Personality Disorder Behaviors

The most severely affected individuals are those who have difficulty establishing relationships. These individuals become lonely, depressed and angry with others. They may experience periods of psychosis mixed with periods of inappropriate maladaptive behaviors. One of the most typical borderline styles can be described as a person who searches for companionship and affection. They become anxious and angry during relationships retreating and then feeling loneliness and depression. They show little real affection towards anyone.

Others can become isolated or withdrawn; they wait to be identified, behaving in a fashion similar to someone whom they are attached. Finally, some people with borderline personality disorder are able to develop relationships; however they still lack consistent identity and giving. They develop self-oriented relationships, characterized by whining, crying and dependency.

According to cognitive-behavioral perspectives the borderline tends to dichotomize their thinking about themselves and other people. For example, they think in terms of "all or nothing". The socio-cultural perspective states that the pressures of society on family and individual cause dysfunctional family problems. Humanistic perspective explains that the individual is incapable of reaching self-actualization because needs are not motivated; therefore, growth and development are restricted.

The person with the disorder struggles as well as the person’s family and friends. Those dealing with the individual with borderline personality disorder also need support from professionals and/ or from each other.

If you recognize any of these symptoms of a borderline personality disorder in yourself or someone else it is important to seek out a professional who is able to help this type of person lead a more productive life.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Author: Connie Limon. Visit is at http://www.selfimprovementbook1.com and sign up for our FREE bi-weekly newsletter. Self Improvement Book is a guide to information about self improvement, personal growth and self help. It is an organized directory referencing information found in other websites on the World Wide Web.

Borderline Personality Disorder

2007-12-13T00:52:00.000-08:00

There are many different psychiatric disorders out there that people suffer from. One particular psychiatric disorder that I found interesting is Borderline Personality Disorder. This disorder is categorized as a personality disorder. As with many personality disorders, there are a lot of different reasons that the symptoms of this disorder can occur. Psychologists believe that this disorder begins at childhood or at adolescence since the symptoms of it last for a long time. The negative effects of these symptoms might not be seen until the sufferer of the disorder is an adult.

The symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder are usually clearly noticed during adolescence, and especially by the time the sufferer is a young adult. A person suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder may also have a record of unstable relationships in their life. Also, there is a very high chance that the sufferer of the disorder has gone through violence in their family, neglect, and sexual abuse when they were a child. Borderline Personality Disorder is diagnosed more in females than in males, and I believe that the reason for this is maybe because females are usually abused more often than males, hence why there is a high chance that the sufferer has gone through abuse as a child. Another reason that I think this disorder is diagnosed in females more often might be because females are more likely to go and get treated than males. This disorder can affect a person’s life and make it hard for them to function properly in the society, with their friends, family, and with anyone they have a relationship with.

The symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder can negatively affect a person’s relationships, mood, and self image. This disorder causes people to have a bad or critical self judgment, to be very impulsive, to have unstable relationships, and to constantly have changing moods. The sufferer’s life is severely affected by this disorder since they are constantly afraid of being abandoned, and to counteract this feeling one would attach themselves to others quickly, feel helpless, often feel needy, and become involved in other people’s lives.

When the sufferer feels as if they can’t handle the fear of abandonment, they would drive people out of their lives so that they can avoid getting rejected by them. They would then try everything in their power to make the people come back into their lives, and the cycle continues when they become helpless and needy all over again. People who share a relationship with a person suffering from this disorder are often forced to leave the person because they can’t deal with their actions.

Once they leave them, the sufferer then feels worthless, unloved, and needy, and their distorted belief about themselves being worthless and unwanted is even more perpetuated. If this cycle continues, one might begin to contemplate suicide, fake that they will commit suicide in order to get attention and be “rescued”, try to lure people back into their life, purposely cut themselves, and engage in other self-harming methods. One might feel depressed, as well as become angry at themselves and others. They might also have a hard time managing any chaotic behavior. A person who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder must get treatment in order to live a healthy, normal life. People do not enjoy living with a disorder, and they want to change in order to function more properly as successful adults in their society.

When it comes to treating a person with this disorder, it takes a long time before the person gets better since this disorder usually affects an individual for a long time, altering their ability to live a normal life and allowing them to create bad habits as a result of their condition. Psychologists believe that insight oriented therapy is helpful to a person with Borderline Personality Disorder, however more recent research favors cognitive behavioral therapy to be more effective. With cognitive behavioral therapy, a person’s thoughts and actions are recorded by the sufferer as well as a therapist. Once their thoughts and actions are recorded, a plan is created for the person according to the behaviors that they present. The plan, if followed, should alleviate the negative thoughts and actions of the individual suffering from the disorder. To be even more effective, therapy can include both methods, however both methods take up a lot of time, and most importantly, effort. The individual must be willing to follow through with the treatments if they want them to be effective, for the disorder has a higher chance of recurring if the individual discontinues treatments.

Once the treatment for the disorder is administered, a prognosis would then be hypothesized, however, it is very hard to come up with a prognosis. If the patient follows his or her treatment plan, then with time, progress can be seen and the patient eventually will start to change his or her habits and bad behaviors. Bad habits, a person’s personality, and behaviors, especially when done for a long time, are all hard to change significantly. However, with time and effort, one’s bad behaviors can at least be alleviated so that they can live a healthy, more normal life. In order for one who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder to get better, long term treatment is strongly recommended. If one wants to get better, they must hang in there with their treatments, and with time their bad behaviors will change, thus allowing them to live a comfortable life.