The Benefits of Self-Compassion for Individuals with BPD

Self-compassion means that we treat ourselves with the same kindness, respect, and love that we would show towards a best friend, a family member, or a child we care about. However, self-compassion shouldn't be confused with pity or sympathy—it's the opposite of self-hatred. At its core, self-compassion is one of the hallmarks of an emotionally healthy individual. It's something we can cultivate in order to become more resilient to all that life throws at us at any given moment.

Self-Compassion Research

Over the past few years there's been an explosion in research related to the practice of self-compassion.

For instance, did you know that self-compassion may be beneficial for:

• students coping with academic stress (2016)
• reducing risk of substance use (2017)
• the mediation of symptoms related to borderline personality disorder (2017)
• decreasing symptoms related to depression (2018)
• protecting against suicidal thinking or planning (2017)
• improving goals related to positive health behaviors (2017)
• reducing alcohol consumption (2020)

While there may be many individuals who are naturally self-compassionate, it's possible for any of us to become more self-compassionate with a lot of patient and persistent practice. It's important to note that in order to become more effective in being self-compassionate we probably need to make a daily commitment towards showing ourselves the love we need in order to heal from past invalidation, self-doubt, and critical thinking.

Practical Self-Compassion Practice

In order to change our thinking from self-condemnation to self-compassion, we want to strive for a practice that is truthful and is a good fit for our values. One of the least effective things we can probably do is go around telling ourselves things like, "I'm a good person," or "I deserve wonderful things," especially if we don't believe that quite yet. Lying to ourselves is not an act of self-compassion. Erring on the side of honesty, however, can be a beautiful act of self-compassion.

While there is no "perfect" or "right" way to increase your self-compassion, you may want to start slowly and find ways that work for you.

5 Ways to Increase Your Self-Compassion

• Be mindful of judgmental or critical self-talk
Do you ever call yourself names? Tell yourself that you are ugly, stupid, or hopeless? Do you use self-deprecating humor a little too often? 

Self-compassionate people are mindful of the language they use to describe themselves and their abilities. Today you can start to notice the subtle (or not-so-subtle) messages you are telling yourself and others about who you are and what is important to you. When in doubt, use accurate language ("I'm 20 pounds overweight." vs "I can't believe that I let myself get this fat. Gross!") when describing your experiences. 

• Celebrate small successes
You might be thinking, "Normal people don't need to cheerlead themselves for getting to work on time," but that really isn't accurate. Even "normal" or emotionally healthy people sometimes have to build themselves up to complete routine tasks, chores, or goals—even when they seem easy or simple. Depending on the stressors you are currently experiencing, celebrating small steps may be one of the most effective things you do in your quest to become more self-compassionate. 

If you need permission to celebrate teeth-brushing, keeping your gas tank full, or emptying the dishwasher, then do it. You can help yourself stay motivated by using these fun adulting stickers.

• Choose self-acceptance
We can focus on the negative but we can also decide to meditate on what is going well in our lives. We can accept that maybe things are all that bad—at least most of the time or maybe we accept that we are a work in progress.

To become more self-compassionate, you might ask yourself, "What are my strengths? What am I doing well? How am I helping myself and others?" Dwelling on the things that aren't going well doesn't make you a better or more noble person—it makes you someone no one wants to be around. No one is impressed by how well you can beat yourself up on a daily basis.

• Buy yourself flowers
Think about the things you wouldn't hesitate to do for your best friend. You send them uplifting texts, gifs, or funny YouTube videos. You might drive across the city just to bring them a cupcake on a rough day or maybe you're there with tissues and juice when they're sick and stuck in bed. You might be the kind of friend who stays up all night to help them study for a difficult final exam. 

Now imagine what your life would be like if you showed yourself just a small portion of that kind of love and devotion. You know what you would do? You'd totally buy yourself flowers, balloons, or treat yourself to a movie in the middle of the day. Self-compassion is an exercise in radical and unapologetic self-care.

• Make your bed
One of the nicest gifts we can give ourselves is a beautiful, quiet bedroom with clean sheets, a made bed, a tidy nightstand, and other things that we love. It takes less than five minutes each morning to make our beds, pick the clothes up off the floor, and put last night's dishes in the kitchen sink. 

A clean bedroom is a sign of self-respect and self-compassion. You don't need a perfect space but you deserve one that doesn't make you cringe and feel shame every time you walk in. How can you make your bedroom a more peaceful and relaxing place to spend 8 to 10 hours a day?

(If you need more bed-making inspiration, watch this video.)

Quiz: How compassionate are you?

Before you start making changes, take this self-compassion quiz.

Keep a note of your score and today's date. Set a reminder and retest yourself in the next 30, 90, or 120 days. Greater self-compassion is something you can track over time. 

Don't forget to celebrate your self-compassion success.

An Interview with Carol Lozier, LCSW—Author of DBT: Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Kids and Caregivers

Yay! I get so excited about sharing new books and resources about DBT. My hope is that you enjoy this interview with Carol Lozier, LCSW. —Amanda

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Please tell us about you and how you came to create DBT: Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Kids and Caregivers.
I am a licensed clinical social worker and have been in practice for over 30 years, and in private practice for about 20 of those years. It’s hard to believe I’ve been in practice that long, but I quickly realize time has flown by as my two children are grown and I have a beautiful 2 year old granddaughter, Lexi, and a handsome 1 year old grandson, Liam.

I specialize in working with children and teens who have a history of foster care, adoption, or trauma. I also see adults who have experienced trauma in their life. I feel very blessed to work with a very diverse group of youth due to my area of specialization. As a result, the children and teens I see in my therapy practice are from all over the world, such as Ethiopia, Congo, China, Ukraine, Guatemala, and many other countries.

Before I even began this book, I had already created several DBT handouts and worksheets for children. In sessions, I wanted to explain the DBT concepts and skills to the children and caregivers, but there were not any handouts or worksheets available for this age group. I did have ones from my teen book (DBT Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Working with Teens), but the language and examples were too sophisticated for this young population.

For this book, DBT Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Kids and Caregivers, I knew I wanted to self-publish it as oppose to using a publishing company. Not only did I write the book, but I also had to draw each illustration on the pages. I had a wonderful time drawing the illustrations and creating the handouts and worksheets. I’m a DIY kind of girl, so it was a lot of fun for me!

