I Love You, I Hate You But Dont Go: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

It amazes me that 6-10 million Americans have been diagnosed with this isolating disorder. What's amazing about this is that not much is written about BPD much less talked about. Almost like there is a stigma attached to the very name.

The name Borderline Personality Disorder originated in 1938 by Adolph Stern. He was describing a group of patients that didn't quite fit an existing diagnosis; patients that were classified as past the neurotic stage but not quite psychotic. However these days this disorder is seen in a different way but the name BPD has stuck.

BPD is relatively common, affecting 10-14% of the general population. Women commonly suffer from depression more often than men and the frequency of BPD in women is two to three times greater than men. Nearly 20% of psychiatric hospitalizations stem from BPD.

While people that suffer with depression or bipolar disorder typically endure the same mood for several weeks at a time, a person with BPD can experience depression and anxiety that may last only an hour or at most, a day.

Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder

? Impulsive aggression

? Self injury

? Strong feelings of anxiety

? Feelings of low self worth

? Drug or alcohol abuse

? Impulsive behaviors

? Feelings of being misunderstood

? Experience unstable relationships

Sometimes people suffering from BPD view themselves essentially as bad people or unworthy. This mood instability and poor self-image can bring on bouts of anger, eating disorders, panic attacks and anxiety. Very intense emotional turmoil appears to be a way of life for those afflicted by it.

However, often times a person with BPD can present as a bright, intelligent individual with a warm, friendly nature. They can maintain this appearance for a number of years until their defense mechanism breaks down, usually because of a very stressful situation like a relationship breakup or death of a loved one.

They may feel isolated and empty which may result in frantic efforts to avoid being alone. People with BPD often formulate highly unstable relationship patterns. While their relationships with family and friends can be very intense their attitude can change dramatically and suddenly from great admiration and love to profound anger and distaste. Often times they will form an immediate attachment to another person but when even a slight conflict or separation occurs they shift suddenly to the other extreme and accuse the other person of not really caring about them at all. They are highly sensitive to any sign (real or imagined) of rejection and react quickly with anger and distress when their expectations are not met.

Over the years treatments for BPD have improved with group and individual psychotherapy at least partially effective for a great number of patients. Talking about present challenges and past experiences with an empathetic and accepting therapist on a consistent and regular basis has proven effective. Patients are encouraged to talk about their feelings rather than expel them in their usual self-defeating manner.

Sometimes medications such as antidepressants or lithium carbonate are helpful in treatment of BPD and brief hospitalization may be necessary during acutely stressful episodes or if self-destructive behavior threatens to erupt.

The goals of ongoing therapy and/or treatments would be to increase an individual's tolerance of anxiety as well as increase self awareness and build more stability into relationships. With increased self awareness and introspection, it is hoped that individuals with BPD will be able to change rigid patterns of behavior set earlier in life which in turn will help prevent these patterns from repeating themselves in future generations.

Lois Galloway is a Professional Coach. As the founder of Discover Yourself Coaching, Lois acknowledges that each person is extraordinary in their own right and that having a personal coach will encourage and empower individuals to gain clairty and move forward to become their very best! To learn more about Discover Yourself Coaching, please follow the link to Lois's web site and remember to sign up for the monthly newsletters. http://www.discoveryourselfcoaching.com

---

Change Your Life Forever with New Medical Breakthrough Treatment for Depression

With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More

Know the Signs of Depression and Improve Your Life

Typical signs of depression actually show a change in the... Read More

Aspartame and Your Mental Health

In 1965, a chemist working to develop an ulcer drug... Read More

Depression in Teenagers: Now What Can We Do?

No doubt you have seen the recent news headlines about... Read More

How to Overcome Anxiety and Take Repossession of Your Life!

Katie came as close as is possible to having it... Read More

Recognizing Depression

Depression is a serious issue. There are simply hundreds of... Read More

Mood Disorders And Depression

We all suffer with bad moods from time to time.... Read More

Depression Mantra

Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders.... Read More

Depression is a Choice

There is one very simple reason for all emotional depression.In... Read More

Depression and Procrastination: Twins in the Job Search

My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and... Read More

Depression Treatment: Depression Would Be Second Largest Illness by 2010!

World Health Organisation states one out of four worldwide suffer... Read More

5 Ways to Transform Your Struggles Into Victories

Have you read the famous quote, "Every struggle is a... Read More

10 Simple Coping Strategies When a Family Member Has Clinical Depression

1.Remember that it is an illness:Clinical depression often requires medical... Read More

I Love You, I Hate You But Dont Go: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

It amazes me that 6-10 million Americans have been diagnosed... Read More

5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression

Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More

Aromatherapy and Depression

When artiste Leslie Cheung committed suicide, he left behind a... Read More

Depression Explained

Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or... Read More

5 Surefire Tips to Beat Depression Now

Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives...... Read More

Ten Tips For Beating Depression

I heard about a woman who was suffering from depression,... Read More

First Thing You Should Do to Get Out of Depression

Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized... Read More

Depression is the Number One Cause of Disability in the United States

According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10... Read More

New Treatment for Depression to be Presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting

Within the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More

Psychiatrist Begin Training About Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Depression

The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator has begun face-to... Read More

Depression: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

There are three basic ways to treat depression: psychotherapy, self-help,... Read More

The Cost of Giving Up

I'm sure at times of deep crisis many of you... Read More

Dont Be Surprised!

Life wasn't easy for cave men. They had to hunt... Read More

Depression - Causes and Treatments

Depression has long been considered a character flaw indicative of... Read More

Sources of Online Suicide Help for People Suffering from Severe Depression

There are Many Resources for Online Suicide HelpFirst of all,... Read More

Depression-My Story

What is depression?Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not... Read More

Depression After A Heart Attack

There are several factors can lead to depression after heart... Read More

Tips to Beat Depression

We all have days when we are down, worn out... Read More

How to Uncover the Reason You Cant Sleep Tonight

If you are like me ...you love your sleep!Sleep deprivation... Read More

Depression: Escape Your Mental Prison

There is an illness all around me in modern society... Read More