Orlando Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy & Counseling Treatment in Orlando, East Orlando, Lake Mary, Winter Park & Clermont Florida FL
What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder characterized by difficulty with interpersonal relationships, drama, conflict, impulsive and reckless behavior, many “ups and downs”, and a tendency to see things black and white with no in-between. Someone with BPD will have conflicting views of self and are especially dependent on how others are treating them at the current time. They tend to be unable to control their emotions and unable to function when upset. BPD individuals can be high functioning in the workplace and social setting, but unable to function well in longterm interpersonal relationships. Effective treatments such as talk therapy are available that can help people manage the symptoms of borderline personality disorder.
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How it works: Borderline Personality Disorder Explained
Adults diagnosed with BPD usually have a history of significant childhood traumas such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and/or parental neglect or loss. They often use drugs and alcohol or addictive behaviors such as overeating or excessive shopping to self soothe their feelings of being overwhelmed and insufficient. They are often challenging to get along with and can be very manipulative.
How can I be sure it’s BPD? The DSM-V-TR criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder:
BPD is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotion, as well as marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
- Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
- A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by extremes between idealization and devaluation (also known as “splitting”)
- Identity disturbance: Markedly or persistently unstable self-image or sense of self
- Impulsive behavior in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)
- Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-harming behavior
- Emotional instability in reaction to day-to-day events (e.g., intense episodic sadness, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days)
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
- Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms
What causes a person to develop BPD?
The cause of BPD or Borderline Disorder is unknown; However, Marsha Linehan developed the biosocial theory of Borderline Personality Disorder that sees the cause of BPD as biological factors, social factors, and the interaction between these two factors.
- 75% of people diagnosed with BPD have a history of sexual abuse.
- 10% of people diagnosed with BPD commit suicide.
- 2% of the general population has BPD.
- 75% of those diagnosed are women.
What is the psychotherapy treatment for coping with Borderline Personality Disorder and support for caregivers?
The best way to treat BPD involves the use of medication and psychotherapy (psychological counseling). Most licensed mental health professionals agree that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are the main treatments to help Borderline Personality Disorder. This type of psychotherapy, along with Trauma therapy like EMDR or ART, are the right treatment that have shown to be effective in managing symptoms and improving overall well-being. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a specific type of CBT that was developed by a psychologist named Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s. DBT treatment, one of the many types of psychotherapy, usually consists of weekly sessions with a counselor and group therapy to learn the following skills, making it a highly effective type of therapy for individuals coping with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and providing support for their caregivers.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by a wide range of symptoms that can significantly impact an individual’s life. In addition to mood swings, intense emotions, and negative thoughts, individuals with BPD may also experience unstable relationships, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, distorted self-image, anxiety disorders, substance use disorder, and chronic feelings of emptiness. These symptoms can lead to difficulties in regulating emotions and behaviors, as well as challenges in maintaining stable personal and professional relationships. Seeking therapy and support from mental health professionals is crucial in managing BPD symptoms and improving overall quality of life. The types of therapy needed to best treat BPD should include Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which has been found to be effective in helping individuals with BPD learn healthy coping mechanisms and improve emotional regulation, including inpatient care for those with severe symptoms. With evidence-based treatment, many people with borderline personality disorder experience fewer and less severe symptoms, improved functioning, and better quality of life. It is important for individuals experiencing these symptoms to seek help and not suffer alone.
- Interpersonal effectiveness
- Distress tolerance & Reality acceptance skills
- Emotion regulation
- Mindfulness skills
Although treatment is usually long-term, people can learn to manage BPD and live productive lives.
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Effective Therapies for BPD
It is important to be diagnosed and treated by a professional counselor because many times treatment can require medication, hospital stays, group therapy and family therapy along with individual counseling sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), among other therapies listed below, is an effective treatment:
EFT is a very effective short term therapy used in helping people be free from the intense feelings of trauma.
a method of therapy that pinpoints and addresses an inner issue through clinical hypnosis.
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References:
- American Psychiatric Association. (2002). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
- Linehan, M. M., (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
- Linehan, M. M., (1993). Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder, New York: The Guilford Press.
- Porr, Valerie, (2010). Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder: A Family Guide for Healing and Change. Oxford University Press.
- Author: Crystal Hollenbeck