Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Therapy

Image of an upset woman sitting on the floor holding her hands to her head. Do you struggle with borderline personality disorder? With the help of borderline personality disorder therapy in Las Vegas, NV you can begin working to manage your symptoms.

What is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is an intricate mental health condition. One that affects a person’s emotions, relationships, and self-perception. Individuals experience intense emotional instability and difficulties in managing feelings. Which often leads to impulsive behaviors and unstable relationships. The symptoms typically emerge in adolescence or early adulthood. Impacting various aspects of an individual’s life.

Individuals with BPD might exhibit an intense fear of abandonment, struggle with unstable self-image, and face challenges in regulating their emotions. This emotional instability can result in impulsive actions. Thus, creating hurdles in forming and maintaining stable relationships.

The impact of BPD is far-reaching. Often accompanied by depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Diagnosis can be challenging. BPD shares similarities with other disorders like bipolar disorder due to mood instability. However, their patterns and duration of mood shifts differ.

Treatment and Understanding of BPD Has Progressed

Treatment and understanding of BPD have progressed in recent years. Offering hope through evidence-based therapies and interventions. While the disorder historically faced stigma and misunderstandings, increased awareness and research have led to improved support for individuals diagnosed with BPD and their families.

Though living with BPD can be challenging, many individuals can experience improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life with appropriate treatment and support. It’s important to note that with time and proper care, individuals with BPD can learn to manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.

Image of a woman sitting on the floor with her head in her hands upset. Do your BPD symptoms get in the way of everyday life? Learn to effectively manage your symptoms with the help of borderline personality disorder therapy in Las Vegas, NV.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) encompass various aspects of emotional regulation, self-perception, and behavior.

Symptoms of BPD Can Manifest in:

Intense fear of abandonment, leading to extreme measures to avoid separation.
Unstable, intense relationships characterized by sudden idealization and subsequent belief in uncaring or cruel behavior.
Rapid changes in self-identity and self-image, including goals and values shifts, often lead to feelings of nonexistence or negative self-perception.
Periods of stress-related paranoia and transient loss of contact with reality.
Impulsive and risky behaviors like reckless driving, substance abuse, or self-sabotage in successful pursuits.
Suicidal tendencies, self-injury, or self-harm triggered by fear of rejection or separation.
Wide mood swings varying from happiness to irritability, shame, or anxiety.
Ongoing feelings of emptiness and inappropriate, intense anger.
Episodes of dissociation or feeling cut off from oneself, observing from outside the body, or experiencing unreality.

Individual experiences and the severity, frequency, and duration of these symptoms can differ. Those with BPD often grapple with heightened rates of self-harm and suicidal behavior compared to the general population. Symptoms typically emerge during the teen years and can vary in intensity and presentation among individuals. The diagnosis relies on at least five of these symptoms over time. It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis. As these symptoms might resemble other conditions or problems.

Image of an upset man pointing his finger at an angry woman. If you struggle with your BPD, learn how borderline personality disorder therapy in Las Vegas, NV can help you begin coping in healthy ways.

Causes of Borderline Personality Disorder

The exact causes of BPD are not fully understood. However, research shows that genetics, the environment, and social factors contribute to the development of this disorder.

BPD From a Bio-Social Theory

In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., found that the criteria for BPD fits with emotion dysregulation and describes the causes of BPD from a Bio-Social Theory:

Bio:

Some people are genetically predisposed to be more vulnerable to emotions than others. People born with this vulnerability tend to have a high sensitivity to situations. As well as a high reactivity, and a slow return to baseline. Another situation happens before they return to baseline with emotions, and then more reactivity and so on, leading one to be in a hyper-arousal for long periods, activating the sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight response). When someone is in this heightened state for an extended period, this can create many physical health problems as well. Even though one cannot change one’s DNA, Dialectical Behavior Therapy can help one to regulate one’s emotions so that the highs don’t have to be so high. One can learn to reduce the reactivity immensely and calm oneself down quickly. Which reduces the amount of time in fight or flight.

Social:

When one is born with vulnerability to emotions and is in an environment where others are not born with this vulnerability to emotions, it sets up invalidation. Those who do not have this genetic predisposition don’t understand the high sensitivity and high reactivity and have a hard time letting go. Which sets up an invalidating environment. An invalidating environment (IE) communicates what you are feeling, thinking, or doing is inaccurate, inappropriate, or wrong. Environments include parents, family, bosses, peers, therapists, etc. Sometimes, the individual and the environment have a “poor fit” (e.g., temperament). The IE often rejects, punishes, and makes you feel ‘less than’ – and then you may begin to invalidate yourself and not trust your thoughts and feelings as valid. So, they will say or do things invalidating for the vulnerable person. Some examples are: “What are you so upset for?”, it’s nothing, get over it, you shouldn’t feel that way, you shouldn’t do that, you shouldn’t… you want attention, stop trying to manipulate me”.

The interactions between the bio and social over time lead to multiple problems. Including confusion about oneself, impulsivity, emotional instability, and interpersonal problems with friends and family.

The Impact of Borderline Personality Disorder

Effects of BPD on The Individual:

Emotional and psychological impacts include:
Intense mood swings
Chronic feelings of emptiness
Identity issues and low self-esteem
Social and interpersonal effects include:
Difficulties in maintaining relationships
Impulsive behaviors
Self-harm and suicidal tendencies
Occupational and academic challenges
Difficulty maintaining employment or education
Frequent job changes or academic disruptions

Image of a woman standing on a fallen tree trunk in the middle of a forest with her arms out for balance. Discover how effective borderline personality disorder therapy in Las Vegas, NV is to help you manage your BPD symptoms and live a more positive life.

Treatment Options for Borderline Personality Disorder

Fortunately, treatment options are available for individuals with BPD. While BPD can be challenging to manage, with suitable therapeutic approaches, individuals can have significant progress in symptoms can be made.

Some of the most effective BPD treatment modalities include:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a highly effective form of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Specifically designed for individuals with BPD. It focuses on teaching emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. Even though CBT is not as specialized as DBT, it can be beneficial for some individuals with BPD.
Medication: Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants may help manage specific symptoms of BPD. Such as mood swings and impulsivity.
Support for family: National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality disorder (NEABPD) Family Connections

Begin Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy in Las Vegas, NV and Torrance, CA

Embrace a path towards healing and empowerment by seeking specialized therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder at DBT Center of the South Bay. Discover a compassionate space where you’ll gain invaluable tools to navigate intense emotions, build resilience, and foster healthier relationships. Take the courageous step to reclaim control, find stability, and live a more fulfilling life. Follow these three simple steps to get started:

Reach out to us using the contact form.
Meet with a skilled Borderline Personality Disorder therapist.
Start your journey to managing your symptoms in healthy ways!

Other Services at DBT Center of South Bay

DBT Center of the South Bay has helped many people find the motivation to live fuller, more connected lives. In addition to providing Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy, I provide treatment options using DBT Therapy for adults to help with managing anger, social isolation, and loneliness. I also specialize in helping those experiencing suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviors. My services also include EMDR therapy to help provide quick relief and healing so you can be free to live the life you want to live today. Located in Las Vegas, NV, and Torrance, CA, you can access my services from anywhere in the states of California and Nevada using online therapy.