How did you become interested in DBT?
I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 30 years. When I started out as a young therapist, I felt very overwhelmed as I truly wanted to help others, and I knew that I had a lot to learn to become an effective clinician. I decided to get the best supervision from experienced clinicians as well as continued training in order to become the type of therapist I wanted to be for my clients. Over the years I’ve gone to numerous trainings on different therapeutic modalities. I became a certified EMDR therapist (I’ve since let my certification go), and am highly proficient in other processing therapies.

While the children and teens in my practice were improving—their trauma was healing and their triggers had lessened—I noticed that they did not have adequate life coping skills. At that time, I began to look for a way to help them improve their coping skills and I happily landed on DBT. I found Dr. Linehan’s teaching site, Behavioral Tech, and started taking DBT webinars and trainings. This year, I completed the 16 month training and am now an intensively trained DBT clinician.

Whom did you have in mind when you were writing this book?
As I stated earlier, before I began the book I had already created several DBT handouts and worksheets. As I was creating the sheets and writing the book, I was using each handout and worksheet in my practice. Sometimes they worked great with the children and families, and sometimes they needed to be tweaked a few times. I adjusted the handouts and worksheets until the children fully understood and were able to effectively use them, knowing that all of the pages would eventually be presented in book form to the same age population.

What do family members or caregivers need to know about teaching these skills to younger children?
I think caregivers or family members need to be aware that it is necessary for them to walk alongside the child as they use and implement these skills in their daily life. Caregivers must be fully on board for the child to be successful in his or her endeavor to behave skillfully. I often tell caregivers that their home needs to become a “DBT home,” meaning that everyone in the family is familiar and uses DBT skills and language.

When the caregiver notices an opportunity for the child to practice or use one of the skills, it is most helpful for them to do the skill alongside the child, rather than just tell the child to do it. The plan is that the child will see the caregiver using the skill, and voluntarily ask about it or follow along the caregiver and do the skill too.

Carol Lozier, LCSW is an intensively-trained DBT therapist in Louisville, Kentucky.

Can anyone learn these skills?
Yes! Anyone can learn and use these skills. Of course, like any new task it is important to have a coach or mentor as you start your new venture. In DBT, there is a large amount of new language and skills to learn, understand, and put into action. Therefore, it is most effective for a family to have an experienced DBT therapist or trainer as they are learn DBT. In today’s world, there are many DBT therapists or trainers online if a family does not have an experienced DBT therapist or trainer in their community.

What are your favorite DBT skills?
This is a hard question because I have so many favorites! I would say my top favorites to teach children and families are the TIP skills and Repairs for children, and Validation for caregivers. I like the TIP skills because they give children and caregivers an immediate skill to reduce extreme emotions and behaviors such as yelling, arguing, and hitting. Typically, families also like this skill as it is quickly helpful in managing extreme emotions in the home and school.

The Repairs skill is important as it teaches children an effective way to apologize when they have hurt—whether intentional or accidental—other people. Sometimes, children want to repair relationship hurts and they are not quite sure how to do it . . . . even though caregivers think they already understand how to apologize. This skill provides them with the necessary guidance to apologize in a meaningful and effective way.

Lastly, I like the Validation for caregivers skill as it is a vital ingredient for behavior change to occur in the child. When a child is validated, they feel heard and understood which allows the door to open for the caregiver to push for behavior change. In DBT, there are six levels of validation for caregivers to learn and use in daily life with their children.

What books are you currently reading?
I love to read, and I am almost always reading a professional book and a book for pleasure. Right now I am reading Dr. Linehan’s memoir, Building a Life Worth Living, and a book by Robyn Carr titled, The Country Guesthouse.

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Thank you, Carol! You can visit Carol Lozier, LCSW’s web site by clicking here.

Self-Stigma: Can People with BPD Learn to Accept Themselves?

Self-Acceptance and Borderline Personality Disorder

Sometimes the greatest stigma people may face comes from within.

Many of the symptoms that develop as a result of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are a direct cause of a person’s insecurity in relationships or a lack of self-acceptance. Unfortunately, a lot of people with BPD also believe that they are worthless or aren’t worthy of love and respect from others.

When people with BPD do not accept themselves, they may have a harder time getting along with others and they may engage in self-sabotaging behaviors where they don’t allow themselves to reach important academic or vocations goals. This lack of self-acceptance may also lead to feelings of self-hatred. Individuals with BPD who are unable to accept themselves may be particularly at risk for self-injury or even suicide attempts. It’s also common for people with BPD who have a harder time accepting themselves to feel isolated or lonely.

Accepting yourself is an important part of recovery from BPD. When you love and respect yourself, others will respond positively.

How to Improve Self-Acceptance

1. Get Professional Help

It's absolutely okay to get professional help. Go to a therapist in your insurance network. They can help properly diagnose you and talk to you about your journey to self-acceptance. If you have already been diagnosed, feel free to mention that to your therapist. Also, you should be mindful of what different professionals can do.

If you are looking for a therapist or a recommendation for treatment, I may be able to help. Click here to learn more about working with me.

2. Find a Creative Outlet

A common symptom of people with BPD is that they sometimes lack control over their emotions or their emotional responses may be hurtful toward others.

Many people find relief in having a creative outlet as a way to cope with their emotions. You have the ability to play music, dance, sing, sculpt, color, knit, create an art journal, or write as a way of exploring your emotions. Over time, you will develop a healthy sense of pride or accomplishment as you improve. These emotions pave the path toward self-acceptance and self-love.

3. Accept Your Flaws

Absolutely everyone has flaws—including you. It's okay to have flaws or make mistakes. It makes you human. It’s also what helps make you special. It would be boring if everyone is perfect.

Missteps and failure can be a powerful learning experience. You probably know someone who has overcome a lot of obstacles and still accomplished great things. Those failures can also help make our successes all that more meaningful. For many people, a self-compassion practice can be beneficial.

4. Develop a Support System

As someone who struggles with self-acceptance, you need a support system to help bring you up when you are feeling down. You can probably find a great support system in your own world right now. Talk to parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends when you need a little boost. Of course, you need to remember to be there for them when they need it, too.

