30/05/2024
BORDELINE PERSONALITY DISORDER.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way people feel about themselves and others, making it hard to function in everyday life. It includes a pattern of unstable, intense relationships, as well as impulsiveness and an unhealthy way of seeing themselves. Impulsiveness involves having extreme emotions and acting or doing things without thinking about them first.
People with borderline personality disorder have a strong fear of abandonment or being left alone. Even though they want to have loving and lasting relationships, the fear of being abandoned often leads to mood swings and anger. It also leads to impulsiveness and self-injury that may push others away.
Borderline personality disorder usually begins by early adulthood. The condition is most serious in young adulthood. Mood swings, anger and impulsiveness often get better with age. But the main issues of self-image and fear of being abandoned, as well as relationship issues, go on.
If you have borderline personality disorder, know that many people with this condition get better with treatment. They can learn to live stable, more-fulfilling lives.
Symptoms
Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, relate to others and behave.
Symptoms may include:
- A strong fear of abandonment. This includes going to extreme measures so you're not separated or rejected, even if these fears are made up.
- A pattern of unstable, intense relationships, such as believing someone is perfect one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn't care enough or is cruel.
- Quick changes in how you see yourself. This includes shifting goals and values, as well as seeing yourself as bad or as if you don't exist.
- Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality. These periods can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
- Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, dangerous driving, unsafe s*x, spending sprees, binge eating, drug misuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship.
- Threats of su***de or self-injury, often in response to fears of separation or rejection.
- Wide mood swings that last from a few hours to a few days. These mood swings can include periods of being very happy, irritable or anxious, or feeling shame.
- Ongoing feelings of emptiness.
- Inappropriate, strong anger, such as losing your temper often, being sarcastic or bitter, or physically fighting.
Causes of borderline personality
The causes of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are multifaceted and involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Research indicates that there is no single cause of BPD, but rather a complex interplay of various influences.
1. Genetics: Inherited genes from parents can predispose individuals to developing BPD, as there is evidence suggesting a familial link to the disorder.
2. Brain Chemistry: Individuals with BPD may have abnormalities in neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin, which can impact mood regulation, aggression, and impulse control.
3. Brain Development: Studies using MRI scans have shown that individuals with BPD may have structural and functional differences in brain regions like the amygdala, hippocampus, and orbitofrontal cortex, which are involved in emotion regulation, behavior control, and decision-making. These brain abnormalities may contribute to the symptoms of BPD.
4. Environmental Factors: Various environmental factors have been associated with BPD, including a history of emotional, physical, or s*xual abuse, exposure to long-term fear or distress during childhood, neglect by parents, and growing up in families with members having mental health conditions or substance misuse problems.
Understanding the complex interplay of genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, brain development, and environmental factors is crucial in comprehending the causes of Borderline Personality Disorder. These factors collectively contribute to the development and manifestation of BPD symptoms in individuals.
Borderline personality disorder and substance use disorders.
Drug and alcohol abuse is widespread in people with a borderline personality disorder. Research studies demonstrate that borderline personality disorder frequently co-occurs with substance use disorders, and these relations are apparent in both clinical populations and the general population. Approximately half of those with borderline personality disorder also have at least one current substance use disorder, most commonly alcohol use disorder. Among those with a current substance use disorder, approximately 25% also meet criteria for borderline personality disorder. As for specific substance use disorder diagnoses, those with current opioid, co***ne, and alcohol use disorder most frequently received a borderline personality disorder diagnosis. Researchers believe several factors contribute to this vulnerability:
- A family history of substance abuse or addiction
- The tendency of people with BPD to be impulsive and engage in reckless or self-destructive behaviors
- A desire to self-medicate frequent pain and distress
- Alcohol and drugs can be hazardous in the hands of someone with BPD. These substances may:
- Intensify feelings of rage and other negative emotions
- Increase the risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Increase impulsivity
- Worsen judgment
- Intensify mood swings
Using drugs or alcohol may also cause paranoid ideations, psychotic symptoms, and damage to relationships.
Diagnosing And Treating BPD And Addiction
Diagnosing borderline personality disorder can be difficult as many symptoms overlap with other mental health conditions, such as ADHD and bipolar disorder. Medical professionals use interviews and exams to determine symptoms and their root causes. Because of the impulsive nature of borderline personality disorder, patients with BPD may be resistant to treatment. The treatment process is even more challenging when drugs or alcohol are present. Coordination between an individual’s therapists and medical professionals is needed to keep the patient accountable and on track.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), specifically created for treating borderline personality disorder, is considered the most effective treatment approach for this disorder. . This approach is aimed at building the skills needed to regulate and cope with difficult emotions. Similar to Cognitive Behavior Therapy(CBT), DBT uses talk therapy to manage thoughts and behaviors. The 4 skills developed through DBT include:
Mindfulness: being aware of what is happening in the present moment and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgement.
Distress tolerance: distracting self in stressful situations until calm enough to deal with emotions.
Interpersonal effectiveness: knowing how one feels and what they want to help build fulfilling connections.
Emotional regulation: dealing with reactionary emotions before they can become a chain of distressing secondary emotions.
Get Help Today
Because those with borderline personality disorder struggle to trust and form relationships, seeking treatment may go against natural instincts. It is important to remember the symptoms and outcomes of borderline personality disorder can be heightened when combined with substances. Addiction is a progressive disorder which means the longer one waits to get treatment, the more difficult the process will be. There is help available. Your mental health matters.
Lighthouse Healthcare Limited is a leading provider of general healthcare and rehabilitation services for all. We pride ourselves as one of the few facilities providing advanced quality care to patients with psychiatric conditions and mental health issues including drugs and substance abuse in Kenya.
Reach us via:-
Email - info@lighthousehealthcare.co.ke
Call/Text - 0735706069 or 0758414879
Website - https://lighthousehealthcare.co.ke/
