(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Mental health has to do with one’s cognitive, behavioral and emotional wellbeing, and matters when it comes to a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior. It also refers to the absence of a mental disorder. Mental health has the ability to impact a person’s daily life, including their physical health and their ability to enjoy a happy and meaningful existence. BPD is an example of a mental health issue that affects many people. Let’s learn more about what it is and some of the things that you need to know about BPD.
What is BPD?(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Mental health has to do with one’s cognitive, behavioral and emotional wellbeing, and matters when it comes to a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior. It also refers to the absence of a mental disorder.
According to Psychology Today, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychological disorder in which a person lacks a clear sense of self-definition, has difficulty maintaining boundaries in relationships with others, and may engage in occasional acts of self-harm. This disorder is difficult to diagnose, leaving a person feeling like they are on a roller coaster, characterized by unstable emotions or relationships, or a shaky sense of who they are as an individual. There is a constant feeling of uncertainty because of frequent changes in self-perception, for example, that can cause confusion and a lack of clarity.
Signs and Symptoms of BPD
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can manifest in various ways, but diagnosis requires the presence of a number of symptoms, at least five, and the symptoms must be long-standing, affecting various areas of a person’s life. These symptoms can include but not limited to:
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Fear of Abandonment: A person with BPD can show intense fear of being abandoned or left alone. Going away for a couple of hours could be a trigger. This can result in an overwhelming effort to have the other person remain close, to the point of begging, fighting, physically blocking the person’s path or tracking their movement.
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Unstable Relationships: When it comes to relationships and people with BPD, connections are intense and short-lived. For persons with BPD, the new person becomes their object of affection quickly and the thing they feel can make them whole. It doesn’t matter the type of relationship, there is no middle ground, and the relationship can easily switch from one of idealization to devaluation.
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Shifting Self-image: With BPD comes an unstable sense of self, where one minute the person feels good about himself/herself and horrible the next. It is typical to lack a clear idea of self, and this can translate into uncertainty regarding what that person wants in life. Constantly changing jobs or lovers are manifestations of this symptom.
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Intense Emotional Swings: Typical features of BPD are unstable emotions and moods, where a person feels cheerful one minute and depressed the next. Simple things that appear trivial can send the person into an intense emotional tailspin.
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Chronic Feelings of Emptiness: An overwhelming feeling of emptiness can plague people with BPD. It’s common for such an individual to feel like there’s a void inside them, and as such, try to fill that void, but it seems hopeless because nothing provides satisfaction.
BPD Treatment
BPD is treatable but requires a specialized approach. The majority of people with BPD can and do get better with the right treatment plan and support system. An essential aspect of treating BPD has to do with breaking the dysfunctional patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that is the heart of the problem. It includes calming the emotional storm using mindfulness techniques, controlling impulsivity and tolerating distress, as well as reflecting and acting in new ways to form new habits that promote and maintains emotional balance.
Mental health issues come in different forms and affect individuals differently. BPD can disrupt a person’s life immensely, but the condition can be treated. It requires patience and getting a handle on emotional volatility. In the end, mental health matters and should be preserved.