Sarah is 22 years old, she is standing in front of her bathroom mirror, and she no longer recognizes the girl staring back at her. What was once a happy, playful, innocent child has now become an angry, aggressive, unstable woman who feels unable to control her own emotions. She feels completely and utterly powerless in regards to her own feelings.
Sarah has been seeing the same therapist for seven years, along with a psychiatrist, and they are baffled by what they see. Over the past year alone, Sarah has attempted suicide eight times. She is cutting herself and refuses to eat. This is more than just major depression, and this doesn’t seem to fit the mold of bipolar disorder. Finally, it's determined that she is suffering from borderline personality disorder.
The Effects of Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder affects how people feel about themselves, their relations with other people, and their behaviors. Sufferers often view things in very extremist viewpoints, called black and white thinking, where everything is either good or bad. They may either love someone, or they hate them, but they are completely unable to see the gray. This kind of thinking can lead to aggression, irritability, anger, and depression.
Borderline personality disorder sufferers may act out impulsively, usually in ways that are self-destructive, like engaging in risky sex, drugs, cutting, gambling, or risky driving. The most complex part of the borderline patient is the fact that they fear abandonment to such a high intensity that they will push everyone away before anyone ever has a chance to leave them, but that keeps them in the state of depression they know all too well. It can be a very vicious cycle that seems impossible to break.
Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder
Although scientists are working hard to come up with psychiatric medication aimed to treat the borderline patient, as of right now there is no such pill, but do not lose hope. There are many forms of therapies that have been specifically developed for the borderline patient and have been proven not only to help treat borderline symptoms but to help borderline patients completely recover from the disorder.
Two of these therapies are DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) and TFP (transference-focused therapy). DBT uses skills to help the patient regulate and tolerate their emotions through core mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance. TFP centers on the relationship between the patient and the patient’s therapist, helping him or her gain an understanding of their emotions and the difficulties that develop in his or her relationships.
Recovery from borderline may seem like an arduous process, but it is possible. It is an amazing gift the day one realizes that they are in control of their emotions, and they are not in control of them.
Consult a therapist and/or psychiatrist if you suspect you're suffering from borderline personality disorder or another mental illness.
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Sources
Borderline Personality Disorder Fact Sheet
Kathleen Odenthal - Kathleen Odenthal began her writing career in 2010 with Demand Media Studios, writing as a contributor for eHow. After that, she branched ...
