Skip to main content

Borderline Personality Disorder: Current Treatments, Part 2


Since those with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) frequently have wild emotional vacillations, odd black-and-white thinking, and scary disruptive behavior, it is commonly believed that they must have different type of emotions than everybody else. This, however, is a myth. Their emotional experience is the same as other people’s, they just struggle to have adequate internal coping mechanisms to handle their emotional pain or strong impulses.  As mentioned in the article of Borderline Personality Disorder: Definition, it is their difficulty to regulate emotional challenges and impulses that causes their dysfunctional and erratic behavior.

Medication is only one part of an effective treatment plan.  Psychotherapy is also a necessary critical component to achieve lasting improvements in those diagnosed with BPD.

Currently the gold standard in counseling modalities for BPD is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, Professor at the University of Washington. DBT is most often conducted within a group setting and teaches clients how to take better control of their lives through the use of increased personal awareness (mindfulness), improved emotional regulation, and cognitive restructuring.  It urges clients to accept themselves while encouraging them to make healthy changes. 

Many clients find the strategy of using multiple treatment modalities to be very helpful. It is not unusual for someone with BPD  to be receiving DBT group therapy, individual counseling, drug treatment, and couples therapy concurrently. The most important aspect of  an effective treatment plan is that it provides a structured therapeutic setting. People with this disorder often experience severe, unpredictable emotional swings with erratic, dangerous behaviors. They experience strong urges to harm themselves, such as cutting or suicide attempts. A structured setting with a strong therapeutic alliance with the treating professional(s) is necessary to ensure safety.

 How does one find a DBT-training counselor?

The best way to find a trained provider is to contact Behavioral Tech. This organization was founded by Dr. Linehan and educates mental health care providers in  the use of DBT.  It has a comprehensive listing of mental health specialists who have completed its educational program..  Another website, called “liquic,” also has small list of DBT providers. It may also be beneficial to contact your insurance provider, your local psychiatrist, or the nearest psychiatric hospital to obtain contact information about local therapists who have experience working with BPD.

Self-harming behaviors frequently occur in the lives of those struggling with BPD. The next article will discuss the ins-and-outs of voluntary and involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Narcissism: Understanding the Effects of Narcissistic Parenting

Since Freud, researchers have studied various environmental effects on maturing personalities, and it has been well documented that parenting styles are profoundly involved in the shaping of children’s developing psyches. It is hard enough working with a narcissistic boss or living with a narcissistic spouse, but being raised by narcissistic parents has several serious emotional consequences. What are some of these effects? Dr. Paul Meier in his book, You Might Be a Narcissist If . . . How to Identify Narcissism in Ourselves and Others and what We Can Do About It , identifies four consequences of narcissistic parenting. They are: 1) the  development of a false self; 2) the desire to behave with perfectionism; 3) chronic habits of passivity; and 4) increased vulnerability to addictive behaviors. The Development of a False Self Since narcissistic parents unconsciously need others to help soothe their fragile sense of self, they naturally turn to any available relationsh...
11 comments
Read more

Tip #2: Empathy--- The Art of Reflective Listening

Thought: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 My father-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer several years ago. We got the news in mid-March. After doing some internet research, we knew that his time would be short. We also discovered that most treatments were palliative, not curative. There was no remission or cure for this type of cancer. I was shocked. My grief started when I realized what this diagnosis meant. My father-in-law died four short months later. I shared his condition with various communities: my colleagues at work, my own family, and my church community. Some people were appropriately supportive. With them I found I could be honest about my feelings and reactions. Ot...
2 comments
Read more

Narcissists in Love—Brief Examination of Narcissism in Marriage, Part 1

In healthy marriages, couples easily move in and out of intimacy. There are periods of time when the two individuals allow themselves to merge physically and psychologically, and other periods of time when the two people are encouraged to be separate, autonomous individuals. No one person controls the other partner, but rather there is mutual support. The couple values each other’s differences and tolerates each other’s shortcomings. There is an implicit understanding that the marriage becomes richer when the membersʼ individuality is nurtured. Marriage to narcissists is much different. Control is the key component in these relationships. Narcissists need their partners to admire and pump up their fragile self-esteem. They long for a complete merger with their spouse. Their partner’s autonomy and individuality is consumed by the narcissist’s need. Only the narcissist’s goals and desires are pursued. The person who marries a narcissist learns to submit. This person is ...
4 comments
Read more