Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment in NJ

Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment in New Jersey

Sometimes, we feel happy and safe. But then, something can happen that makes us doubt ourselves. Managing changes in mood and self-confidence is a constant struggle. For some people, this challenge can feel especially hard. This could be an indication of a mental health issue called borderline personality disorder.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental health condition. It is characterized by changing moods and unstable relationships. People with BPD often feel intense emotions and have a strong fear of being abandoned. They may also engage in self-injury and risky behaviors.

Individuals with BPD may also experience severe anger and a disconnection from reality. While this condition is serious and has no cure, it is manageable with appropriate treatment.

Therapy plays a crucial role in helping those with BPD learn to regulate their emotions and improve their relationships. To begin borderline personality disorder treatment, a proper diagnosis is essential, making it vital to identify the symptoms and seek necessary assistance.

Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often experience uncertainty about their identity and place in the world. Their interests and values may change quickly. This can lead to impulsive actions and choices, causing more problems in their lives.

A sign of borderline personality disorder is seeing situations in extreme ways. People may view things as either “completely good” or “completely bad.” If you are experiencing BPD, your feelings toward others can shift rapidly. A person who feels like a friend today might seem like an adversary the next day.

Below are some indicators that you or a loved one might be experiencing symptoms of BPD:

You put in effort to prevent actual or perceived abandonment. Individuals with borderline personality disorder often form close relationships rapidly. However, they might also sever ties with someone if they feel that person is about to leave or abandon them.

You experience turbulent, unstable relationships with family, friends, and loved ones, and you often fluctuate between intense affection and strong feelings of dislike or anger.

Your perception of yourself changes often. This condition includes times of strong self-acceptance. However, these periods can change into self-judgment or self-harm.

You engage in self-harm activities such as cutting.

You are experiencing suicidal thoughts and may have made suicide attempts.

Your emotions are intense and frequently fluctuate; each episode lasts several hours to several days.

Each episode can last anywhere from several hours to several days.

You experience overwhelming, misplaced anger that is hard to manage.

You struggle to have faith in others and experience doubt of their motives.

You sense a disconnection from yourself. This might mean feeling like you are outside your own body. You may also think that everything around you is not real.
You make careless decisions resulting in dangerous choices like impulsive shopping, unsafe sex, drug use, reckless driving, and overeating.

It’s important to remember that this is a broad list of symptoms. You may be dealing with some of these challenges, while someone else might have more symptoms.

Everyday situations can activate symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). For example, you may feel intense anger and anxiety when you are away from family, even for a short work trip. A minor alteration in your schedule can spark an outburst of anger and accusations, resulting in a heated conflict.

Common Co-Occurring Disorders

It is typical for individuals with BPD to experience additional mental health conditions. The symptoms of these disorders frequently overlap with BPD, complicating the process of accurate diagnosis. Some of the mental health disorders that commonly occur with BPD are:

Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Depression
Eating Disorders
Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)
Bipolar Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is often mistaken for other personality disorders, especially narcissistic personality disorder. Both of these conditions fall under the category of disorders that lead to unpredictable, emotional, and dramatic behaviors.

People with narcissism and those with BPD often share some common traits. They may fear being abandoned and seek attention. Their relationships can be complex, and they experience intense emotional ups and downs.

The definition of a narcissist, however, includes key distinctions from that of BPD. A narcissist has high self-esteem and often brags about their achievements. They use others for their benefit and seek constant praise and admiration.

What Causes Borderline Personality Disorder?

The precise origin of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) remains uncertain. Research indicates that genetics, brain anatomy, and activity, along with environmental, cultural, and social influences, could contribute to its development. Below are some insights into the potential causes of this condition:

Family History: Individuals with a close relative who has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) may have an increased likelihood of developing the condition themselves.

Brain Chemistry: Studies indicate that individuals with borderline personality disorder frequently exhibit variations in brain structure. Specifically, regions responsible for impulse control and emotional regulation may be impacted. It is still unclear if these changes cause the disorder or if they happen because of it.

