Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a chronic, mental health disorder. It is a complex psychological condition that is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, emotions, behaviors, and interpersonal relationships. This instability interferes with one’s ability to function in his or her daily life, long-term planning, as well as an individual’s sense of identity. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options available for a person diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Still, having a diagnosis of and living with BDP can be challenging. Therefore, it can be helpful to bear the following in mind:
- You are not manipulative or attention-seeking: A hallmark symptom of BPD is to experience a rapid onset of intense emotions. As a result, people with this condition can quickly become extremely distressed. When someone with BPD is upset, it is because they are genuinely distressed and struggling to cope with those feelings, while trying to manage an incredibly complex mental health condition. You deserve to have your distress listened to, respected, validated, and taken seriously.
- You are loveable and can be in a healthy relationship: Relationships can feel like a whirlwind at times, because when someone with BPD, especially those struggling with chronic feelings of emptiness or loneliness, develops a real connection, the intensity is akin to any other emotion they experience. Your BPD, emotional sensitivity or mental health difficulties do not mean there is something unlovable about you. On the flip side, people with BPD have a lot of love to give, so much that it can be overwhelming. People with BPD can have successful long-term relationships, lasting for decades.
- Do not believe everything you read: The is an array of content, across all entertainment platforms (e.g., websites, videos, movies, podcasts, etc.) that depict people with BPD in a negative light (e.g., abusers, monsters, bullies, etc.). Additionally, some books and research papers portray people with BPD as helpless, vengeful, or vindictive. Whilst mental health ailments are becoming better understood and more accurately represented, this shift seems to be occurring much more slowly for personality disorders, such as BPD, and the stigma continues to cause detrimental consequences.
- You did not cause BPD: Although the cause of borderline personality disorder remains unknown, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) alludes to research that “suggests that genetics, brain structure and function, and environmental, cultural, and social factors play a role, or may increase the risk for developing borderline personality disorder.”
- You are not alone: Borderline personality disorder is not an uncommon disorder, as an 1.4% of the adult population in America experience BPD.
Treatment In Calabasas
Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
