Note: Abrupt discontinuation of medications may lead to serious symptoms that require emergency care. Do not stop taking psychiatric medications without the supervision of a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Can you treat borderline personality disorder naturally and without medication?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a cluster of symptoms that may include any combination of depression, anxiety, disturbed sleep, impulsive behaviors, obsessive thoughts, intense anger, emptiness, self-hatred, and a compulsive need to act on self-destructive urges.
Currently there is no FDA-approved medication to treat borderline personality disorder or self-injurious behaviors. While medications can target certain symptoms related to BPD, there is no one drug that helps to treat every intense mood swing or disruptive thought that someone with BPD might have in any given day.
Drugs can not only be costly for individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder but side effects can often introduce even more problems leaving everyone feeling discouraged and hopeless.
Although there is no "cure" for BPD, below I've listed some ideas for nutritional supplementation that may help to reduce the intensity or duration of many of the symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder.
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: For many years it's been known that deficiencies in Omega 3 Fatty Acids are correlated with a number of mental health diagnoses such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia.
The good news is that supplementation with Omega 3 Fatty Acids appear to be an effective treatment for adolescents and adults with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. In research conducted by Drs. Mary Zanarini and Frances Frankenburg, supplementing with 1000 mg of Omega 3 Fatty Acids daily over the course of 8 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in both depression and aggression.
A scientific article published in 2021 also noted that there may be a link between a deficiency in Omega 3 Fatty Acids and impulsive or aggressive behaviors. Supplementing with foods higher in Omega 3 may help reduce some of the behaviors that can be a part of borderline personality disorder.
Sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Salmon and other cold water fish, cod liver oil, walnuts, grass-fed beef, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, flax seed, hemp seed, and hemp oil.
• Magnesium: Supplementing with magnesium—a natural muscle relaxer—may benefit individuals who are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and are experiencing migraines, depression, high anxiety, or have a co-occuring diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.
In 2015, the authors of one study noticed a correlation between very low magnesium levels and the symptoms of BPD. Other research looked at the potential benefits of higher levels of magnesium, folate, and zinc in women with depression and anxiety. A study published in 2017 also recommended supplementing with magnesium for the treatment of depression.
Some interesting research published in 2021 looked at low magnesium levels in children with “callous-unemotional” (CU) traits. The article suggests that nutritional supplementation or diets higher in magnesium “…could improve CU traits in children.”
Sources of magnesium: Epsom salt baths, leafy greens, dark chocolate or cacao, avocados, and salmon. Magnesium-supplemented products such as Natural Vitality Calm (and magnesium gummies) may also reduce insomnia when taken before bedtime.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C may also be beneficial in treating individuals with BPD whose symptoms are manifested through anxiety, restlessness, or nervous energy. One research study showed that supplementation of 500 mg of Vitamin C significantly reduced anxiety among college students.
Research published in 2017 revealed that "High-dose sustained-release vitamin C was effective in reducing anxiety and blood pressure in response to stress." Another study noted that Vitamin C may be beneficial in reducing anxiety among individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Sources of Vitamin C: dark leafy greens, tomatoes, strawberries, and citrus fruits.
• Vitamin D: Upwards of 40% of adults in the United States may be Vitamin D deficient and individuals with darker skin tones are particularly at risk for low Vitamin D. Deficiencies in Vitamin D are also well-documented among those diagnosed with mood and anxiety disorders such as dysthymia, schizophrenia, and depression.
In 2018, a study concluded that adults who supplemented with Vitamin D showed improvement in both anxiety and depression. Another recent study showed that supplementation with Vitamin D for a period of three months helped to reduce the severity of depression.
Another recent article looked at how correcting a vitamin D deficiency (2023) could be a potential way to reduce suicide risk and self-harming behaviors.
Persons who believe that they may have a Vitamin D deficiency and are getting little sunlight most days can ask their doctors for a blood test to determine their current levels.
Sources of Vitamin D: Adequate amounts of sunshine (you can calculate your Vitamin D exposure through sunlight with this smart phone and Apple watch app), wild-caught salmon, mushrooms exposed to ultraviolet light, cod liver oil, and fortified foods such as milk.
• Cacao/Chocolate: For people with borderline personality disorder who have trouble with their memory or are frequently distracted or overwhelmed by new information, supplementation with chocolate may be something to consider. One study published in 2019 looked at the benefits of dark chocolate in reducing depressive symptoms.
