Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental health disorder that is characterised by disrupted interpersonal relationships, a distorted sense of self and strong emotional reactions that may seem inapproriate to others.

People suffering from a borderline personality disorder may often engage in self-harm as a way of trying to get their emotions back to a more stable baseline.

Sufferers may also struggle with feelings of emptiness, fears of abandonment or feeling detached from reality.

Borderline personaility disorder often begins during early adulthood and is often associated with drug abuse problems and depression.

As with all human behaviours that are classified as being due to underlying biological pathology, the causes of BPD remain unknown although both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play roles in its development.

Silhouette of woman with Borderline Personality Disorder sitting alone on a swing

Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms

The main symptoms associated with Borderline Personality Disorder incude the following nine signs and symptoms of which at least five must be present in order to reach the diagnostic level:

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
Unstable and chaotic interpersonal relationships.
A disturbed sense of identity and distorted self-image.
Impulsive or reckless behaviors, for example impulsive spending, unsafe sex, substance misuse, reckless driving, etc.
Self-harm.
Rapidly shifting intense emotional dysregulation.
Chronic feelings of emptiness.
Inappropriate, intense anger that can be difficult to control.
Paranoia.
Dissociation.

The key symptoms indicating borderline pesonality disorders are those associated with disrupted interpersonal relationships in which people may be idealised and then de-valued, mood swings and difficulties controlling strong emotions.

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Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder

Technically, only a psychiatrist can diagnose a Borderline Personality Disorder, but in the UK general practitioners have tended to diagnose mental health problems by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

The DSM lists specific symptoms against a range of disorders and whenever a person meets this criteria, they are said to be suffering from that disorder.

Diagnostic procedures do NOT make use of medical testing (for example blood tests) in order to produce a diagnosis, but rather is an opinion based on the observation of certain behaviours in the person who is suffering.

Because of this lack of verifiable medical testing, diagnosis remains a controversial subject, particularly within the psychological community.

However, in the UK access to support services is often contingent on receiving a diagnosis, so in this sense, a formal diagnosis may be useful.

Getting a Mental Health Diagnosis

Please be aware that Tranceform Psychology do not diagnose mental health disorders.

Our psychological counselling services do not require you to have been formally diagnosed but should you wish to obtain a formal mental health diagnosis, then please contact your GP who can arrange it for you.

CBT for Borderline Personality Disorder

If you’re committed to overcoming your Borderline Personality Disorder then we highly recommend following our Tranceformental CBT 10 session programme.

The Tranceformental programme is a highly successful & pragmatic course of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) run over 10 sessions, that will teach you everything you need to know to understand the psychological aspects of your problem.

It can also help you to identify any unhelpful thinking styles or limiting beliefs that might be reinforcing the issue.

The programme is also available as an online self-help CBT programme. if you prefer not to consult a therapist directly.

CBT is an empirically supported approach used by mental health practitioners around the World.

Free Initial Consultations for Borderline Personality Disorder

We offer all prospective clients a FREE initial consultation to discuss your Borderline Personality Disorder prior to commencing any treatment plans.

The consultation is free and lasts around 50 minutes.

During this consultation we will discuss the various therapy options that are available to you and make a considered recommendation based on your individual personal circumstances.

Initial consultations are also available as part of our online therapy service.

At Tranceform Psychology we recognise the importance of the therapeutic relationship in helping people to bring about effective change, so its important to be able to ‘meet’ to discuss any therapy treatments BEFORE proceeding.

Our policy is to help people make a fully balanced & considered decision about undertaking work with us, including both the financial and personal implications.

Tranceformental CBT course for Borderline Personality Disorder on a PC screen

Overcome Borderline Personality Disorder with our online CBT Course

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is clinically proven to be effective.

Using an online learning platform, it is available with 2, 5 or 10 sessions of clinical support either face-to-face in the Wombourne offices, or using Zoom video facilities.

It can also be taken as a self help CBT course that will teach you the fundamental tools and techniques used throughout the mental health profession.