Zoey​ ​Michaud

Ms.Mounts

Modern​ ​Literature

​ ​Lacking​ ​emotional​ ​skin

“People​ ​with​ ​BPD​ ​are​ ​like​ ​people​ ​with​ ​third​ ​degree​ ​burns​ ​over​ ​90%​ ​of​ ​their​ ​bodies.​ ​Lacking

emotional​ ​skin,​ ​they​ ​feel​ ​agony​ ​at​ ​the​ ​slightest​ ​touch​ ​or​ ​movement”​ ​(​ ​Marsha​ ​M.​ ​Linehan​).

Borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​is​ ​a​ ​very​ ​complex​ ​and​ ​uncommon​ ​disease.​ ​This​ ​personality

disorder​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mental​ ​disorder​ ​characterized​ ​by​ ​unstable​ ​moods,​ ​relationships,​ ​and​ ​behaviors.

Along​ ​with​ ​these​ ​behaviors,BPD​ ​brings​ ​on​ ​identity​ ​disturbance,​ ​abandonment​ ​issues,​ ​and

unstable​ ​relationships​ ​in​ ​those​ ​who​ ​suffer​ ​from​ ​it.​ ​Fortunately,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​some​ ​treatments​ ​for​ ​the

personality​ ​disorder,​ ​including​ ​behavior​ ​therapy,​ ​medications,​ ​and​ ​psychotherapy.​ ​Though​ ​there

are​ ​treatments​ ​for​ ​the​ ​illness,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​still​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​things​ ​that​ ​are​ ​unknown​ ​about​ ​BPD​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the

fact​ ​that​ ​it​ ​isn’t​ ​widely​ ​known.​ ​Borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​is​ ​a​ ​quite​ ​uncommon​ ​personality

disorder​ ​ ​which​ ​causes​ ​very​ ​unstable​ ​relationships​ ​and​ ​a​ ​very​ ​negative​ ​self​ ​image​ ​with​ ​several

symptoms​ ​including​ ​identity​ ​disturbance,​ ​unstable​ ​relationships,​ ​and​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​abandonment,​ ​but

treatments​ ​are​ ​available​ ​through​ ​therapy​ ​and​ ​medication.

Being​ ​diagnosed​ ​with​ ​BPD​ ​can​ ​be​ ​devastating,​ ​because​ ​of​ ​what​ ​the​ ​disorder​ ​entails.

Borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​is​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​mental​ ​illness​ ​that​ ​centers​ ​around​ ​the​ ​patient’s

inability​ ​to​ ​manage​ ​their​ ​emotions​ ​effectively​ ​in​ ​different​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​life.​ ​Generally,​ ​the​ ​emotional

state​ ​of​ ​borderlines​ ​has​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​that​ ​they’re​ ​in,“While​ ​some​ ​persons​ ​are

high​ ​functioning​ ​in​ ​certain​ ​settings,​ ​their​ ​private​ ​lives​ ​may​ ​be​ ​in​ ​turmoil”​ ​(NEA.BPD).​ ​This
quote​ ​from​ ​NEA.BPD​ ​perfectly​ ​sums​ ​up​ ​the​ ​push​ ​and​ ​pull​ ​of​ ​emotions​ ​in​ ​different​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​life

for​ ​those​ ​suffering​ ​from​ ​BPD.​ ​This​ ​disorder​ ​tends​ ​to​ ​show​ ​up​ ​more​ ​often​ ​in​ ​individuals​ ​that​ ​have

a​ ​history​ ​of​ ​unstable​ ​relationships.​ ​Borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​doesn’t​ ​usually​ ​manifest​ ​until

the​ ​mind​ ​is​ ​triggered​ ​by​ ​a​ ​traumatic​ ​relationship​ ​during​ ​its​ ​development.​ ​This​ ​influences​ ​unstable

relationships​ ​in​ ​the​ ​patient’s​ ​future.​ ​BPD​ ​is​ ​diagnosed​ ​after​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​is​ ​found​ ​to​ ​show​ ​most

of​ ​the​ ​listed​ ​symptoms,​ ​especially​ ​after​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​has​ ​experienced​ ​a​ ​traumatizing

relationship​ ​in​ ​their​ ​past.

