Today, we have Dr. Namrata Pradhan to talk about borderline personality disorder in detail. She will walk us through the basic concept, cause, how we can tell if one has it, the way to deal with it, treatments, etc.


 

  1. Starting with the basic concept, what is a borderline personality disorder?

A borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotion. This condition impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others, causing problems in everyday relationships. Emotions are felt intensely and can shift rapidly from a negative, depressed state (predominant) to an elated one, and it's usually difficult to return to a stable baseline. 


 

  1. Most people confuse it with bipolar disorder. Is BPD the same as bipolar disorder?

There is a difference! Bipolar disorder, a mood disorder, stems biologically in the nervous system. When the neurochemicals are within normal limits, a person with bipolar disorder is as normal as anyone else. When ill, they experience depression and mania. Borderline personality disorder is also rooted in the psychological domain and is concerned about how meaning is generated with each event. They tend to experience intense emotional pain, feelings of emptiness, desperation, anger, hopelessness, and loneliness: almost all the time.


 

  1. Can you tell the root cause of borderline personality disorder?

Yes! A borderline personality disorder is a combination of inherited or internal biological factors (genes), and external environmental factors, such as early childhood development, experiences of neglect, abuse, and trauma. So, there can be different causes to it.


 

  1. How can you tell if someone is the victim of borderline personality disorder?

The symptoms of borderline personality may present in many ways and there are no specific lab tests we can do for diagnosis. However, during a detailed clinical interview, thinking patterns, relationship dynamics, intrinsic fear, impulsivity, mood issues, and many more are elucidated and based on all these and more, we make a diagnosis. 


 

  1. Who is more likely to be affected by BPD?

This is a difficult question. Women are far more likely to be diagnosed than men, partly because they are more expressive and partly because mental health in men is highly stigmatized. Having said that, people who had a difficult childhood with abuse, neglect, and trauma and did not receive a caring, nurturing, and safe environment while growing up are more affected.


 

  1. Once, a person is affected by BPD. Is there any treatment for BPD?

Yes. We look at all the biological-psychological-social aspects of the patient's life. The biological part and co-occurring mental illness (anxiety, depression, OCD) are dealt with with medication first. When the background noise of mental illness is reduced, then the treatment is more focused on psychoeducation, supportive therapy, and various types of psychotherapy.  

 

  1. What happens when someone is affected by BPD?

People with borderline personality disorder have an intense fear of being alone or abandoned. But their emotions are highly unstable and despite wanting close relations, they push away people due to their anger, impulse control, and trust issues. Without help, they are left alone which will hook them to a loop of negative thoughts and depression. 


 

  1. Is there any way to cope with BPD? If yes, how?

Visit a psychiatrist first. Ruling out clinical causes of your symptoms, and performing a battery of personality-related psychological tests, and psychotherapy sessions; will help you map out a plan so you can cope with BPD.

 

  1. Is it true that a person affected with BPD can never fall in love or have a stable relationship?

No. not. It takes a lot of effort to be emotionally stable. If you don't take care of your physical health, mental health, relationships, work-life balance, you won't remain mentally well anyways. Whether you have BPD or not, you have to work towards yourself and your relationships every day.