Is Borderline Personality Disorder A Serious Mental Illness?

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In This Article:

Clearview’s Programs
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center
Residential Treatment
Women’s Treatment Center
Residential Treatment
Outpatient Treatment
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a condition that affects the way an individual processes and reacts emotionally to everyday situations. This disorder usually causes emotional instability, quick changes between emotions, issues with expressing feelings, and intense episodes of anger or depression. These episodes can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Individuals who struggle with BPD usually endure long-term patterns of turbulent feelings and have trouble reaching an emotional baseline.
Shot of a young woman wearing a yellow sweater having a therapeutic session with a psychologist

Signs & Side Effects of BPD

If someone has borderline personality disorder (BPD), they may have difficulty maintaining relationships because the disorder can cause sufferers to experience intense shifts between either feeling extremely loving and affectionate toward others or completely distant and withdrawn. People with BPD may say that they feel smothered by a romantic partner, but they also could be terrified of their partner leaving them at the same time.

It can be difficult to determine when someone you love has BPD, however, there are some general symtoms and behaviors to be aware of. Reviewing the following list may help you determine if a loved one should go to their doctor or psychologist regarding their symptoms.

Here are some signs that someone might be struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder:

  • Impulsivity
  • Rising to anger quickly
  • Impulsive, high-risk behaviors
  • Frequent emotional highs and lows
  • Ongoing difficulties maintaining relationships
  • Repeated suicide attempts
  • Intense emotional outbursts
  • Self-harming behaviors, including cutting, burning, etc.
Those who struggle with BPD are very prone to accidents, physical fights, self-injury, and suicide attempts. Since it can greatly affect a person’s mental health and well-being, BPD is a very serious mental illness that requires prompt attention and treatment.

What Makes BPD A Serious Mental Illness?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can affect the way people see themselves and others around them. When someone has this disorder, their brain functioning differs in its ability to regulate emotions, resist impulses, and process external stimuli. People who have BPD may seem selfish and erratic on the surface, but the reality is that they have an illness that makes it difficult for them to express their emotions and process the world around them. Research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests the exact causes of BPD remain unknown, though both environmental and biological factors are thought to play a role.

Treating Borderline Personality Disorder

Thankfully, research shows that residential treatment can help individuals with BPD experience a dramatic decrease in the severity of their anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts. BPD residential treatment programs can also help clients improve their interpersonal relationships and have a better handle on their emotions.

At Clearview Treatment Programs, we offer multiple levels of care for treating BPD, including our Women’s Treatment Center and our Outpatient Treatment Center, to give each client the best chance for a successful recovery. Our compassionate staff helps our clients gain the tools necessary to sustain their long-term health and thrive.

If you have any more questions about borderline personality disorder (BPD) or treatment options, feel free to contact our compassionate team at Clearview for more information. Call us at 866.312.5794 or fill out the contact form.

Sources

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