Adolph​ ​Stern​ ​first​ ​discovered​ ​the​ ​disease​ ​in​ ​1938,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​was​ ​not​ ​properly​ ​diagnosable

until​ ​1980​ ​when​ ​it​ ​was​ ​officially​ ​included​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Diagnostic​ ​and​ ​Statistical​ ​Manual​ ​for​ ​Mental

Disorders,​ ​Third​ ​Edition​ ​(DSM-III).​ ​There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​things​ ​about​ ​the​ ​disease​ ​that​ ​are​ ​still

unknown,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​known​ ​that​ ​borderline​ ​patients​ ​are​ ​always​ ​born​ ​with​ ​the​ ​disease​ ​because​ ​it’s

hereditary,​ ​“Borderline​ ​mothers​ ​raise​ ​borderline​ ​daughters”​ ​(unknown).​ ​The​ ​individual​ ​who

wrote​ ​this​ ​statement​ ​is​ ​completely​ ​right.​ ​When​ ​a​ ​borderline​ ​mother​ ​raises​ ​their​ ​child,​ ​their

unstable​ ​moods​ ​and​ ​mixed​ ​feedback,​ ​and​ ​mood​ ​swings​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​mentally​ ​altering​ ​ ​affect​ ​on

the​ ​child,​ ​especially​ ​when​ ​the​ ​child​ ​is​ ​born​ ​with​ ​the​ ​same​ ​condition​ ​that​ ​their​ ​mother​ ​suffers

from.​ ​BPD​ ​isn’t​ ​randomly​ ​brought​ ​on,​ ​although​ ​it​ ​may​ ​seem​ ​that​ ​way​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​it​ ​lies

dormant​ ​until​ ​the​ ​patient’s​ ​teens​ ​and​ ​early​ ​twenties,​ ​sometimes​ ​even​ ​after​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​thirty.

Borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​includes​ ​three​ ​main​ ​symptoms,​ ​which​ ​are:​ ​Identity

disturbance,​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​abandonment,​ ​and​ ​unstable​ ​relationships.​ ​Borderlines​ ​suffer​ ​from​ ​identity

disturbance​ ​in​ ​people​ ​who​ ​suffer​ ​from​ ​the​ ​illness.​ ​Identity​ ​disturbance​ ​in​ ​BPD​ ​involves​ ​ ​illogical

and​ ​inconsistent​ ​patterns​ ​in​ ​an​ ​individual’s​ ​thoughts​ ​and​ ​feelings​ ​that​ ​go​ ​far​ ​beyond​ ​pessimism.

Clients​ ​who​ ​suffer​ ​from​ ​identity​ ​disturbance​ ​may​ ​think​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​amazing​ ​one​ ​day,​ ​and​ ​hate
themselves​ ​the​ ​next​ ​day.​ ​Their​ ​actions​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​flip​ ​between​ ​self​ ​serving​ ​to​ ​self-effacing,​ ​or​ ​from

healthy​ ​behaviors,​ ​to​ ​self​ ​destructive​ ​ones​ ​for​ ​no​ ​logical​ ​reason.​ ​Borderlines​ ​may​ ​also​ ​excel​ ​in

some​ ​activities​ ​but​ ​seem​ ​incompetent​ ​in​ ​others.​ ​This​ ​tends​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​people​ ​being​ ​scared​ ​off.

