Wise Choices for You & Your Family
26
WHAT IS:
(BPD) BORDERLINE
PERSONALITY DISORDER
A medical professional diagnoses BPD by first doing an exam
to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing the
symptoms and then by interviewing the patient about his
symptoms. Collecting a family history of mental illness
is a part of the diagnosis. Though a cause for BPD has not
been identified yet, the risk factors for developing BPD may
include having a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed
with BPD. Researchers have also identified changes in brain
structure in the portions of the brain that regulate impulses
and emotions, though it is unknown if the changes cause BPD
or are a result of it. Environmental factors, such as traumatic
experiences, may also be involved in the development of BPD.
People with BPD often report that they were abandoned or
abused as children.
A person with BPD often has other mental health conditions,
such as bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. The main
treatment for BPD is psychotherapy provided by a trained
medical professional. Someone with BPD may be hospitalized
if he needs more intense therapy or to prevent self- harm. The
family of someone with BPD can help their loved one recover
by providing plenty of caring support during the treatment.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a form of mental
illness. Characteristics of this condition include unstable
moods and behavior and the inability to maintain stable
relationships. People with BPD may act in an impulsive
manner and don’t have a very stable view of their selfworth.
Due to the instability in emotions and view of
self, a person with BPD may consider a friend or family
member to be someone he feels close to one day and
strongly dislikes the next day. The unstable view of self
may cause someone with BPD to feel empty and lost,
without a clear sense of what he wants or his purpose in
life. In addition, someone with BPD may have a strong fear
of abandonment. Risky or suicidal behavior is a common
symptom of BPD, along with self- harming behavior.
HOO’s Healthy
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