Borderline personality, or unstable personality, is seen more frequently among women between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. Those with this disorder are often in a state of constant distress. Individuals who display clear emotional irregularities in the way they interact with others from early adolescence or even from childhood, and who show abnormal reactions to stressful situations, are assessed as having borderline personality disorder.
Symptoms
They display unstable interpersonal relationships and inconsistent decisions and viewpoints. Uncontrollable emotions (impulsivity) are the primary symptoms of this disorder. Once they begin to like someone, they speak only in praise of that person, showing intense admiration. Yet for a very trivial reason they may fall out with the same person, thereafter speaking only of that person’s faults. They display extreme impulsiveness. They lack the habit of calmly thinking before acting. Their behaviour may include repeated suicide attempts or threats, and they often show a tendency to inflict injuries on themselves. They may cut the veins on their wrists or consume excessive sleeping pills. They struggle to control anger and may experience rapid changes in emotional states within a short period of time (micro-psychotic episodes). A fear of abandonment or loneliness haunts many of them. They show a lack of clear purpose in life. Whether emotions are love, sorrow, or anger, they tend to express them intensely. They may also frequently display risky sexual behaviour.
Causes
Children born into families with hereditary tendencies toward such personality disorders have a much higher risk. Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse experienced in childhood can lead to this disorder. Mistakes in child-rearing-such as giving children what they want immediately (instant gratification) or subjecting them to harsh punishments-can also be causes. Research shows that dysfunction in parts of the brain such as the amygdala, limbic system, and frontal lobe, as well as low levels of the chemical serotonin, may contribute to the disorder.
Treatment Approaches
It is important to help family members understand that the individual behaves in ways that appear mentally disturbed because of a personality disorder. Among psychological treatments, dialectical behaviour therapy is especially beneficial. These individuals tend to see people, experiences, and life itself only in two categories-good or bad. Psychotherapy is effective in changing this pattern of thinking. Since borderline personality disorder often coexists with depression and anxiety (comorbidity), medication may also be required. Those living with such individuals should be made aware of the essential role of family members in treatment and the importance of family therapy.
Rev. Dr. Sijon Kuzhikkattumyalil
