Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness marked by distorted self-image, mood swings, and an intense fear of abandonment. People with BPD often act impulsively and engage in risky behaviors. The symptoms of BPD can prevent people from excelling at work, in school, or in personal relationships.
Borderline personality disorder can go undiagnosed and untreated for years –– but we want you to know that support is available. Therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists have the skills and training to diagnose BPD and treat its symptoms. Do you want to reduce your BPD symptoms and live a happier, healthier life? Consider calling our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Maitland, FL, today.
Most Common Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms
BPD can be diagnosed fairly early –– sometimes as early as 12 years of age in some people. However, most diagnoses are made in late adolescence or early adulthood. Borderline personality disorder impacts your self-image, how you relate to others, and how you act. These symptoms can cause a great deal of stress, but BPD is treatable.
Some of the most common BPD symptoms include:
- Mood swings lasting from a few hours to a few days
- Changing self-identity or self-image
- Feeling empty inside
- Fear of real or imagined abandonment
- “Black or white” style thinking
- Impulsivity or risk-taking behavior
- Intense emotions
Mental health professionals usually diagnose BPD by using psychological evaluations, questionnaires, and interviews. Your medical and mental health history can be valuable, as well as a discussion of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Once a diagnosis is made, most people with BPD will benefit from some form of talk therapy.
What to Expect From Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment
There are a few types of psychotherapy that are frequently used to treat BPD:
- Transference-focused therapy (TFT): This type of psychotherapy helps people with BPT improve their self-image and relationships with others by projecting emotions onto the budding relationship between provider and client. This allows the provider to help aclient understand their thoughts and emotional state.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): This type of therapy can help people manage emotional distress. It focuses on teaching four key skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Learning these skills can help people with BPT manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Talk therapy is the most commonly used treatment for BPD, but medications can be a part of some treatment plans. There isn’t a medication that treats BPD directly, but some medications can help treat anxiety and depression –– disorders that frequently occur alongside BPD. Managing these concurrent disorders can help you reduce the symptoms of BPD more easily.
Do you want to work with a mental health professional to help control your BPD? Call our office today at Thriveworks Counseling in Maitland, FL.
Scheduling Borderline Personality Disorder Counseling at Thriveworks in Maitland, FL
We think that mental health services should be easy to access for as many people as possible. That’s why we offer daytime, evening, weekend, and online sessions for our clients so you can always find the time for a session. We also offer a flexible cancellation policy if something comes up.
Our appointment options make it easy for anyone to start talking to a mental health professional. You might be able to get started incredibly quickly –– possibly within the week. Contact your health insurance provider before you call to see if your coverage includes mental health care, as we accept most major health insurance plans. Call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Maitland, FL, to start working with one of our compassionate mental health professionals.
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