Borderline Personality Disorder: Is it just a trend?
Written by: Carly Braswell, Graduate Student Intern
Photo by Joshua Fuller
Borderline Personality Disorder is described as having polarizing thinking, good versus bad, all or nothing, black and white situations. This can lead to extreme moods and unstable relationships in one’s life.
Gabriela has been on social media and TikTok lately and has begun noticing she relates to a trend that is shedding light on what it is like to have Borderline Personality Disorder, also known as BPD. She has had a long history of unstable and intense moods that have also reflected her relationships. In her relationships with her loved ones she finds that she withdraws and react in the extreme to something most wouldn’t react to. She often fears that these people will abandon her. This could be an indication of BPD because of the polarizing thoughts of black and white and all or nothing. Gabriela also has struggled with impulsivity like spending large sums of money, sex, substance abuse, and binge eating. She has a very poor self-image of herself.
She has felt disconnected and confused, feeling that life shouldn’t be this way but not understanding what it is. Seeing that other people feel this way and have a name for it encouraged her to talk to her doctor who referred her to a psychiatrist. After some assessments Gabriela was diagnosed with BPD. She found clarity in having a name to put on these intense feelings she had and the challenges she had been struggling with for a long time.
Symptoms of BPD
Fear of abandonment
Pattern of unstable and intense relationships
Negative self-image or struggles with sense of self
Impulsivity that can be self-damaging
Suicidal ideation, behavior, attempts, or self-harm behavior
Feelings of emptiness
Difficulty controlling intense, sudden anger and increase in irritability
Is BPD just a trend?
BPD effects 1.6% to 5.9% of the US, which estimates a minimum of about 4 million people. The growing presence of it on the internet has connected those with similar with struggles as well as spreading awareness for those who don’t know about it, who have loved ones with BPD, and may even reach those who can relate and need to seek care. The ‘trend’ of pointing out specific disorders brings important awareness to mental health disorders that have been stigmatized in the past.
5 Ways to Manage BPD Challenges:
1. Seek Mental Healthcare
It can be helpful to reflect upon your own health and see that you relate to a diagnosis you read about. The importance of this realization is to seek professional consultation. By reaching out to a psychiatrist or a psychologist you can undergo an assessment that will provide you with the answers.
2. Educate Yourself
Being able to acknowledge your symptoms and areas of growth can help build awareness which assist in treating your symptoms. By educating yourself on BPD and reaching out to those who also struggle with the symptoms you can better understand yourself and disorder.
3. Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is one of the most common treatments and focuses on 4 main areas: emotional regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. Working in these areas have been proven to lessen symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. Ask you therapist and/or psychiatrist about your treatment options.
4. Develop Coping Skills
With intense emotions you find difficult to manage as well as thoughts of hurting yourself developing a strong toolbox of coping skills can assist in getting you through those difficult times. Everyone has different coping skills that work for them such as exercise, art, music, talking to friends/family, or meditation. Explore your options and come up with multiple skills you can fall back on in difficult times.
5. Find Your Support
Developing a solid support system of friends, family, and loved ones can help in managing the challenges you are facing. It helps to communicate to them what you struggle with so they may be able to understand where you are coming from and how they can help.
You’ve read come to end of the blog and you really related to Gabriela but are not diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. It’s ok to feel this way and relate to all the things you see online like Facebook and/or TikTok. Self-diagnosis can be dangerous and its advised you seek out a psychiatrist for an official diagnosis. Having a name for your struggles can give you the relief of the unknown and set you on the path of treatment and living your best life.
If you or a loved one fits this description check out these books:
Schedule a Session at Restoring Hope Counseling Today.
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