Borderline Personality Disorder is a psychological problem I think is poorly named, it seems to many people to mean “on the border of a personality disorder” rather than an actual disorder. Actually this disorder was named back when they did think it was on the “border of” more serious disorders.
This, like many psychological problems can range from “mild” to “very severe” and can cause many disruptions in the afflicted person’s relationships and life. And, like with most mental illnesses or personality disorders can also be one of several diagnoses that the person also has.
For some reason, more females seem to be diagnosed with BPD than males, even though many of the symptoms can over-lap with Anti-Social personality disorder. Like most of the personality disorders, though it is difficult to treat and the earlier treatment is started, the better chance of positive results.
The US Library of Medicine website says:
People with borderline personality disorder often have difficulties controlling their emotions and impulses, and find it hard to keep relationships. They can experience feelings of emptiness, suffer quick changes in mood and they may harm themselves. Problems coping with abandonment and a rapidly changing view of other people can form part of their difficulties.
It has been my experience that many girls with the diagnosis of BPD also have “dual diagnoses” of substance abuse, which may be a way of “self medication” for their emotional problems and fears of abandonment.
Cutting or other forms of self mutilation and suicide ideation, suicidal gestures, as well as actual suicides are also frequently seen in individuals with BPD. Any signs of self mutilation or suicide threats should be taken seriously and treatment immediately sought.
An adolescent with BPD may demonstrate problems in school as well as at home and may become defiant of authority or show conduct disorders as well. The overlap of symptoms in many of the disorders of adolescence is confusing to parents and educators alike. The explosive moods and vacillation of moods may be very confusing to parents seeing symptoms in their child. Are these symptoms simply the “normal” emotional upheavals of the adolescent separating themselves from their parents or are they something more troubling?
Unfortunately, many times adolescents with BPD or any other number of behavioral problems end up violating the law or engaging in dangerous behavior that can have serious, life changing consequences.
It isn’t that these adolescents have not been taught “right from wrong” or that they don’t know “right from wrong” it is that their emotions and lack of impulse control overcome good sense.
In adolescence, peer pressure is extreme, and may increase risk taking behaviors that may put the adolescent in physical danger or serious violation of the law. I know as a parent myself that when my own son first started violating the law, I was frantic to find a way to open up his skull and pour in some good sense. Some way to show him how serious things could be if he did not reverse course in his behavior. Of course not all rebellious adolesents end up becoming psychopaths by any stretch of the imagination, but way too many young people do end up with a criminal record.
One of the young men who lived in my neighborhood when my kids were growing up became one of the most obnoxious and rebellious teenagers I have known, and there were times I wanted to throttle him. In the end, though, he “rowdied on down” and became a Wal Mart Manager. Other kids from the same neighborhood besides my son have done some prison time for theft and drugs.
I know the pain that their parents and siblings as well as their mates and children have experienced because of these behaviors. Both the pain and anxiety of the parents of those kids who did straighten up and the pain of the parents, like me, who lost a child to the prison doors slamming shut.
Having worked with people of all ages with BPD I know that it is difficult to treat, but not impossible to help the person learn to cope, but it does take long term therapy, and should start as soon as early symptoms display themselves.
Joyce Alexander, RNP retired