Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment near Fort Washington, PA

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe mental illness characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image and behavior. It’s a disorder of emotional dysregulation that’s often misunderstood. This instability often disrupts family and work, long-term planning and the individual’s sense of self-identity. While less well known than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, BPD is just as common, affecting around 1.4% percent of the general population, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by intense emotions, self-harming acts and stormy interpersonal relationships. The complex symptoms of the disorder often make patients challenging to treat and may evoke feelings of anger and frustration in professionals trying to help. The result is that many professionals are often unwilling to make the diagnosis or treat persons with these symptoms. These problems have been aggravated by the lack of appropriate insurance coverage for the extended psychosocial treatments that BPD usually requires. Nevertheless, there has been much progress and success in the past 25 years in the understanding of and specialized treatment for BPD. It is, in fact, a diagnosis that has a lot of hope for recovery.

Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder 

When it comes to treating BPD, therapy is an invaluable tool. There are two main therapeutic approaches to treating BPD; dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

One treatment option for BPD is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This form of psychotherapy focuses on teaching patients skills to manage emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors and improve relationships. DBT combines individual therapy with group skills training, providing a comprehensive approach to managing the disorder.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Another beneficial therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps people with BPD identify and change distorted thought patterns that lead to problematic behaviors. CBT is particularly effective in addressing issues such as depression and anxiety, which often accompany BPD.

Medication

Medication can also play a role in supporting BPD treatment. Currently, there is no specific medication for BPD, but antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications can all help assist the work being done in therapy.

Help for BPD is Available 

Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital in Fort Washington, PA offers guidance and support for those in Montgomery County struggling with mental disorders like BPD. We offer a variety of programs designed to support and empower you on your mental health journey. Confidential, no-cost assessments are available 24/7 by calling 800-256-5300.