Of course, many people don’t have a very supportive or validating family. It doesn't mean they are a bad family—it just means they don't understand how to be supportive for you. Thankfully, there are other options. Talk to your therapist about support groups or other mental health resources. You may be able to meet people at the support group and develop a support system that way. Once again, make sure to return the favor when someone else needs it.

I love recommending organizations such as NAMI Connection and Emotions Matter. If you love Twitter, check out #BPDChat.

5. Emphasize Physical Health

When you feel good on the outside, you will feel better on the inside. Some people may indulge in processed, high-calorie foods during moments of self loathing.

Instead, make a point to care for your physical health. You can eat well by opting for more fruits and vegetables. There’s so much evidence that exercise may be very beneficial, too. You'll be amazed at how much of a difference focusing on your physical health can make on your emotional outlook.

6. Recite Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are little phrases you can recite in the mirror or even in your head to help you when you need a little boost throughout the day. These affirmations can be divided into different sections, including "beauty affirmations" and "you can do it affirmations". When you need to feel good about your appearance, read the beauty affirmations. They should be a list of things about your own best feature and general beauty affirmations. When you need some support in your job or getting motivation to be there for friends and family, read the "you can do it" affirmations.

If you’re interested, I have a list of coping statements for people who have high urges to engage in self-harming behaviors I’d love for you to check out.

7. Choose Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a choice we make to help ourselves.

People often carry past trauma with them through for years. That trauma can make things much heavier than necessary emotionally. You need to learn how to forgive people to release the weight of this trauma. Whether it was a parent or an old friend, you can learn how to forgive the people who hurt you. This does not mean you forget about the pain or the consequences of those actions.

8. Meditate

There’s so much research to suggest that mindfulness and meditations practices can help us to reduce stress so that we can become more emotionally resilient. There are a number of guided meditation videos online to help you make the most of your experience. I love this self-acceptance meditation.

9. Help Others

If you want to accept yourself, you’ll find that it’s helpful to turn your focus away from yourself for several hours a week and aim that focus to people who could use your help. Spend your time helping others. You can start by visiting friends and family. You can also get involved in a charity. You will feel better about yourself at the end of the day.

10. Focus on Small Progress

Many people want to see huge progress overnight. The truth is that you probably won't see much progress right away. You should be patient and focus on small progress. Start with a small goal, such as waking up a little earlier every day, getting some exercise most days, eating well, or visiting a family member or friend every weekend. When you are able to accomplish that first step, add a new, slightly more challenging goal. In enough time, you will begin to find moments here and there when are are not only accepting yourself but you might even love yourself. When you think about yourself compared to a year or two earlier, you'll feel accomplished.

Aim for progress and not for perfection.

12 Ways to Self-Soothe with Touch: Ideas from Dialectical Behavior Therapy

It's difficult to fathom a life without stress and anxiety. No matter what we do, there are things that we encounter in our day to day lives that challenge us. As the challenges build, so does the anxiety and frustration with which we all have to live.

Given these challenges, it's incumbent on everyone to figure out how to take care of themselves. That includes taking care of themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. Of course, learning to take care of oneself also creates challenges, and the cycle continues.

No one knows you better than you know yourself. That's why you are the one who needs to learn how to take care of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Keeping in mind that stress and anxiety adversely affect our lives profoundly and in so many ways, we need to figure out ways to manage the negativity.

Believe it or not, we all have the tools we need to soothe the anxieties and stresses that interfere with our quality of life. Those tools include our own hands, self-awareness, and imagination. The following sections are going to focus on 12 ways you can self-soothe with the magic of touch. If you will give these self-soothing methods a try, you might find yourself better able to take control of your life.

1. Massage Your Temples

Many times, stress is nothing more than a mental state of mind. If you want relief from mental stress, it would make sense to go right to the source. Your temples are pressure points. When you get a headache, you can soothe the pain of the headache by massaging your temples. Since stress and anxiety are two of the top causes of headaches, it makes sense that massaging your temples for stress relief is appropriate.

2. Take a Warm Bath with Epsom Salts

When stress and anxiety come calling, your muscles tend to tighten up. That's the body's way of saying everything is not okay. Warm water has a calming and relaxing effect on the skin and muscles. It could be quite a treat to run yourself a warm bath, toss in some lavender epsom salts, and let yourself relax while your problems are washed away. After a nice long warm bath, it's hard to walk away feeling anything but relaxed and refreshed.

3. Squeeze a Ball

With a lot of stress and anxiety building up inside you, you might have a tendency to get uptight. That might lead to feelings of aggression. If you are looking for a way to soothe your feelings of aggression while not being aggressive, you might find that squeezing a runner ball or maybe even silly putty will help. It might afford you a chance to transfer your aggression to the item you are squeezing—without hurting yourself or others.

You can create your own stress ball by following these instructions.

4. Get a Massage

Something is amazing about human touch. Mentally, another person's touch reminds us we are not alone. Physically, the body just loves human contact. The reason most babies don't feel stress is because they are constantly receiving physical comfort from the touching of other people.

If you have never had a truly soothing massage, there's a good chance you haven't lived yet. From your skin through to your muscles and organs, every part of your body will experience the soothing benefits of a really good massage.

5. Give Yourself a Pedicure and Manicure

A lot of people find it very pleasurable, soothing, and satisfying to do something caring for themselves. Taking care of one's hygiene is a great way to show you care about yourself and your wellbeing. The simple act of giving yourself a manicure and pedicure can benefit you in two ways. First, it's very relaxing. Second, it requires just enough mental focus that it helps take your mind off the issues of the day.

6. Walk Barefoot in the Sand or Grass

The simple pleasures in life can be very soothing and fulfilling. While you might take nature for granted, there is something very soothing about having physical contact with the earth. Can you imagine a better way to enjoy nature than taking off your shoes and socks for a walk on the sand or plush grass?

The reality is most of us live in a concrete jungle where the grass is something that only exists in books. If you have never walked barefoot in the grass, you should seek out a nice patch of grass and give it a shot. Getting in touch with nature is very soothing.

7. Use Aromatic Oils

There are a lot of health benefits you can enjoy by treating your skin to body oils. From a physical perspective, it can help keep your skin moist and looking healthy. From a mental perspective, the act of applying the oil to portions of your body can be very soothing.

