How To Deal With Borderline Personality Disorder? Find Out Here

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most misdiagnosed mental illnesses, generally defined by out-of-control emotions, unstable relationships, impulsive actions, and a tenuous sense of self. Although it is overwhelming at times, for the individual experiencing it and those who care about them, careful management and support can do wonders. 

In an exclusive interaction with the editorial team of Onlymyhealth, Dr Vikram Vora, Medical Director and Chief Health Officer (Indian Subcontinent), International SOS, explained that through a proper mix of therapy, lifestyle modification, and comprehension, people with BPD can have satisfying, stable, and meaningful lives. Read ahead to know what he shared with us.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

“Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental illness that influences the way an individual thinks and feels about himself/herself and other people. It usually starts during early adulthood and can be precipitated or exacerbated by childhood trauma, abuse, or troubled family relations,” he noted. BPD individuals can have intense mood shifts, fear abandonment, persistent feelings of emptiness, self-injurious behaviour, and trouble trusting others.

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BPD does not imply that a person is broken or irreparable. Instead, it suggests that their emotional reactions are more extreme and harder to control, usually because of biological and environmental influences. Recognising this difference is the most important part of being sympathetic to someone who has the condition.

How To Deal With Borderline Personality Disorder

BPD management needs a systematic and multidisciplinary approach through professional therapy, life adjustments, and robust support from family and friends. These are the best expert-approved ways for coping with it:

1. Get Professional Assistance Early

Therapy is the foundation of BPD treatment. Of several therapies, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is most effective. DBT educates patients about emotional regulation, tolerance of distress, mindfulness, and interpersonal skills, techniques that enable patients to manage their extremes of emotions and relationships.

“Other forms of therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy, are also useful in recognising and modifying negative thought patterns. In certain situations, antidepressants or other medications might be prescribed by psychiatrists for co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety,” he said.

2. Practice Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation

Mindfulness enables people to witness their emotions without responding on impulse. Daily mindfulness activities, such as deep breathing, meditation, or writing in a journal, can enhance awareness and self-regulation. Practising stopping and naming feelings before responding to them minimises emotional outbursts and impulsive actions.

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3. Develop Healthy Relationships and Boundaries

For individuals with BPD, relationships tend to oscillate between idealisation and devaluation extremes. It's important to learn to express needs clearly, not assume, and set boundaries. Understanding friends, relatives, and partners can play a big role when they learn about the condition and react empathetically instead of judgmentally.

4. Develop Coping Strategies

Having personalised coping strategies, e.g., grounding exercises, creative expression (e.g., art or music), or exercise, helps in managing feelings. Physical activities such as yoga or walking may release endorphins, which encourage a feeling of calmness and stability.

5. Support Groups

Dr Vora highlighted that finding others who share similar issues can give validation and hope. Peer-facilitated or therapist-facilitated support groups give a protected place to discuss experiences, gain new perspectives, and learn about other people's coping strategies.

6. Keep an Organised Routine

Symptoms of BPD can become worse when under stress or uncertainty. Establishing a routine for sleep, eating, work, and relaxation keeps emotions in balance. Resting well and eating properly are also essential in stabilising mood swings.

Bottomline

Borderline Personality Disorder is tough, but not impossible. With therapy, support, and self-awareness, people can have emotionally healthy and productive lives. Compassion, inward and outward, is the key to healing.