Borderline Personality Disorder - BPD.

Borderline Personality Disorder - BPD

Alongside the lovely individual that the person is, exists an alternative stream of self critical thoughts and self loathing. The critical, hateful, inner voice that constantly attacks and devalues the self leads to suicidal thoughts and crippling guilt. It can seem as though the only escape or relief from this inner torture would be to end one’s life. There is frequently a constant belief that others would be angry or disappointed with them. It can be very hard to maintain the belief that anyone would be saddened by this action as the belief is that they hold no value and therefore would not be missed.

2% of the UK population are diagnosed with this at sometime within their lives.

Tragically, 15% of people with BPD die from suicide and at least 40% of those diagnosed try to die through suicidal action.

There are nine symptoms of BPD are:

·         An intense fear of abandonment.

·         Distorted Self Image

·         Explosive Anger

·         Mood Swings

·         Unstable Relationships

·         Paranoia

·         Chronic Feelings of Psychological Emptiness

·         Compulsiveness

·         Self Harm and Suicidal Thinking/Actions

BPD severely affects the way a person thinks about themselves and others. It often leads to unstable emotions, insecurity and intrusive thoughts. There is a belief that they are a bad person and that they don't have a right to live and often no sense of hope that the future will be better.

The episodes of savage self doubt and inner attack from bullying self perspectives can shift from low levels in the background to intense, dominating and suicidal. This distorted negative view of the self and others can flip an innocent comment from a loved one or someone close into being perceived as an attack or criticism that then reinforces the critical self view and increases the belief of the self having no value and that leaving the relationship or suicide are the only answers.

Therapy can help the individual explore what experiences, particularly from childhood, have informed this self belief system. Sadly the presentation of BPD in adults can frequently be traced back to the suffering in childhood where primary needs of safety and care were not adequately met, this might be through experiences of neglect and/or abuse (sexually, physically, emotionally).

It takes such courage for those already in immense psychological and emotional suffering to then venture into facing the memories of the original source of pain with a Therapist, particularly when they feel devoid of hope. However the more the distress is voiced the less intense it is felt inside. As with all Mental Health conditions BPD thrives in secrecy where it can have maximum power over the individual.

Although many people might notice that they have tendencies that reflect elements of BPD its important to say that we can all identify with some or all of the symptoms within BPD, particularly when under extremely stressful circumstances, but those with BPD will experience these symptoms all the time, every day regardless of what is going on in their lives.

An excellent TV programme to watch from a personal experience is:

'Me and the voice inside my head' - Channel 4 - aired on the13/05/202

Blog written by our Counsellor Karen, who has over 20 years experience working with individuals, couples, children and young people.