By the way, the sense of smell can play a key role in your psychology. Certain fragrances are very pleasing and soothing to humans, thinking about scents like lemon and lavender. If you are in the mood to oil up, you can always find ways to increase your pleasure by appealing to your sense of smell at the same time.

8. Take a Meditation or Yoga Class

Some people find it very relaxing to do something physical that also requires a level of mental focus. That describes meditation and yoga to a tee. Admittedly, meditation and yoga don't require a lot of physical touching, but there is something very soothing about getting in touch with one's inner self. Some people have described mediation as the process of massaging one's soul from the inside.

9. Brush Your Hair

Brushing your hair might seem like one of the most mundane things you can do to try to soothe yourself. However, you might want to try to think about it from a different perspective. The reality is your scalp and hair follicles can be very sensitive. The act of brushing your hair stimulates both your scalp and hair follicles. Anything that acts to stimulate a portion of your body can be very soothing.

10. Place Hand Over Your Heart and Count Heartbeats

When a baby is upset or feeling stressed, a mother's most natural instinct is usually to rub the child's chest and tummy. Maybe that has something to do with the heart being the center of human life.

If you want confirmation that you are alive and everything is going to be okay, you should place your hand over your heart and press in hard enough to feel your heartbeat. You might find great comfort in knowing everything is working the way it should. Peace of mind and soothing seem to go hand in hand.

11. Give and Get Lots of Hugs

How many times in your life have you felt bad, only to seek out comfort in the form of hugs from people who you believe care about you? If you think about it, you have been seeking hugs since the very moment you were born. We never seem to lose the desire for the comfort of a good hug. The fact is hugging can be one of the least threatening and most soothing forms of touch between people. By the way, hugging a pet has its benefits as well.

12. Use a Weighted Blanket

Awhile ago, I went to the dentist for surgery and they placed an extra heavy blanket on me right before they began working. I was amazed to observe how quickly I felt more relaxed. The truth is that weighted or heavier blankets help many people to relax during a moment of anxiety or when they anticipate a panic attack.

You can purchase weighted blankets (click here to see what’s available now on Amazon.com) or you can layer three or four blankets on your bed, crawl under the covers, and see for yourself if this is something that may be soothing for you. If this strategy works, you should begin to feel better within five or ten minutes.

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For more information about dialectical behavior therapy, please check out:

• DBT Self-Help

• Help for Family Members and Friends

• Art Journaling Prompts

Don't Cut Temporary Tattoos

Sometimes we all need a little reminder to resist those behaviors that prevent us from being our best.

I love these little 1.5 x 1.5 inch temporary tattoo reminders to stay free from self-harm.

Twenty temporary tattoos are just $15. Shipping is only available for residents in the United States.

Frequently asked questions:

How do I apply temporary tattoos?
1. Skin should be clean, dry, and free of makeup.
2. Remove clear protective top sheet.
3. Press tattoo firmly onto clean skin with design facing down.
4. Hold wet wash cloth or paper towel against back of tattoo and gently press down.
5. Wait 30 seconds and peel off paper backing.
6. Voila!

How do I remove temporary tattoos?
Saturate tattoo with coconut or baby oil. Wait ten seconds and then carefully rub away with cotton ball or wash cloth.

How long do temporary tattoos last?
Most temporary tattoos last between 1 and 4 days.

Can I have an allergic reaction to temporary tattoos?
Yes! Please use with caution if you are sensitive to adhesives. Do not use temporary tattoos on skin that is broken or burned.

How much is shipping?
No matter how many tattoos you order, shipping is free.

Who designed the tattoos?
Fabiring is the talented graphic designer. She’s nice!

For more healthy living ideas, please check out:

• DBT Self-Help

• Art Journaling Prompts for DBT

• Coping Statements to Prevent Self-Harm

• Are You Self-Compassionate?

Why Do People with Borderline Personality Disorder Feel Empty?

“Chronic feelings of emptiness” is one of the nine DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder. The experience of emptiness is an important criterion to target in treatment because the symptom can be devastating for many individuals.

For some people emptiness might also feel like:

• loneliness
• dissatisfaction
• boredom
• sadness
• apathy
• disconnection

We know that emptiness may drive other unwanted emotions (like hopelessness or despair) as well as depression. It’s not uncommon for people who feel empty to also think about suicide or self-harming behaviors. Emptiness may also be a catalyst for many people with borderline personality disorder to engage in addictive behaviors.

Some people explain their experience of emptiness by saying, “I never fit in,” “I don’t like who I am,” or “I always seem to feel alone—even when I’m with those who care about me.” Others may say, “I can’t figure out what to do with my life.”

What causes feelings of emptiness?

People may feel empty because they:

• have few or no meaningful relationships
• live or work in an environment where they are repeatedly misunderstood or invalidated
• don’t have a consistent sense of who they are
• have experienced an important loss
• feel unworthy or undeserving
• are faced with an existential crisis
• lack important academic or vocational goals
• don’t believe they are important

As a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) specialist, I know that there are many ways my clients can help themselves and reduce feelings of emptiness. Together we can work on helping individuals with borderline personality disorder and their families create healthier relationships and find purpose in life. Establishing and working toward goals can help give people a sense of accomplishment. When people understand that life can be meaningful—even if some emotional pain remains—feelings of emptiness are reduced.

For a lot of people, reducing emptiness may be a goal that takes several years to reach. Individuals with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and their family members are always encouraged to be hopeful—and patient.

People with borderline personality disorder may need additional, structured support to reach their goals. This support may come from family members, friends, therapists, or even coaches. Coaches can help with goals related to organization, finances, and even career planning. The professional roles of mentor and mentee may also be beneficial for individuals with BPD.

DBT is an evidence-based treatment that can help people create a life worth living, feel better about themselves, and give individuals the practical tools they need to reduce feelings of emptiness.

For more information about dialectical behavior therapy, please check out:

• DBT Self-Help

• Understanding BPD Triggers

• 63 Reasons for Staying Alive

• Coping with Abandonment Fears

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder "Triggers"

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

According to the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, "Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that centers on the inability to manage emotions effectively.”

BPD may be manifested through the individual's intense fear of abandonment, intense mood swings, anger or rage toward caregivers or partners, suicidal thinking, self-harming behaviors, and sometimes paranoia. Symptom severity may make it difficult for individuals to work toward meaningful academic, vocational, and relational goals. Most often, BPD is diagnosed by using the criteria established by the DSM-5.

