Understanding What Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Looks Like
BPD is a serious mental health condition that is often misdiagnosed. Its intense emotional and behavioral symptoms are frequently mistaken for mental health disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and bipolar disorder. People diagnosed with BPD can also have co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis). However, BPD’s prevalent patterns of unstable interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, behavior, and self-image define it. BPD symptoms also include dramatic and inconsistent behaviors.
An emotional event often triggers symptoms of borderline personality disorder. During a BPD episode, people have difficulty keeping their self-image, exhibit impulsive behaviors, and aren’t able to maintain daily functions. The intense feelings and emotions can last for a few hours or days. The volatility of emotions creates unstable relationships and disrupts other parts of people’s lives. BPD is a chronic mental health illness that requires mental health treatment.
An emotional event often triggers symptoms of borderline personality disorder. During a BPD episode, people have difficulty keeping their self-image, exhibit impulsive behaviors, and aren’t able to maintain daily functions. The intense feelings and emotions can last for a few hours or days. The volatility of emotions creates unstable relationships and disrupts other parts of people’s lives. BPD is a chronic mental health illness that requires mental health treatment.
Common Symptoms Associated With BPD
The symptoms of BPD affect how interpersonal relationships, behaviors, and self-image are. BPD is commonly diagnosed in adolescence to early adulthood. The symptoms are usually more intense during young adulthood and often reduce as you age. People diagnosed with BPD have the following symptoms:
- Fear of abandonment: People with BPD can feel intense anger or fear if they feel neglected or abandoned. Sometimes, they will push people away because they fear being rejected.
- Self-image issues: People with BPD have an unclear or distorted sense of self. For example, if a person is dating someone who loves football, they will likely develop a love for the sport themselves, even if they didn’t before. There is also the risk of self-sabotage.
- Self-harm or suicidal behavior: It’s not uncommon for people with BPD to engage in acts of self-harm (cutting, injuring, or burning). Some people may have thoughts of suicide or attempt suicide.
- Feelings of emptiness: Emptiness is another symptom of BPD. People can feel bored, worthless, unfilled, or self-loathing.
- Paranoid thought: Extreme feelings like distress can lead to dissociative episodes, hallucinations, and paranoid thoughts.
Causes of BPD
The causes of BPD are connected to genetics and the environment.
Genetics
Research shows that BPD is genetic. People have a higher risk of BPD if a close family member (sibling or parent) has BPD. However, having a close relative with BPD doesn’t mean a person will also be diagnosed with BPD.
Environment
Traumatic life events can increase the risk of a person developing BPD. Childhood trauma is linked to the development of BPD. Examples of childhood trauma include:
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Unstable home life that includes neglect or abandonment
Knowing When to Get Help For BPD
Deciding when to get help for severe BPD symptoms is essential. People with BPD often feel harmful feelings that can lead to risky coping mechanisms. Some of those mechanisms include self-harm, thoughts of suicide, and attempting suicide. When these behaviors or thoughts begin, it is essential to get help.
Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment in Southern California at Ocean View
The challenge of emotional regulation can become overwhelming at times. Finding stabilization care that is supportive and understanding at the level patients require can seem impossible. Patients can feel comfortable being treated at Ocean View because we offer all levels of care. Patients will receive personalized, evidence-based care from our inpatient psychiatric care to outpatient treatment to meet their unique needs.
When it’s time to seek acute psychiatric care, some may not know what level of care they need. Often, the level of care necessary to stabilize the symptoms of BPD is inpatient psychiatric care. Ocean View provides inpatient psychiatric care at our psych unit for acute symptoms that require medical and psychiatric monitoring.
When it’s time to seek acute psychiatric care, some may not know what level of care they need. Often, the level of care necessary to stabilize the symptoms of BPD is inpatient psychiatric care. Ocean View provides inpatient psychiatric care at our psych unit for acute symptoms that require medical and psychiatric monitoring.
Inpatient Psychiatric Care
Many people with BPD require acute psychiatric care to stabilize their symptoms. Acute psychiatric care at Ocean View begins with personalized care. Patients admitted to Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility’s inpatient care are at the most acute phase of their BPD symptoms. They receive 24/7 nursing and medical monitoring to stabilize their well-being and medication.
Patients will participate in six therapeutic groups a day. The groups include:
Patients will participate in six therapeutic groups a day. The groups include:
- Psychoeducational Groups: Psychoeducational groups are an evidence-based treatment modality that teaches patients about their mental health disorder. Patients like you will learn coping strategies during these group sessions.
- Recreational Therapy: Recreation-based therapy led by a certified therapist (music, games, art). Support enhances physical, emotional, cognitive, and social skills.
- Coping Skills and Emotional Regulation: Coping skills like meditation focus you on the present and de-escalate mood swings.
