Borderline Personality Disorder is a Cluster B personality disorder which develops during childhood, according to the Australian Government Department of Health.

If you’re living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD for short), you should know that it is possible to come to terms with BPD. This problem is treatable. The key to loving yourself with BPD is education that boosts self-awareness, treatment which lessens the severity of symptoms and a strong support system.

Learn More About BPD

Getting diagnosed with a personality disorder is never easy. The best way to empower yourself after your BPD diagnosis is to learn as much as you can about what BPD is and what kind of behaviour it tends to trigger. This personality disorder is characterised by a long-standing pattern of unusual actions. People with BPD also usually experience troubled relationships and emotions which are unstable. Those who have Borderline Personality Disorder typically have rocky self-images.

Post-diagnosis, people with BPD should gain knowledge about thought processes and behaviour which are abnormal and utilise available treatment options to alter such thoughts and behaviour. Calming responses should ultimately be the overarching goal. Education and treatment should help you to make sense of past actions and minimise the odds of repeating negative thoughts and actions. BPD characteristics may sound quite negative, but it’s possible to reduce the impact of BPD by accessing the right treatment.

CBT and DBT are Effective Treatments

CBT stands for cognitive behavioural therapy and it helps people with Borderline Personality Disorder to alter basic beliefs which are having negative impacts on their lives. With CBT, distorted attitudes, thoughts and beliefs are challenged so that they may change. Coping techniques are taught and emotional regulation generally improves.

DBT is Dialectical behavioural therapy. DBT was designed with BPD in mind. It is a combination of group and individual therapy. During DBT, people with BPD learn an array of techniques, including mindful living techniques, which make it simpler for them to handle strong and troubling emotions. When it comes to BPD, medication isn’t the primary treatment. It may be utilised to manage symptoms. Sometimes, medication is helpful if a person with this disorder is also diagnosed with other mental health problems.

Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out

Some people with Borderline Personality Disorder have strong support systems. They should rely on these networks to stay strong as they undergo treatment. Others may not be so lucky, because their mental health problems have caused turbulence in their relationships. If you don’t have a support system, cultivate one by building relationships with therapists and by using increased knowledge of your personality disorder to alter than way that you relate to others. When you are more self-aware, through education, you will find it easier to connect. Treatment will also change the way that you interact with others, for the better.

People who have BPD may be helped. To accept your personality disorder, continue learning about it and going to treatment. Depend on a support network to get you through the tough times, even if your support network consists solely of your therapist. With this personality disorder, black-and-white thinking may be altered, so it is less polarised. Now that you know more about BPD and how to treat it, you'll be ready to begin loving yourself despite your personality disorder.

This piece was kindly written and contributed by Cassie Steele.

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