Generally, BPD is most often diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. There are strong indications and evidence that the disorder will become more manageable as the individual progresses through adulthood.

What Causes Borderline Personality Disorder?

This is one of the areas in which the psychiatric community is unclear. It's really difficult to pin down exactly what causes someone to be diagnosed with BPD. With that said, there are two schools of thought.

First, there is evidence that some (and potentially all) components of BPD are tied to genetics. Just like we see a genetic component when it comes to physical illnesses, diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder may also be linked by family history.

Second, it would appear that many people are more vulnerable to having the diagnosis if they grew up in what we think of as an invalidating environment for some children and teens. An invalidating environment may we one where trauma or neglect takes place. Sometimes emotionally-sensitive children don’t feel like they fit in with the rest of the family and we might also consider that to be an invalidating environment.

Of course, parents don’t set out to “cause” BPD or create a family where trauma is likely to occur. I encourage families to be careful and not assign blame or judgment to themselves or others when someone in the family has been diagnosed with BPD.

As a therapist intensively-trained in dialectical behavior therapy, I believe in the assumption that all people are doing the best that they can. That includes individuals with the diagnosis of BPD and their family members.

All behavior is caused. —Marsha Linehan, PhD, creator of dialectical behavior therapy

What are "Triggers" for Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder?

The word “trigger” seems to bring with it so many negatives connotations. When I’m working with clients and their families, I almost always use the word “catalyst” as a substitute for “triggers.” When we think about some of the behaviors associated with BPD, the word catalyst refers to the events or actions that cause the problematic thoughts, emotions, or behaviors.

Here’s an example:

Kate is an emotionally-sensitive 19 year-old who is away at college for her freshman year. She has several roommates she met on her first day on campus. Like most freshman, Kate is eager to make friends and wants to be liked by her peers. She also fears rejection.

One of Kate’s roommates decides in the first couple of days that she doesn’t like Kate and behaves in a way that is polite and, yet, cool toward her. Because of this rejection, Kate feels a mixture of shame, sadness, and guilt. She’s had the thought, “There’s something wrong with me.” Less than a week later Kate calls her family in tears and says that no one at college likes her and that she wants to come home.

In this particular case, the catalyst for wanting to leave school is the perceived rejection. The thoughts and emotions that surround the event cause the behavior.

One of the most important keys to recovery is understanding how particular emotions, thoughts, or events serve as catalysts for BPD symptoms and behaviors.

It's important to note that the catalysts for a person's behaviors will vary from one individual to the next. There is no one-size-fits-all position here. With that said, some catalysts are more common than others. That list includes the following:

• the perception of being abandoned

• having one’s feelings hurt

• any form of rejection (even from a stranger)

• the loss of an important relationship

• being fired from a job or removed from a group

• memories of a traumatic event

While there are many other events and actions that can cause a moment of intense emotional dysregulation, the fact remains that the fear of exclusion, rejection, and abandonment seem to be most prevalent. When the individual feels they have been abandoned or shunned, it's common for them to react emotionally. Sometimes a person will strike out in anger at the source of the rejection or abandonment. This might also occur when people feel invalidated or dismissed. When that anger turns inward, self-sabotaging behaviors, alcohol use, drug abuse, self-harm, and suicide become real possibilities.

What's most concerning about one's catalysts is the idea a catalyst might not be a significant event in the eyes of a person who is not suffering from BPD. Here is a list of seemingly innocent catalysts that can drive a someone to BPD toward behaviors that invariably hurt them or others:

• not getting a return phone call when requested

• not getting an invitation to a party

• the lack of a response to a simple question

• not being called on in a classroom

• not being included in a decision making process

• being ignored, criticized, or judged

Anything that makes the individual feel they are being disregarded could serve as a catalyst for behaviors that are incongruent with that person’s goals and values. Identifying patterns can help everyone cope in ways that are more effective.

Can You (or Should You) Remove “Triggers”?

It’s probably not possible to identify and then remove all potential triggers—or catalysts—for ineffective behaviors. We don’t need to always shield or protect someone we love from upsetting events or difficult situations since these moments are often an important part of experiencing life as it is. Some people even find that tough situations help them to grow and build our emotional resilience. (I also believe this!)

A healthy (and compassionate) response is to help someone cope with the events that are upsetting. People with BPD can learn to soothe themselves and to understand their maladaptive patterns to approaching problems.

Helping the Individual Who Has Borderline Personality Disorder

Collaboration is key. Telling someone what to do or demanding change in a moment of emotional dysregulation will almost always cause more harm.

What people with BPD are missing is the ability to cope with the catalysts that drive their inappropriate behaviors. If they can learn to recognize and cope with their catalysts, they stand a fighting chance of leading a normal life.

The first thing you can do to help your loved one is to make sure they get a proper diagnosis and understanding about that with which they are dealing. With work with a well-qualified therapist, they can learn new coping skills or ways to understand their thoughts and emotions.

Here are some basic things your loved one can do to help offset the pain and anxiety they might face when feeling rejected or abandoned:

• Listen to some relaxing music

• Use grounding exercises

• Watch a funny movie

• Make chocolate avocado pudding

• Validate

• Relax in a warm bath

• Go for a walk together

• Read or listen to a book

• Review reasons for staying alive

• Seek help when things get really rough

• Color

• Practice self-compassion

What’s important for you to know is that you don’t need to solve all of your family member’s problems and you don’t need to try to say or do the “perfect” thing. You quiet presence is sometimes all that’s necessary in order to help your family member get through a difficult moment.

Think about what has worked for your family in the past. Is there something you could plan to do in the future to help you both?

If you are someone who loves an individual with BPD, please check out my course for family members and friends.

Seven Self-Help Ideas for Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder is a mental health diagnosis that can make it difficult for someone to cope with a variety of emotions and thoughts. Many people with borderline personality disorder live in a constant state of worry or fear over real or perceived abandonment. The diagnosis also leaves people significantly more likely to practice self-harm or die by suicide.

The good news is that, with treatment and support, a person with borderline personality disorder can find new ways of coping and feel better. The not-so-good news is that professional help may be exceedingly difficult to find in many areas of the world. Self-help strategies and tools can often assist a person in coping with their their most distressing symptoms.