Patients​ ​with​ ​borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​make​ ​efforts​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​abandonment​ ​whether

real​ ​or​ ​imagined.​ ​People​ ​with​ ​BPD​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​experience​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​being​ ​abandoned​ ​by

others.​ ​However,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​Borderlines​ ​often​ ​have​ ​ ​poor​ ​interpersonal​ ​skills,​ ​they​ ​tend

to​ ​push​ ​away​ ​the​ ​people​ ​that​ ​they​ ​care​ ​about​ ​.​ ​This​ ​results​ ​in​ ​a​ ​“self​ ​fulfilling​ ​prophecy”​ ​where

they​ ​are​ ​afraid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​person​ ​leaving​ ​them,​ ​which​ ​causes​ ​them​ ​to​ ​partake​ ​in​ ​many​ ​extreme​ ​and

confusing​ ​behaviors​ ​like​ ​being​ ​very​ ​possessive​ ​which​ ​ultimately​ ​leads​ ​to​ ​the​ ​partner​ ​leaving

anyway.​ ​Healthy​ ​relationships​ ​are​ ​not​ ​common​ ​for​ ​people​ ​who​ ​have​ ​BPD.​ ​Individuals​ ​who

suffer​ ​from​ ​borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​ ​have​ ​intense​ ​and​ ​unstable​ ​relationships​ ​with​ ​other

people.​ ​These​ ​relationships​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​go​ ​from​ ​idealization​ ​and​ ​devaluation,​ ​idealization​ ​consists​ ​of

jumping​ ​into​ ​a​ ​relationship​ ​with​ ​no​ ​reservation​ ​and​ ​becoming​ ​deeply​ ​attached​ ​ ​to​ ​another​ ​person

very​ ​quickly​ ​and​ ​seeing​ ​them​ ​as​ ​perfect.​ ​However,​ ​this​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​idealization​ ​can​ ​quickly​ ​be

broken.​ ​Whether​ ​through​ ​a​ ​big​ ​fight​ ​or​ ​a​ ​rude​ ​comment,​ ​this​ ​deep​ ​attachment​ ​can​ ​turn​ ​to​ ​a

feeling​ ​of​ ​devaluation​ ​/​ ​seeing​ ​nothing​ ​good​ ​about​ ​them​ ​and​ ​a​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​be​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​person.

It​ ​is​ ​possible​ ​that​ ​the​ ​relationship​ ​or​ ​individual​ ​will​ ​become​ ​ideal​ ​to​ ​the​ ​client​ ​again​ ​but​ ​it​ ​is​ ​also

possible​ ​that​ ​the​ ​negative​ ​feelings​ ​will​ ​remain​ ​constant​ ​or​ ​that​ ​the​ ​damage​ ​done​ ​to​ ​the

relationship​ ​or​ ​individual​ ​do​ ​to​ ​the​ ​clients​ ​devaluation​ ​will​ ​be​ ​irreversible.

Although​ ​BPD​ ​causes​ ​several​ ​harmful​ ​symptoms,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​managed​ ​with​ ​medications,

dialectic​ ​behavioral​ ​therapy,​ ​and​ ​transference​ ​focused​ ​psychotherapy.​ ​The​ ​first​ ​type​ ​of​ ​therapy,

dialectic​ ​behavior​ ​therapy​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​the​ ​patient’s​ ​abilities​ ​by​ ​teaching​ ​them​ ​behavioral​ ​skills.
This​ ​type​ ​of​ ​therapy​ ​teaches​ ​four​ ​different​ ​sets​ ​of​ ​behavioral​ ​abilities:​ ​mindfulness,​ ​distress

tolerance,​ ​interpersonal​ ​effectiveness,​ ​and​ ​emotional​ ​regulation.​ ​The​ ​skill​ ​of​ ​mindfulness​ ​has​ ​to

do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​awareness​ ​that​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​brings​ ​into​ ​everyday​ ​living.​ ​This​ ​results​ ​in

learning​ ​to​ ​control​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​letting​ ​your​ ​mid​ ​control​ ​you.​ ​The​ ​practice​ ​of

mindfulness​ ​directs​ ​the​ ​patient’s​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​just​ ​one​ ​thing,​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​that​ ​you​ ​are​ ​in.​ ​Teaching