Social and Environmental Factors: Numerous individuals with borderline personality disorder have faced traumatic events during their childhood. These experiences can involve abuse, neglect, poverty, violence, or hunger. People with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often grow up in unstable homes. Their caregivers may not have given them the love and support they needed.

Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

If not treated, borderline personality disorder (BPD) can harm a person’s quality of life. It can also increase the risk of depression, substance abuse, self-injury, and thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, effective treatment options are accessible.

Therapies used to treat BPD include:

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy is a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed to help individuals comprehend and manage their emotions. DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, was first created in the 1980s.

It was designed to help suicidal patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Today, DBT is widely accepted as the primary treatment for people with BPD. A notable study revealed that after one year of DBT, 77% of participants with BPD no longer met the criteria for the diagnosis.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a set of skills that helps people manage challenging thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Key skills taught in DBT encompass mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT can teach people with BPD to recognize and change certain harmful thought patterns that contribute to mood swings, self-doubt, or conflict in relationships. While CBT isn’t the most common therapy for BPD, it can still be useful for managing symptoms like anxiety or depression.

Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)

Another form of talk therapy developed to address borderline personality disorder (BPD) is mentalization-based therapy (MBT). This approach focuses on improving emotional regulation and mentalization. Mentalization is the ability to understand how your feelings relate to those of others around you.

The goal of MBT is to help people with BPD improve their social skills. It also aims to build better relationships with others. It also helps them gain insight into how their thoughts influence their actions. For instance, if a person with BPD feels the urge to self-harm, they might act on it impulsively. Mentalization can provide the clarity needed to understand that this response to distress is not a healthy choice.

Schema Therapy (ST)

Schema-focused therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps people identify and change unhealthy ways of thinking. This therapy focuses on childhood needs, including love, safety, and acceptance. When these needs are not met, they can lead to unhealthy views and interactions with the world.

With your therapist’s support, you can learn to recognize harmful beliefs and make positive changes in your life. A study found that people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who participated in schema-focused therapy experienced several benefits. They gained better insight into their thoughts and feelings, improved their self-confidence, and became more flexible in their thinking. They also learned to consider different perspectives and be kinder to themselves.

Transference-Focused Therapy (TFP)

Transference-focused therapy (TFP) is a treatment for BPD. It uses the relationship between a person and their therapist to help them relate better to others.

TFP suggests that unhealthy relationships in childhood can lead to BPD. Building healthier relationships as an adult can help reduce symptoms of BPD. This can also improve a person’s quality of life.

In TFP, you will have sessions with your therapist twice a week. The goal is to identify harmful thoughts, boost self-esteem, develop better behaviors, and improve social interactions.

Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem-Solving (STEPPS)

STEPPS is a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder that is meant to enhance other therapeutic approaches. Participants attend over 20 weekly sessions to develop skills for managing emotions and behaviors in a group environment.

Which Therapy is Best for Me?

The first step in treating BPD is to see a trained mental health professional. They will conduct an assessment and diagnosis. This usually involves looking at your personal and family health history. They will also check the severity of your symptoms and perform a medical exam.

This helps rule out other conditions that might be causing your symptoms. The assessment may include questionnaires or screening tools to determine whether you are at risk for BPD.

The treatment for alcohol addiction will depend on each person’s unique needs. Alcohol addiction is a complex issue that affects everyone differently. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for recovery. When talking to your provider about therapy options, here are some questions to consider.

How much time are you prepared to dedicate to therapy?
Are you comfortable with therapy assignments?
Would you prefer to connect with your therapist between sessions?

Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder at Renewed Light

At Renewed Light, we focus on the overall well-being of those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Our team of therapists and clinicians is dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment methods. We customize our approach to meet each person’s specific needs. By using a caring and personalized approach, we help those with BPD manage their emotions, develop healthier relationships, and create a more promising future. Contact us today to discover how we can assist you.

References:

Johns Hopkins Medicine: Borderline Personality Disorder
National Library of Medicine: Effectiveness of Dialectic Behavioral Therapy in Outpatient Care: The Berlin Borderline Study
National Alliance on Mental Illness: Borderline Personality Disorder
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Borderline Personality Disorder

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