Below you’ll find seven ways that people who have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder can help themselves.

Identify Diagnostic Tools

Unless you are a mental health professional, you probably aren't going to be in a position to diagnose yourself or a loved one with borderline personality disorder. Only a medical professional can accurately give that diagnosis. However, the internet has made it easy for you to take online screenings that can help give you a better idea of whether or not you have a borderline personality disorder.

You can find other diagnostic tools by Googling queries such as: “depression screening online” or “anxiety test online.” I also like to recommend researcher Dr. Kristin Neff’s online questionnaire about being self-compassionate.

Although these tools may not be perfect, they may be a way for you to learn more about yourself and your symptoms. Just make sure the test you take is a reputable one and created based on best scientific and medical practices.

You may also want to check out this article on the pros and cons of self-diagnosing.

Mindfulness Techniques

Mindfulness is a process by which individuals are encouraged to be more "in the moment." It involves being present in things that are happening at any given second, rather than being absorbed in events of the past, future, or our own mind. It also means observing things that are occurring, and sensations that you are feeling, without being too judgmental, critical, or analytical.

Mindfulness, for most of us, is notoriously difficult and requires a great deal of practice and conscious observation. Other practices, like meditation, can help one achieve this state of mind. However, when it comes to mental illnesses in general, and borderline personality disorder specifically, there is good news, as mindfulness can help someone achieve piece and ease their symptoms.

Some people find that something as simple as coloring with pencils or markers can be a way to practice mindfulness.

Furthermore, mindfulness is a core component of dialectical behavior therapy, a specific type of component that has shown promise when it comes to treating borderline personality disorder. It can help individuals regulate their emotions, develop emotional discipline, and concentrate more on their feelings and emotions. It can also help to calm feelings of anxiety and depression.

Perhaps most importantly, mindfulness can help someone change their brain chemistry, thinking patterns, and emotional capacity. For people who are learning to cope with the symptoms of borderline personality disorder, this can be an important skill.

Meditation

Meditation, like mindfulness, can be incredibly helpful to someone with borderline personality disorder. Indeed, meditation and mindfulness often go hand in hand.

Meditation comes with many specific benefits. Meditation is a practice that involves slowing down, concentrating on thoughts, breathing, or a chant in order to ease one's mind. There are many different types of meditations, and all of these can have different impacts.

Many studies show the benefits of meditation on mental health in general. It can ease anxiety and symptoms of depression and make people feel more at ease and at peace. This, in turn, can regulate emotional intensity, calm emotional outbursts, and help people have healthier relationships - this, of course, can have a major impact on people with borderline personality disorder.

Indeed, as noted by a scientific review, individuals who have borderline personality disorder and meditate often show improvements over a number of symptoms.

Podcasts

I’ve loved podcasts for years and know that I learn a lot when I listen to each episode. You can find podcasts about topics that range from mindfulness, healthy relationships, self-care, and coping with anxiety or depression. If you have an interest, there a podcast waiting for you.

Here are some of the podcasts I like to recommend to my clients and their families.

(And if you have a favorite podcast to recommend to me, please let me know. You can write to me at amanda@hopeforbpd.com.)

Distract Yourself

Sometimes, the best thing you can do when you are in a moment of crisis is to distract yourself from whatever pain you are in. This can be exceptionally difficult, but there's good news: With practice, it gets easier.

How can you distract yourself? Thankfully, there are a variety of different ways.

• What's a hobby that you love? Are you a knitter? Puzzles? Drawing? Writing? Find a project and throw yourself into it.

• Is there work that you can do, either around your house or for your job?

This distraction can be tough. It can be painful, difficult to do. It can take time in order to learn how to distract yourself and determine what hobby or method works best. However, the important thing is that you try. You may find that engaging in a hobby is the best way to get yourself through a moment of crisis or an intense period of emotional pain. When that moment passes - and they do pass - you can reevaluate. But sometimes, the key is to push yourself through a problematic experience and bring yourself into a better place.

DBT Skills Training

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment that has been a life-saving therapy for people all over the world. Unfortunately, there are still many parts of the world where DBT is not available or may not be affordable.

If you cannot get access to a therapist or are on a waiting list for DBT, online skills training may provide you with an ideal way of helping to learn the skills you need.

Online skills training can you help you learn:

• ways to soothe yourself when you’re upset.

• how to control your thoughts and emotions.

• what to do when you feel empty, bored, or even self-destructive.

• how you to be a better, healthier version of you.

Seek Online Support

One of the many positives of the advent of the digital world that we live in is that there is no shortage of resources for people who are looking for help. Indeed, there are many Facebook pages and groups for people who are looking for support and information.

I also love to recommend #BPDChat on Twitter. It’s an encouraging and hopeful resource for many people who are seeking connection and encouragement.

These resources can be very helpful in a variety of ways, including helping you share your experiences, discuss coping techniques, and finding people who will be compassionate and validating. Please remember that you aren't alone, and you should find other people to share stories of healing and hope.

Online support, however, should never be confused with treatment with a licensed health care professional. Some online communities are positive and hopeful places to seek support and information but other web sites may contain information that is inaccurate and even harmful.

Note: If you are currently in a mental health crisis, please call your local emergency services or consider reaching out to to someone who is in a position to help. That next phone call or email may be the one that connects you to the resources you need the most.

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If you want to learn more about borderline personality disorder, I can strongly recommend these books:

• The Borderline Personality Disorder Wellness Planner for Families

• Coping with BPD: DBT and CBT Skills to Soothe the Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

• Beyond Borderline: True Stories of Recovery

Can Teens Be Diagnosed with BPD?

Parents and caregivers are increasingly becoming aware of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and its confusing symptoms. BPD is a form of biosocial disorder that begins with temperamental inclination. The degree of BPD a person may suffer is largely determined by the social environment. People suffering from the condition are often weighed down by extreme anger as well as intense shame, self-harming behaviors, and feelings of emptiness.

The other challenge is difficulty connecting with other people. Due to the high proclivity to interpret things negatively, individuals who are hypersensitive to social cues stand a high risk of experiencing heightened symptoms.

