Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment
Borderline personality disorder is estimated to affect an average of 1.6 percent of the adult population but some studies indicate it could be three times that amount. In diagnosed cases, women represent 75 percent, meaning borderline personality disorder is currently more prevalent in females than it is in males.
Unfortunately, only around half of those who have borderline personality disorder receive treatment, and of those, nearly half no longer meet the criteria for a diagnosis after 2 years of treatment, indicating that finding the right borderline personality disorder treatment centers New York-based can make a substantial difference in your life or the life of someone in your family.
Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is one of ten personality disorders, one most associated with problems regulating emotions and leading to intense mood swings. It is not abnormal for those with borderline personality disorder to also struggle with PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
As such, many people might be misdiagnosed with an anxiety or depression disorder, or they might receive treatment for one but not all of the conditions that are present.
Borderline personality disorder can start in early adulthood and involves several symptoms, including things like:
- Frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, whether real or perceived
- Pattern of unstable relationships where individuals alternate between devaluing the relationship and idealizing the relationship
- Problems with stable self-image
- Impulsivity that can be self-damaging
- Recurrent suicidal behavior, threats, or gestures
- Intense and unstable mood reactions
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Problems controlling anger or inappropriate displays of anger
- Stress-related dissociative symptoms or paranoid ideation
Borderline personality disorder affects an average of two percent of the population and though it has often been considered an adult onset disorder, it can manifest in adolescents as young as 12.
Several risk factors increase the likelihood of developing borderline personality disorder as those who have a biological, first-degree relative with it are five times more likely to develop it than the general population as our people who have struggled with high levels of emotional neglect or childhood abuse, particularly sexual abuse.
It is not uncommon for those with borderline personality disorder to also struggle with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, or substance abuse.
That is why, at Elevate Point, we provide comprehensive care for dual-diagnosis situations where an individual struggles with both substance abuse and borderline personality disorder, as well as outpatient mental health programs for multiple mental health disorders like borderline personality disorder and depression or anxiety.
Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder
So, what is the best course of treatment for borderline personality disorder?
Medications
In some cases, programs at borderline personality treatment centers in New York include therapy and medication. The medication can be prescribed for BPD but can also be prescribed to help with co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety. For some clients, the medication is used to manage acute symptoms up front, putting clients in a better place to engage in therapy and absorb the material.
Depending on your situation, you might want medication to manage things like severe depressive episodes or panic attacks. This is all done on a case-by-case basis, and when you reach out to our admissions team, we can give you a thorough evaluation and make the best recommendation.
Therapy
Therapy is another key element to borderline personality disorder treatment. Our goals are to give you treatment that supports your emotions, builds your coping mechanisms, and gives you access to the education you need to understand and control symptoms.
Dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are two of the most common treatments for borderline personality disorder. DBT is a highly structured form of treatment that combines emotional regulation with mindfulness and helps to build interpersonal skills.
This works very well to improve relationships and better manage intense emotions among people with BPD. It also helps to reduce any self-destructive behavior, particularly suicidal behaviors or actions.
CBT can be used in conjunction with DBT as a way to change negative thought patterns and behaviors, helping to reduce things like anxiety, depression, and severe mood swings.
This can include things like nutritional counseling, where you learn the relationship between what you eat and your mood, as things like high blood sugar and certain eating habits can exacerbate symptoms of mood instability and emotional deregulation.
This may also include yoga and breath work, with guided sessions that help you manage your stress and stay grounded in the present. These holistic approaches to mental health are particularly useful for people struggling with BPD as they can help pull the attention away from real or imagined abandonment, anger issues, or emotional outbursts.
We also work with things like neurofeedback and TMS to enhance your brain function and improve your focus. These treatment options are safe, highly effective, and non-invasive. They provide a chance to deal with underlying issues like depression or anxiety and to regulate emotions in a more effective way, making it easier to maintain stable relationships.
No matter the program that you receive, we will work with you during the course of your treatment to provide the skills you need to better manage symptoms and to incorporate family or spouses so that they, too, can learn how to best support you in your long-term management.
Find Help Today
With Elevate Point, our goal is to provide everyone with flexible treatment that can be scheduled in and around other obligations, making it easier to get the help you need. Whether you are looking for borderline personality disorder treatment centers in New York for yourself or a teen in your family, we can help. Call our admissions line today to learn more.
Call us today at 212.285.2022 to learn more about our borderline personality disorder treatment centers in New York.
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