Bentley mental health 2023

psychotherapy

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): How to Live a Meaningful Life Despite BPD

Humans are emotional by nature. We are all capable of fear, anger, joy, and of course, love. But when does it become too much? At what point can you call it an emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD)? 

We are here to help you recognise the symptoms of this mental health disorder and make it easier for you to understand people with EUPD.  

Is Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder the Same as Borderline Personality Disorder?

EUPD is the same as borderline personality disorder (BPD), although BPD is the more widely used term. 

What is Emotional Instability Disorder?

Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder is a mental health condition where a person has difficulty regulating intense emotions. 

For persons with a diagnosis of EUPD, every feeling is heightened, even with the slightest stimulation. This puts them in a constant state of instability and insecurity.  

Symptoms

People with bipolar disorder are known as emotionally unstable and susceptible to the following symptoms:

  • Poor self-image 
  • Feelings of emptiness
  • Mood swings 
  • Intense fear 
  • Depression
  • Self-destructive behaviour

Risks

In extreme cases, the condition pushes a person to have suicidal thoughts and turn to self-harm. This happens in one out of every 10 cases

Help from a mental health professional and support from friends and family are important in managing the symptoms.   

Category

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, health professionals list 10 personality disorders classified into three clusters: A, B, and C. Borderline personality disorder is in cluster B. 

Prevalence

Studies show that 1.6% of people all over the world have BPD. For the inpatient psychiatric population, one out of every five patients has a diagnosis of BPD.   

Diagnosis

Despite the many symptoms of borderline personality disorder, it could not be diagnosed by a definitive medical test. The best way to determine if someone has BPD is to have a mental health expert do a comprehensive clinical interview. This could include conversations with friends and family, so it is important for them to recognise the warning signs.     

Treatment

A person with BPD may feel helpless most times, but there are many ways to manage this mental health condition. 

What all these treatment plans have in common is that they are designed to empower the individual to see what works and what doesn’t, allowing him or her to be self-sufficient in the treatment process.  

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy or conversation-based therapy is the most effective method in treating BPD. It includes cognitive behaviour therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and dialectical behavioural therapy. 

What makes psychotherapy work is that it allows the patient to learn how to cope with poorly regulated emotional responses in a safe and therapeutic environment. 

Medication

Medication alone won’t help much with BPD, but it can be an instrumental part of a comprehensive treatment plan. However, there is no single medication that can treat the various symptoms of BPD, so several off-label drugs are used.

For instance, mood stabilisers can be prescribed for mood swings while antidepressants are advised for dysphoria.

Short-Term Hospitalisation

There are times when a person with BPD has to be taken to a hospital to receive proper care and treatment, like when self-harming or suicidal behaviour is apparent.    

Is Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder Serious?

Living with EUPD brings many challenges. For someone with this condition, it seems impossible to control feelings and emotions, and it can feel like being on a roller coaster ride that won’t stop. 

Isolation

The constant ups and downs can be exhausting both mentally and physically. It also leaves the person feeling isolated and having difficulty connecting with other people, which compounds the situation. If left untreated, it can put a person in a very serious, potentially life-threatening situation.  

Can You Recover from Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder?

Do you or someone in your family have BPD? If you do, then you have probably wondered at one point or another if it has a cure. 

Like most mental health disorders, there is no cure for BPD. Still, there are many ways to treat the symptoms, and it is very possible for someone living with BPD to live a normal and happy life. 

Remission

Remission is a state where the person with a BPD diagnosis has learned to manage the symptoms and no longer meets the criteria.  

Recovery

Recovery is a bit less definitive than remission, but it means that the person with emotionally unstable personality disorder can function for extended periods, enough to keep a job and maintain meaningful relationships.  

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