The Impact of Borderline Personality Disorder on Relationships

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) or Emotional Intensity Disorder (EID), is a mental disorder which consists of several difficulties such as self-destructive behaviours, emotion regulation, interpersonal functioning, and identity crisis.

Challenges associated with relationships

Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder have to go through several challenges such as difficulties in maintaining romantic relationships. People with BPD have a tendency to depend on their partner and may rely on them for emotional stability, which can also create unrealistic expectations i.e. depending on the partner to provide happiness and emotional validation. BPD can also have a negative affect on other professional and personal relationships such as friends and family, this can happen because of unexpected anger outbursts, emotional instability, hurtful behaviours, and unpredictability. These intense and unstable emotions can cause challenges for individuals with BPD to maintain stable relationships i.e. losing relationships, abusive relationships, social issues (isolation), and employment instability. Individuals with BPD have a severe fear of rejection and abandonment which can cause instant moods shifts and difficulties in trusting others.

What are the additional challenges associated with Borderline Personality Disorder?

• Self-harm

• Impulsive behaviours

• Substance abuse

• Eating disorders

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Unstable moods

• Difficulties with everyday tasks

• Low self-esteem and dissociation

• Distorted thought process

• Paranoia

How does City Psychological Services help with these challenges?

City Psychological Services offers Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) as a form of treatment for clients with Borderline Personality Disorder, which focuses on decreasing self harming behaviours or behaviours that can interfere with daily lives. Clients can also learn various skills and techniques for them to regulate their emotions in a much better way through DBT i.e. cope up with challenging situations, reduced symptoms of BPD, improvement in relationships and social skills, and reduce in substance abuse. This is conducted in group sessions. With the help of DBT, not only BPD but other psychological issues can also be treated.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/pmh.1599

https://www.hhills.com/rehab-blog/how-borderline-personality-disorder-impacts relationships/#:~:text=In%20romantic%20relationships%2C%20untreated%20BPD,for%20th e%20individual%20with%20BPD.