How to Manage Adolescent BPD?

Borderline personality disorder, commonly known as BPD, can seem like a scary diagnosis in a teenager. While BPD is usually not diagnosed until early adulthood, if symptoms are reoccurring in a pervasive pattern for over a year, adolescents can be diagnosed earlier. Contrary to popular belief, BPD is not a life sentence, and symptoms usually decrease in intensity in later adulthood. Treatment exists to help patients manage and cope with their symptoms and even work toward alleviating them.

Adolescent Risks

Many clinicians hesitate to diagnose adolescents with a personality disorder because their personalities and brains are still growing, developing, and maturing. What may present as one disorder can change into something else entirely in a few years. However, when a pattern is recognized and BPD is diagnosed, adolescents carry some specific risk factors. Their thinking patterns are usually disturbed, and they may feel as if they are constantly in crisis mode.

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by intense mood swings and emotional instability as well as trouble with relationships. BPD sufferers fear abandonment and will go to great extremes to avoid any perceived form of this. Irrational and intense episodes of anger also signify BPD. Adolescents suffering from BPD most likely have trouble in school and other social environments. Validating adolescents’ feelings and showing them that you are present and supportive may go a long way toward helping them.

Caregivers of an adolescent suffering from BPD may be put up on pedestal one day and completely devalued the next. It can be an emotional roller coaster for the entire family. It is important to be patient with an adolescent suffering from BPD and work to reinforce positive behaviors and actions.

BPD is also defined by poor impulse control characterized by risky behavior.  In adolescents this may manifest in self-destructive ways including substance abuse, running away, or even self-injurious behavior. One of the scariest risk factors for BPD is suicidal behavior.

Unfortunately, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 10 percent of those suffering from BPD commit suicide. Seek help immediately if you suspect suicidal behavior.

Treatment Options

Since BPD is not commonly diagnosed in adolescents, there is not very much research available on effective modes and methods of treatment. In adults, however, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) appears to be effective. DBT is a psychotherapy that focuses on changing the thought processes of an individual as well as validating them and helping them to develop the necessary tools to manage their symptoms.

For adolescents, it is believed that family therapy is important as well. DBT for the families of adolescent sufferers are often taught how to avoid power struggles and intense emotional outbursts by learning to walk the middle path before things can escalate. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center has reported some success with this method.

Some other tips for learning to manage BPD symptoms include:

• Learn to set realistic goals.
• Exercise to relieve stress.
• Maintain a stable eating and sleeping schedule.
• Talk to a trusted person.
• Talk to loved ones about emotional triggers.
• Break large tasks down into smaller ones.
• Understand the healing process.
• Be patient.
• Seek comforting locations, people, and situations.
• Learn about the disorder.

Borderline personality disorder is manageable with the proper treatment. OPI works with young adults and helps them through difficult transitions. Skilled professionals are trained to help adolescents with borderline personality disorder to manage their symptoms and learn the life skills necessary to function as self-sufficient individuals. Contact OPI today to learn about our individualized treatment options.