What Is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Our students come to us with a variety of diagnoses or no diagnosis at all. We accept all adults who are a good fit for the level of care we offer. Sometimes the diagnosis our students arrive with is Borderline Personality Disorder, abbreviated as BPD. BPD is a mental health diagnosis used to describe people that experience a certain set of symptoms. These may include:
A strong fear of abandonment
A pattern of unstable, intense relationships
Frequent changes in how you see yourself
Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality
Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, dangerous driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, disordered eating, drug misuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship
Attempts at suicide or self-injury, often in response to fears of separation or rejection
Wide mood swings that last from a few hours to a few days
Persistent feelings of emptiness
Inappropriate, strong anger
If you have BPD, you may experience some but not all of these symptoms. There are many combinations of symptoms and experiences that can make up the life of a person with BPD. And sometimes a mental health provider can suggest that you have "traits" of BPD without giving a diagnosis. That means you have some of the symptoms but not "enough" to qualify for a full diagnosis.
BPD has a strong stigma that can be difficult to endure. Despite rumors to the contrary, BPD is treatable. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is one of the proven treatments for BPD. There are a few others that folks find success with such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Sometimes people with BPD also benefit from medication in combination with therapy. It is possible to achieve remission from BPD.
Here at Online DBT Skills, we teach DBT skills in a weekly live group on Zoom. We also offer a self-paced video course that teaches you the skills on your own time (and it's included if you join the live group!). Our program is great for folks that need accountability and non-crisis support in learning skills, whether you have BPD or not.
Learn DBT skills with us