Borderline Personality Disorder

1. Chaotic relationships are the hallmark of those who have this disorder, and their relationships are typically stormy. 

2. Other characteristics:  poorly developed, unstable self image, compromised ability to recognize others’ feelings, feelings of emptiness, excessive self criticism, instability in relationships due to mistrust, neediness, or threats of abandonment, marked impulsivity, interpersonal hypersensitivity, history of self harm.

3. Repeated rejection, abuse, and self-destruction have left these people feeling stigmatized and shamed.

4. I have often heard the word “broken” when borderlines describe their feelings of themselves.

5.  The danger is that most borderlines will see their therapists as someone that will “save” them, which makes is very likely that it will turn into an attraction and sometimes infatuation.

6. There is typically a lot of suicidal ideation, when faced with rejection.

7.  Counselors must have firm boundaries with these clients about contact outside of normal session hours, and other issues, but the clients will typically violate these boundaries in their “emergencies”

8.  60 to 70% of borderlines that attempt suicide are successful.  About 8-10 % of borderlines have suicidal ideation.

9. Substance use disorders are very common.

10.  Most of those with BPD have suffered some level of physical or sexual abuse, or heavy neglect.

11.  DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) is generally the most accepted form of therapy.

Assignment:  If this Borderline is such a problem, why are these people so easy to find and get into so many relationships.  You don’t have to dig deep on this one.  Look at your experiences with friends, classmates (not this class though) and family.  What makes these people so attractive to others so that they enter into the next relationship.  Why do therapists and prison guards, etc, connect to these people in an intimate relationship?