Borderline
Introduction
Borderline personality is a serious psychological disorder which can be very harmful to lives and relationships. Those who are suffering from this disorder need help. Do you show any symptoms or signs of having a borderline personality?
Borderline personality disorder involves feeling emotions more intensely than other people. This includes both strong emotions of love and joy, but also deep sadness, hurt and anger. Emotions are often triggered by events that most of us would not be especially bothered by. For example, is a friend cancels plans to meet up, the normal reaction is disappointment, but most of the time we are not deeply hurt. Someone with borderline personality disorder may feel rejected and be extremely distressed. They will often feel emotions for a longer period than other people, as it is hard for them to recover and think about another topic. Individuals with borderline personality may be particularly sensitive to perceived failure and embarrassment, as well as rejection and abandonment. They might also find it difficult to understand and define their own identity. These are all signs of a potential borderline personality. This can be very harmful particularly if the situation is unrecognised and is allowed to escalate.
How Borderline Personality Can Harm Someone
We have already touched upon ways in which borderline personality disorder can harm someone; feeling negative emotions strongly and for extended periods of time. This can lead to other psychological issues such as depression. People with borderline personalities are known to act with unusual impulsivity. This can be harmful; quitting a job, arguments with loved ones, reckless actions, self-harm, and suicide, are all examples of impulsive behaviour. In fact, rates of self-harm and suicide are particularly high among sufferers of borderline personality disorder. In other cases, victims turn to alcohol or drugs in order to instantly relieve pain. However, these measures only help in the short term and do more harm than good; turning to alcohol or drugs can become habitual when powerful negative emotions are felt. This can lead to addiction. Those with borderline personality are often aware that they feel and react differently to other people. This can further contribute to low self-esteem and depressive tendencies. If impulsive actions are taken, the individual can feel ashamed and guilty afterwards. This is because they know that the behaviour stems from their borderline personality disorder. Sadly, this can often create an unhealthy cycle of feeling low, so acting impulsively or recklessly, then in the aftermath of this, feeling further negative emotions and the desire to act impulsively again. This often involves an increase in severity of both emotions and actions. It is very harmful indeed and the right help and support is vital.
Borderline Personality and External Relationships
Borderline personality disorder does affect the individual’s external relationships. Not always in a negative way; people with the disorder can be exceptionally loving and feel powerful caring emotions. However, as previously mentioned, borderline personality sufferers experience rejection more acutely than others. The opinions of others matter tremendously to them. This might put pressure on friends and family who will feel unable to change plans, and might feel they have to act in a certain way around the sufferer. For example, if a friend is in a bad mood about something unrelated, revealing this to a borderline personality sufferer may cause them to grow agitated and concerned that they are the cause, or that they are disliked. This can create tensions in relationships, and put a strain on them. Having a borderline personality will make working life very difficult. Again, people might not feel able to be honest with the sufferer. For example, if any work completed by someone with borderline personality disorder was below standards or expectations, a supervisor might be unable to tell the worker, because of the fear of a strong emotional reaction that could spark a downward spiral. The impulsive actions of sufferers may also be seen as unnerving or worrying by others, who find it hard to understand what drives or triggers the individual.
How Therapy Can Help
With borderline personality disorder, it is very important to seek help as early as possible. This is to help put a stop to the destructive cycle of strongly felt negative emotions and impulsive actions. Do not feel ashamed about needing help; we all do sometimes. Therapists and counselors will not turn people away, pass judgement or betray your trust. They will help you to talk about the problems you are facing and begin to overcome them. Whether you need a few sessions, to identify and learn to avoid the triggers of emotional outbursts, or lengthy on-going support, therapy can help you. If you think borderline personality disorder might be affecting you, and you feel out of control or overwhelmed, speak to someone. If you do this, you will be on the right track and one step closer to regaining control.
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