Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a chronic mental health disorder that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). BPD is explained as a mental health condition “in which a person has long-term patterns of unstable or turbulent emotions… [and] these inner experiences often result in impulsive actions and chaotic relationships with other people.” Setting boundaries is crucial in the recovery process for individuals with BPD. While boundaries are vital, they are not always easy to establish, and respecting boundaries can be particularly challenging for people BPD and those close to them. Personal boundaries are physical, mental, and emotional limits and rules that people set for themselves to safeguard their overall well-being. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation explains:
- Healthy boundaries: help people define who they are to ensure relationships are mutually safe, supportive, and respectful.
- Unhealthy boundaries: are thoughts or behaviors used to manipulate or control relationships.
Boundaries create a standard by which one’s self-worth and integrity is communicated and are, therefore, based on one’s personal values and needs. There are a variety of reasons why setting boundaries in borderline personality disorder recovery is important. Setting boundaries is a form of self-care that involves prioritizing one’s own needs and well-being, which is essential for anyone but particularly important for individuals recovering from BPD.
Individuals with BPD often struggle with intense and rapidly changing emotions. Boundaries provide predictability and stability that can help regulate these emotions and prevent emotional dysregulation. BPD often involves tumultuous relationships due to fear of abandonment and difficulty trusting others. Setting boundaries can foster healthier, more stable connections with others, reducing the chaos and volatility in relationships. Boundaries help create a sense of expectedness and structure, which can mitigate the instability often associated with BPD, reducing stress and anxiety. Establishing boundaries can help individuals with BPD develop a clearer sense of self. By defining their limits, values, and priorities, individuals with BPD can build a stronger and more stable self-identity and develop improved self-esteem. Further, learning to set and enforce boundaries can inspire personal growth and enhance self-confidence.
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.