Additional program offerings include:
- Private and shared rooms
- Daily psychiatric oversight and medication stabilization
- Transportation coordination is available
Support for Self-Harm
Self-harming behaviors (cutting, suicide, or suicide attempts) occur more often if someone is diagnosed with BPD as compared to other mental health issues. There are several reasons why the risk rate for self-harm is higher in patients with BPD.
One of the symptoms of BPD is intense emotional experiences. To avoid or decrease the pain from these experiences, people can engage in risky behaviors like self-harm or suicide. Acts of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or attempted suicide require immediate care.
One of the symptoms of BPD is intense emotional experiences. To avoid or decrease the pain from these experiences, people can engage in risky behaviors like self-harm or suicide. Acts of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or attempted suicide require immediate care.
Medication Stabilization Support
Medications can be used to alleviate BPD symptoms like depression, aggression, mood swings, and impulsivity. The type and severity of the symptoms can determine what a doctor prescribes to a patient. To provide symptom management and stabilization, antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers are often recommended and prescribed. Symptom management and evaluation include:
- Medication is required for admissions and care
- Symptomology is reviewed and discussed by the patient and staff.
- Medication compliance
- Medication monitoring and adjustments
Our Outpatient Levels of Care
The severity of patients’ BPD symptoms determines outpatient care. Ocean View has two levels of outpatient care that provide structured support.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP is an intensive, structured treatment program. Patients must be on medication and stabilized. Participation in Ocean View’s PHP includes:
- Attending sessions five days a week between 10 am and 2:30 pm.
- Four Group Sessions Daily – The sessions include psychoeducational and recreation-based groups. Also included is the development of coping skills.
- Medication Compliance – In Ocean View’s PHP, weekly medication management is included.
- Life Planning – Social workers have one-on-one sessions focused on assessments and care coordination.
- Fresh air breaks
- Case management
Ocean View’s PHP supports patients’ clinical improvement in a secure, empathetic setting.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Participation in an IOP provides supportive care in a safe, non-judgmental setting. The sessions are designed to increase independence and build a positive self-image. Patients can live at home and participate in school or work while attending our IOP. They will participate in sessions two to four days a week from 10 am to 2:30 pm. The program includes:
- Four groups a day, led by social workers and recreation therapists
- Recreation therapy, including art, music, movement, pet therapy, and games
- Psychoeducation sessions focused on symptoms, triggers, coping skills, and medication compliance
- Fresh air breaks every four hours
- Case management
- Continued medication management and support
The groups are intended to support transitioning back into the real world.
Aftercare & Opt-In Patient Follow-Up
Aftercare planning starts when a patient is admitted to Ocean View. Patients and social workers develop a treatment plan. The treatment plan is reviewed to adjust goals or expectations as a patient attends sessions. Patients in Ocean View’s aftercare will receive case managers’ support that includes:
- Outpatient transitions
- Housing or facility placements
- Community support referrals
Some patients may become involved in Ocean View’s opt-in patient follow-up (Patient Resource Network). Our opt-in patient follow-up includes:
- Routine Check Ins
- Medication Continuity
How Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility Provides Southern California BPD Treatment
The care and crisis stabilization provided at Ocean View is empathetic, secure, and supportive. Our comprehensive crisis stabilization and symptom management care supports clinical improvement. We have medical, psychiatric, recreation therapy, and social workers who provide the care essential to stabilization.
Onsite Medical Director to Help Monitor Medication Needs
Patients admitted to inpatient and outpatient symptom management and care will have their medication monitored by our medical director. Inpatient acute psychiatric care patients will have medication monitoring once they show clinical improvement. Those participating in PHP and IOP will have weekly medication monitoring. Our medical director will make adjustments to medication if needed.
Manage Symptoms That Can Lead to Self-Destructive Behaviors
Managing the symptoms of BPD that lead to self-destructive behaviors includes different modalities of therapy and medication. Patients with BPD are at a higher risk of self-destructive behavior that can require inpatient acute psychiatric care. Once their symptoms are stabilized, patients can learn about BPD, its symptoms, and healthy coping skills.
Social workers and recreation therapists develop skills that support symptom management in the real world.
Social workers and recreation therapists develop skills that support symptom management in the real world.
Interact With Others Who Share Similar Symptoms and Experiences
Ocean View’s psychoeducational and recreation therapy sessions allow patients to discuss their symptoms and experiences with those who share similar experiences and symptoms. Patients build a healthy support system with their group members. The support of their group members can extend into their lives outside of Ocean View.
Contact Our Admissions for More Information on BPD Treatment in Southern California
Ocean View is here to help. If you or a loved one has any of the symptoms of BPD, reach out to our admissions team to start the process of receiving mental health care crisis support.