The signs of BPD may include:
• Intense emotional reaction, which is often inappropriate and disproportionate to the situation
• Dysfunctional self-image that may lead to serious consequences such as damaged identity
• Constant fear of abandonment and rejection
• Feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, or excessive boredom
• Acting out sexually
• Self-injury
• Suicidal thinking and planning
• Desire to engage in impulsive and risky behaviors as informed by self-destructive patterns
• Turning to substance use as a way to cope with thoughts or emotions
• Engulfing sense of anxiety and worry that creates urges that push the affected person beyond the existential risks

The intense emotional reaction felt by teens with BPD may mean mood swings from a happy expression to a despondent mood in a short time. Fear of abandonment is common among BPD sufferers. This feeling is often exacerbated by the thought of being left alone and can happen if a loved one or caregiver arrives home late or goes away for some time. The self-injury behavior exhibited by BPD sufferers can easily lead to suicidal behavior.

Research suggests that individuals with a diagnosis of BPD are at a greater risk of dying by suicide. The suicidal tendency is normally expressed through attempted suicide and suicidal gestures. The desire to engage in impulsive or risky behaviors may be heightened when the affected person is upset. This is often expressed through reckless driving, engaging in risky sex, binge eating, or using alcohol and drugs to help avoid thoughts or emotions.

While it may be tempting to imagine that a child or teen is threatening suicide as a way to seek attention, suicidal threats or attempts should always be taken seriously. If your teen is threatening to harm themselves or others, please contact your local emergency services.

Can you diagnose a teen with borderline personality disorder?
Yes! There is nothing to prevent a licensed healthcare professional from diagnosing a teen or child with BPD. In fact, most adults with BPD will recognize that their symptoms often began in childhood or when they were teens.

Many studies show that BPD can be traced to neurological factors, trauma, unstable or inconsistent relationships, and genetics.

A licensed mental health professional can diagnose a teen with BPD after an in-depth interview and assessment—including family history. Often it takes several appointments to make an accurate diagnosis.

According to article written by researcher Marie-Pier Larrivée, clinicians often find it difficult to diagnose BPD among adolescents because this is the stage when adolescents experience natural life transition, which is often marked by turbulence. A lot of these changes do not qualify as a personality disorder. For instance, adolescents typically experience moodiness and a certain degree of risk-taking and impulsive behaviors as they grow. This can happen without the teen falling into any serious personal or health problem.

Teens may be compelled to try out sex or alcohol out of individual or peer impulses. Although BPD is largely misunderstood, evidence-based treatment can help diagnose the condition more accurately. To achieve a better outcome, the treatment team constitutes professionals with experience in diagnosing and treating BPD.

The following therapeutic interventions can help achieve sustainable healing:
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) – This form of therapeutic intervention helps bring valuable insights to the suffering teen by identifying the emotional issues causing a sense of isolation. CBT can also help the teen overcome self-defeating thoughts.

• Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) – This is a form of psychotherapy developed by Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy in the United Kingdom. It’s designed to help the teen recognize and understand their emotions.

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – This approach involves the application of mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation skills. Therapist are also available in between sessions to help the client and their family.

• Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Therapy – Several behavioral studies show that a focus on mindfulness and self-compassion training can help people with BPD overcome feelings of insecurities and improve coping skills.

• Experiential Therapies – Although music, art, and adventure therapy are not an evidence-based treatment for BPD, they may be very beneficial. These interventions are often helpful at building self-worth.

When considering therapeutic intervention, it is important to find the right therapist—someone who is experienced in working with teens with BPD. The healing process often involves breaking down the dysfunctional patterns that control the thought or emotional process and cause the teen distress. Family-based approaches are also highly recommended because teens are an integral part of the family. With love and support, family intervention can help facilitate the much-needed, long term healing.

The Role of Medications in Treating BPD
Prescription medication can also be used as part of the overall intervention but is often not necessary. In the United States, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is yet to approve any medication to help treat BPD. As a DBT therapist, I often encourage my clients and their families to think about lifestyle and nutritional changes as a potential alternative to medications.

Medications may help but some teens but parents and caregivers should not imagine that a pharmaceutical approach can replace evidence-based therapy, strong family support, and a lot of patience.

Conclusion
Teens can be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The diagnosis should not be delayed until after the teen turns 18 or 21. Moreover, families of suicidal or self-harming teens should not be encouraged to postpone treatment and wait to see if the adolescent outgrows the behavior.

Parents and guardians may find it challenging to get the right treatment and will benefit from educating themselves about this diagnosis.

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If you are looking for additional information on helping children and adolescents with borderline personality disorder, please check out these books.

• The BPD Wellness Planner for Families by Amanda L. Smith

• BPD in Adolescents: What to Do When Your Teen Has BPD by Blaise Aguirre

• Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions by Pat Harvey

• The Highly-Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When the World Overwhelms Them by Elaine Aron

BPD or Bipolar Disorder?

It is common for people to confuse bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder (BPD), primarily because both diagnoses may have similar symptoms, such as depression, intense emotional responses, and highly impulsive behavior. However, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder are two separate and distinct psychological conditions, which means those suffering from them display different symptoms and will have different and, yet, similar treatment options.

When deciding whether a person is experiencing bipolar or borderline personality disorder, it is important to understand the unique traits of each condition.

Bipolar Disorder vs. BPD
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, like major depressive disorder, that causes extreme mood fluctuations. Bipolar disorder can strongly impact a person’s activity levels, emotions, thoughts, and functionalities, and episodes can sometimes last months.

Unlike bipolar disorder, BPD is a type of personality disorder that causes a person to relate, feel, think, and act differently than others. Those with BPD have difficulty regulating their emotions, and often, they experience a constant cycle of varying moods, behaviors, and self-image.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Individuals with bipolar disorder suffer from profound shifts in mood that vary over time. Patients often alternate between depression (lows) and mania (highs) with intermittent periods of normal mood. Common symptoms of bipolar depression include:

• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Fatigue
• Inexplicable aches and pains
• Crying spells
• Periods of extreme sadness
• Pessimism and indifference
• Noticeable changes in appetite and sleep pattern
• Difficulty making decisions and concentrating
• Social withdrawal
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Difficulty finding pleasure in usual interests

Common symptoms of mania include:

• Decreased need for sleep
• Elevated mood
• Racing thoughts, speech, or both
• Grandiose ideas
• Poor judgment
• Inflated sense of self
• Impulsive or reckless behavior
• An exaggerated sense of optimism or confidence
• Delusions and hallucinations (in some severe cases)

There are varying forms of bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar I are more likely to experience extreme highs and lows while patients with bipolar II tend to experience hypomania (a less severe form of mania). Bipolar patients may also experience mixed episodes in which they experience both mania and depression simultaneously.

