How Does Living with Borderline Personality Disorder Affect You?
Relationships
BPD can have a major impact on your
relationships. In fact, having difficulties
in relationships is one of the primary
symptoms of BPD. People with BPD have lots
of arguments and conflict with loved ones,
or a lot of relationships that break up
repeatedly. The way that they feel about
their family, friends, or partner can change
dramatically from day-to-day or
hour-to-hour. These patterns can be very
difficult both for the person with BPD and
those who care about him or her.
Work
Work, school, or
other productive pursuits can give us a
sense of purpose in life. Unfortunately, BPD
can interfere with success at work or
school. Because BPD has such an impact on
relationships, people with BPD may find
themselves in trouble with co-workers,
bosses, teachers, or other authority
figures. The intense emotional changes may
also impact work or school; people with BPD
may have to be absent more often due to
emotional concerns or hospitalization. Some
of the symptoms of BPD (e.g., dissociation)
can also interfere with concentration,
making task completion very difficult.
Physical
Health
Unfortunately,
BPD can also have a major impact on physical
health. BPD is associated with a variety of
serious health conditions, including chronic
pain disorders such as fibromyalgia and
chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis,
obesity, diabetes, and serious health
problems. BPD is also associated with less
healthy lifestyle choices (e.g., smoking,
alcohol use, lack of regular exercise).
BPD and the
Law
Some of the behaviors associated with BPD
can lead to legal problems. The anger
associated with BPD can lead to aggression
(e.g., assaulting others, throwing objects,
or acting out against others' personal
property). Impulsive behaviors, such as
driving recklessly, abusing substances,
shoplifting, or engaging in other illegal
acts, can also lead to trouble.
Coping with
the Symptoms of BPD
People with
BPD do not have to resign themselves to a
life of emotional pain. Below are some
things you can do that can help. These are
just the beginning. Getting help from a
licensed mental health professional, and
learning more about how to manage the
symptoms of BPD, can alleviate the impact of
BPD on your life.
Get Help
BPD is a very
serious disorder. The intense experiences
associated with BPD are not something that
one person should face alone. Fortunately,
there are a number of effective treatments
for BPD. Finding a professional you feel
comfortable with is one of the most
important steps you can take for your
health.
Have a Safety
Plan
BPD causes very
painful emotions, and as a result, it is not
uncommon for mental health emergencies (for
example, active suicidality) to arise. For
this reason, it is critical you to have a
safety plan in place before a crisis
happens. If you are in danger of harming
yourself or others, what will you do? Can
you call 911? Is there a hospital nearby
with an emergency room that you can go to?
If you have a therapist, counselor,
psychiatrist, or social worker, talk this
plan over with them. Learn more about what
to do in a crisis so that you can keep
yourself (and others) safe.
Get Support
Having the
support of your family, friends, or partner
can be a big help. But, not everyone has
someone to turn to when things get
difficult. You may need to find ways to
connect with others, and to build a support
network for yourself. BPD is not an uncommon
disorder; it occurs in about 1.4% of the
population...that that percentage is
reported to be truly much higher. That means that there are
roughly four million plus people with BPD in the
U.S. alone. Many of those people are looking
for support, just like you.
Take Care of
Yourself
It is important
that individuals with BPD take good care of
themselves. Good self-care can reduce
emotional pain, increase positive emotions,
and help reduce the emotional ups and downs
experienced by people with BPD. Good
self-care includes eating nutritious and
regular meals, practicing good sleep
hygiene, getting regular exercise, taking
time for relaxation and stress-reduction,
and scheduling enjoyable activities.
Learn More
When it comes to
your mental health, knowledge is power.
Educate yourself about the symptoms, causes,
and treatments of BPD. Learn about ways to
manage your symptoms. Share what you have
learned with the people in your life who are
affected by it. Amy:
That is what I am doing by actively
researching this disorder, and uploading it
to this website. There is so much to
grasp about this disorder.
I am amazed by all
that I have continued to see that is written
about this mental health disorder.
Continuing to live with a dedication and
determination to conquer this disorder is
enough to keep me putting one foot in front
of the other.
Once again, I ask you
to forward this site on to anyone, I mean
anyone who could possibly benefit
from it, as a BPD or Non-BPD.