Borderline Personality Disorder is a personality disorder (character pathology) characterized by emotional instability, difficulties in maintaining relationships, and a distorted self-image. People living with this condition often struggle to control impulsive behaviors and experience a fear of abandonment.
Signs and symptoms:
- Emotional Instability: Intense emotions that can last for minutes, hours, or even days.
- Fear of Abandonment: Extreme efforts to avoid real or imagined rejection or social exclusion.
- Unstable Relationships: Difficulties in relationships that often swing between idealization and instability.
- Impulsive Behavior: Risky actions, such as excessive spending, substance abuse, or irresponsible behavior.
- Distorted Self-Esteem: A loss of self-identity or a constant feeling of emptiness.
- Anger and Irritability: Difficulty controlling anger, which can lead to outbursts or irritability.
- Self-Harm or Suicidal Behavior: Recurrent thoughts or actions related to self-harm or suicide.
What causes borderline personality disorder?
The exact cause is unknown, but it may be caused by a combination of the following factors:
- Genetics: A family history of borderline personality disorder or other mental disorders increases the risk.
- Brain dysfunction: Chemical imbalance in the brain responsible for emotion regulation and impulse control.
- Childhood experience: Trauma, neglect, or abuse during childhood.
How does borderline personality disorder affect everyday life?
Like all personality disorders, it prevents a person from having a harmonious relationship with their environment. It makes it difficult to maintain stable relationships, achieve long-term goals, and cope with stress. People with this condition often feel misunderstood, which leads to isolation or the breakdown of relationships.
Treatment:
psychotherapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Specifically designed for borderline personality disorder, it helps with emotion regulation, improving relationships, and reducing self-harm.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps in changing negative thoughts and controlling behavior.
Medical treatment
Group Therapy and Peer Support:
Group sessions provide a sense of friendship and mutual understanding, which helps individuals overcome feelings of loneliness.
Lifestyle changes:
Regular physical activity, meditation, and stress management techniques.
How to help?
Support, proper information, destigmatization, and providing advice about treatment can lead to the development of motivation and hope in overcoming the problem.
Author: Elene Gogokia
Editors: Guga Sikharulidze, Mariam Akhmeteli