Borderline Personality Disorder

A path forward with borderline personality disorder  

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition marked by a range of emotions, behaviors, and relationships that might feel overwhelming at times. It's like navigating a ship in stormy waters, where your emotions can change quickly and feel very intense. People with borderline personality disorder might have a hard time staying steady in their relationships, have a shaky sense of who they are, and find it hard to manage their feelings without hurting themselves or others. It's important to know you're not alone and help is available.

Seeking care is a critical step forward. Borderline personality disorder can be treated, often with talk therapy, helping you build the skills needed for a more stable and fulfilling life. 

Borderline personality disorder care at Reid Health

At Reid Health, we understand navigating borderline personality disorder can be challenging, not just for the person experiencing it but also for their loved ones. We’re dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care close to home.

Behavioral health specialists located in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio offer outpatient therapy and medication management, if needed, so you can manage your symptoms. In the event of a psychiatric crisis, our inpatient treatment program in Richmond offers hospital-level care until you or your loved one stabilizes.  

Have peace of mind in knowing you can get the care you need for borderline personality disorder right here in our community. 

What is borderline personality disorder?

Borderline personality disorder, sometimes called emotionally unstable personality disorder, is a personality disorder that causes problems with how people manage their emotions. People with the condition feel intense emotions, such as fear or anger, for long periods, and they might have a hard time getting “back to normal.” 

The condition’s most notable symptom is extreme mood swings. Sometimes, the mood swings can cause impulsive behaviors and even lead people to attempt suicide.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelines for 24/7 confidential support. 

Borderline personality disorder and how it impacts daily life can make it difficult to maintain relationships, handle normal daily activities, or complete work or school responsibilities. 

Types of borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder can cause a range of emotions, and although there’s no clinical definition of types, mental health professionals sometimes group the condition into subtypes based on those emotions:

• Discouraged borderline personality disorder: People with this type experience intense fears of being abandoned, which can lead to significant emotional distress and relationship challenges.  
• Impulsive borderline personality disorder: This type is characterized by chaotic emotions, including distraction and hyperactivity, that often lead to risky behaviors such as cutting or binge eating. Additionally, there are strong desires for instant satisfaction and very low impulse control, which can exacerbate these behaviors.
• Petulant borderline personality disorder: Those with this condition exhibit unpredictable mood swings and passive-aggressive behavior, often stemming from a strong need to be in control of their environment and relationships.
• Self-destructive borderline personality disorder: Those with this type typically struggle with low self-esteem, which can manifest in harmful behaviors such as substance misuse, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. 

Diagnosing borderline personality disorder 

If you’re experiencing intense mood swings or other symptoms that might be related to borderline personality disorder, let your primary care provider know.  

Because certain underlying health conditions can cause symptoms similar to borderline personality disorder, your primary care provider might also use blood, urine, or imaging tests to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.  

Your primary care provider can then refer you to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed clinical social worker, for a diagnosis and treatment.  

To diagnose borderline personality disorder, a mental health professional will perform a thorough psychological evaluation. During this evaluation, your provider will ask you questions about your symptoms, their severity, and how they affect your lifestyle and relationships. In some cases, they might ask your family members and friends about your thoughts and behaviors. 

To be diagnosed with BPD, you need to exhibit at least five of the nine criteria (symptoms) identified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These criteria include:

• Affective instability (rapid shifts in mood lasting for anywhere from hours to a few days)  
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
• Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger
• Patterns of unstable relationships
• Persistently unstable sense of self or self-image
• Self-damaging impulsivity  
• Self-harm or recurrent suicidal behavior
• Stress-related paranoid thoughts or dissociation

Borderline personality disorder treatments at Reid Health

Our behavioral health specialists can help you navigate borderline personality disorder and any other mental health conditions you have with a combination of treatments designed for you.

Your provider might prescribe medications to manage specific symptoms, including depression, anxiety, or impulsivity. But many people with borderline personality disorder can manage the condition successfully with therapy.  

Types of therapy used for borderline personality disorder include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of psychotherapy is designed to help people with borderline personality disorder identify and change beliefs and behaviors that are based on a false sense of self or other people.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Also a type of psychotherapy, DBT focuses on developing skills for managing emotions, improving relationships, and reducing self-harm. 

Inpatient treatment for borderline personality disorder

In most cases, people with borderline personality disorder receive outpatient treatment in a medical office setting. In some cases, however, a short-term hospital stay might be needed.  

Inpatient care in a hospital setting might be recommended for severe symptoms, such as if you feel intense, recurrent urges to harm yourself or experience other crisis situations. If you require inpatient care, you’ll be discharged from the hospital after your condition stabilizes, allowing you to continue your long-term care on an outpatient basis. 

Fighting the stigma

Stigmas around seeking help for certain thoughts and behaviors can prevent people from getting the much-needed, and potentially lifesaving, care they need. If you or a loved one has symptoms of borderline personality disorder, call us today. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which operates 24/7.