During periods of depression or mania, patients may need to be hospitalized if they are unable to function or are deemed a threat to themselves or others. Some patients may exhibit rapid-cycling bipolar I or II and experience four or more mood episodes within a year. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder does not take place over a few hours—these cycles may continue for weeks at a time.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
As previously mentioned, individuals with BPD often suffer from an unstable self-image and intense, difficult to regulate emotions. They are often impulsive, and their self-destructive behaviors can place a major strain on their interpersonal relationships. BPD patients may also experience many of the following symptoms:

• Frequently changing values and interests
• A pattern of intense and unstable relationships with others, for whom feelings cycle between love and hate
• An uncertain view of one’s role in the world
• Black and white thinking (the tendency to view situations, thoughts, and people as either totally good or bad)
• Distorted or unstable sense of self
• Changing opinions about others quickly (e.g., believing someone to be an enemy one day and a close friend the next)
• Self-harming behaviors, such as burning, overdosing, or cutting
• Difficulty trusting others
• Attempts to avoid real or imagined sources of emotional pain or abandonment
• Reckless or careless behavior, such as drug abuse, unsafe sex, overspending, and dangerous driving
• Intense fear of loneliness
• Frequent feelings of emptiness
• Constant thoughts of suicide
• Intense feelings of anxiety, depression, and anger
• Dissociation (the feeling of being outside of one’s own body)

It is important to note, however, that not everyone experiences BPD in the same manner. Some people may only have a few symptoms that rarely interfere with their daily functioning, while others may have numerous symptoms that may prevent people from reaching their vocational, academic, and relational goals. Stressful or emotionally painful events can also cause patients to experience BPD symptoms more intensely. From the perspective of others, such events may seem relatively unimportant or disproportionate to the emotions they elicit in the BPD patient.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder and BPD
To accurately diagnose a person with BPD or bipolar disorder, a trained mental health professional will ask them a series of questions about the duration and frequency of their symptoms. They may also ask about the person’s drug use and family medical history. Therapists and psychiatrists often use questionnaires or other assessments to collect such information.

If a person has experienced at least one episode of mania that has lasted for at least seven days or required hospitalization, they may be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. If they have experienced an episode of hypomania and a major depressive episode, they may be diagnosed as bipolar II.

Naturally, there are cases where it is difficult to distinguish between the two conditions. To properly diagnose a patient, a physician or therapist may focus much of their attention on identifying specific symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:

• Self-harm: A significant percentage of BPD patients engage in self-harming behaviors. Although some bipolar patients may also self-harm, it is more common in BPD patients.
• Sleep: Bipolar patients often suffer from disturbed sleep patterns during bouts of depression and mania. Individuals with BPD can maintain a regular sleep pattern.
• Mania: Although patients with BPD can act impulsively, their impulsivity is usually not related to mania.
• Cycling moods: Except for those suffering from rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, individuals with bipolar disorder often have mood cycles that can last days, weeks, or months. BPD mood shifts typically only last a few hours or days.
• Unstable relationships: BPD patients have intense relationships that are often compounded by interpersonal conflict.

Once an individual is accurately diagnosed, they can work with their licensed mental health professional to create an effective treatment plan.

Psychotherapy Options
There is a wealth of psychotherapies available to patients suffering from BPD and bipolar disorder, however, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) tend to be the most common. They entail the following:

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): One of the most common types of therapy in the world, CBT therapy helps patients identify certain core believes and behaviors and change them over time. CBT can also help patients learn how to self-soothe without resorting to dangerous behaviors. When working with a CBT therapist, patients will often identify recurring thought patterns and decide whether they are useful or constructive. CBT is also known to be a useful tool for patients suffering from anxiety.

• DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy): Psychologist Marsha M. Linehan developed DBT—an evidence-based treatment that’s also a form of CBT—in the 1980s to treat individuals who were suicidal. Utilizing traditional mindfulness techniques and other therapeutic approaches, DBT is specifically structured to help patients suffering from BPD. Geared towards highly emotional individuals, DBT therapy may help individuals accept their self-destructive behaviors, values, and beliefs, and gradually change them over time. Patients may also learn tactics to avoid self-harming or self-sabotaging behaviors.

For individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, please check out Sheri Van Dijk, MSW’s book The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Workbook for Bipolar Disorder. (You can buy her book on Amazon.com here.)

• Self-Compassion Training: As a DBT therapist, I’m particularly fond of self-compassion as a therapeutic approach that can help people with both bipolar disorder and BPD. Regardless of any diagnosis, becoming self-compassionate is an important life skill.

Christopher Germer, PhD is a leader in this field. I love his books The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion. (You can find his books on Amazon.com here.)

• Peer support groups: Often underutilized tools, peer support groups can be of immense help for both individuals who have been diagnosed with BPD or bipolar disorder. A peer support group is typically composed of several people with lived experience who can help, and groups are often led by certified peer support specialists. During a group session, individuals can expect support and encouragement while learning how to manage their symptoms. Some support groups may help guide participants to additional mental health resources in their communities.

In particular, I love recommending NAMI Connection, Recovery International, and organizations such as Emotions Matter as a great place to start when people are looking for information and support.

The type of treatment a patient chooses should be based on their own unique mental health needs and goals. Individuals with BPD or bipolar disorder should be encouraged to play an active role in their treatment.

The Importance of Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
Although bipolar disorder and BPD have many commonalities, there are several key differences between the two conditions. A licensed mental health professional can help diagnose and then provide treatment recommendations.

Both BPD and bipolar disorder are highly treatable and most people will have a good (or even excellent) prognosis with evidence-based treatment.

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For additional information, please check out:

Who Can Diagnose BPD?

Emotionally-Sensitive or BPD?

Treating BPD Without Medications

DBT for Family Members and Friends

Sometimes obstacles can become opportunities. Please email me today at amanda@hopeforbpd.com for additional information about treatment consultation.