The Stigma and Myths About Borderline Personality Disorder
A personality disorder characterized by unstable relationships, moods and emotions, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is often misunderstood. Years ago, before BPD was an official diagnosis, it was thought of as an atypical version of a different disorder or being on the border between neurotic and psychotic behavior.
BPD can be difficult to diagnose due to a range of symptoms and its high occurrence of overlapping with other disorders. It carries much stigma and negative connotations with it as well, which can make medical professionals hesitate to diagnose or even attempt to treat the disorder.
BPD can include outbursts of intense anger, violent mood swings, and a host of negative emotions and behavioral problems that may lead to negative perceptions of the disorder. At one point in history, those suffering from BPD were even characterized as evil. Fortunately, raised awareness on the disorder has helped to show BPD in a much more favorable light.
Myths Debunked
Many myths exist about borderline personality and its treatment, including:
- BPD is rare.
- People with BPD are shallow, fickle and manipulative.
- BPD is a female disorder.
- Suicide attempts aren’t meant be successful.
- BPD is a life sentence.
- There are no effective treatments for BPD.
Borderline personality disorder may be at least as common as the better known schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and it affects somewhere between 1.6 and 5.9 percent of the population as reported by Psych Central. Sufferers of BPD may appear shallow or fickle with their emotions due to their intense fear of real or imagined abandonment and rapid mood swings.
Relationships are difficult for those with BPD, and they can fluctuate from idealization of a person one day to devaluation of the same person the next. What may appear as manipulation is generally not intentional, as someone suffering from BPD has a hard time managing emotions.
While initial research indicated that mostly women suffered from BPD, it is now believed that men were under-diagnosed. While numbers initially came in with 75 percent of those diagnosed being women, now those numbers seem to be even at 50 percent per gender.
Due to BPD co-occurring with other disorders so routinely, many times a true diagnosis can be overlooked. Negative stigmas and a lack of knowledge surrounding BPD may also prevent health care professionals from diagnosing the disorder.
Perhaps some of the scariest symptoms of BPD are the impulsive and reckless tendencies that can lead to self-destructive behavior. While many times this manifests as things like reckless driving, risky sexual behavior, and substance abuse, it can also translate into self-harm. Oftentimes, suicidal behavior is a cry for help and attention, and a suicide attempt may not be intended to succeed. In the case of someone suffering from BPD, however, it seems that many times suicide completion is actually the goal. The National Institute of Mental Illness estimates that a staggering 10 percent of suicide attempts from those suffering from BPD are completed. This is 400 times the national average and a scary statistic.
Help Exists
Luckily, help exists, and BPD, contrary to popular belief, is not a life sentence. There are effective treatments out there. Psychotherapy like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) seems to be effective in treating borderline personality disorder. DBT works to give individuals the tools needed to change their thought processes and validate their feelings. Families are often encouraged to attend therapy as well. A combination of medication and psychotherapy can help someone with BPD manage the intense symptoms and learn to lead a fulfilling life.
If you or someone you know suffers from BPD, it is important to get help. Finding the right program is the key to success. OPI offers programs that help to treat the entire person and not just the disorder. BPD is treatable, and research indicates positive results. Contact OPI today to start on the path to a more fulfilling life.