the​ ​client​ ​to​ ​recognize​ ​the​ ​details​ ​of​ ​the​ ​moment.​ ​The​ ​behavioral​ ​skill​ ​of​ ​Distress​ ​tolerance​ ​is

included​ ​because​ ​ ​“People​ ​with​ ​a​ ​low​ ​tolerance​ ​for​ ​distress​ ​can​ ​become​ ​overwhelmed​ ​at

relatively​ ​mild​ ​levels​ ​of​ ​stress”(Suzette​ ​Bray),​ ​this​ ​module​ ​addresses​ ​the​ ​tendency​ ​of​ ​some

people​ ​to​ ​experience​ ​negative​ ​emotions​ ​as​ ​overwhelming​ ​or​ ​unbearable.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​distress​ ​tolerance

section​ ​of​ ​DBT​ ​patients​ ​are​ ​taught​ ​that​ ​sometimes​ ​pain​ ​is​ ​unavoidable​ ​and​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​just​ ​best​ ​to

accept​ ​and​ ​tolerate​ ​the​ ​distress.​​ ​The​ ​mindfulness​ ​behavioral​ ​skill​ ​helps​ ​individuals​ ​accept​ ​and

tolerate​ ​the​ ​powerful​ ​emotions​ ​they​ ​may​ ​feel​ ​when​ ​challenging​ ​their​ ​environment​ ​or​ ​exposing

themselves​ ​to​ ​upsetting​ ​situations.​ ​ ​The​ ​Interpersonal​ ​effectiveness​ ​module​ ​of​ ​DBT​ ​therapy

mainly​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​situations​ ​in​ ​which​ ​the​ ​objective​ ​is​ ​to​ ​change​ ​something/ask​ ​someone​ ​to​ ​do

something​ ​or​ ​to​ ​resist​ ​changes​ ​another​ ​person​ ​is​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​make/saying​ ​no.​ ​The​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​to​ ​increase

the​ ​chances​ ​that​ ​a​ ​person’s​ ​goals​ ​in​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​situation​ ​will​ ​be​ ​met.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​section​ ​of​ ​DBT​ ​that

pertains​ ​to​ ​emotional​ ​regulation,​ ​clients​ ​are​ ​taught​ ​to​ ​identify/label​ ​emotions,​ ​identify​ ​obstacles

to​ ​changing​ ​emotions,​ ​reduce​ ​vulnerability​ ​to​ ​their​ ​emotional​ ​mind,​ ​increase​ ​positive​ ​emotions,

increase​ ​mindfulness​ ​to​ ​present​ ​emotions,​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​distress​ ​tolerance​ ​techniques.​ ​Another

therapy​ ​is​ ​transference​ ​focused​ ​psychotherapy​ ​(TFP)​ ​is​ ​a​ ​psychodynamic​ ​treatment​ ​that​ ​is

designed​ ​especially​ ​for​ ​patients​ ​with​ ​BPD.​ ​The​ ​focus​ ​of​ ​TFP​ ​ ​is​ ​to​ ​ ​reduce​ ​suicidal​ ​thoughts​ ​and

actions,​ ​facilitate​ ​better​ ​behavioral​ ​control,​ ​help​ ​patients​ ​have​ ​more​ ​gratifying​ ​relationships,​ ​and
make​ ​it​ ​simpler​ ​for​ ​patients​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​their​ ​overall​ ​goals.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​another​ ​treatment​ ​besides

therapy,​ ​medication.​ ​The​ ​main​ ​class​ ​of​ ​drugs​ ​used​ ​to​ ​treat​ ​BPD​ ​are​ ​atypical​ ​antipsychotics

(APP).​ ​Atypical​ ​antipsychotics​ ​(also​ ​known​ ​as​ ​second​ ​generation​ ​antipsychotics(SGAs))​ ​are​ ​a
1
group​ ​of​ ​ antipsychotic​ ​drugs​ ​whose​ ​purpose​ ​are​ ​to​ ​treat​ ​psychiatric​ ​conditions.​ ​Some​ ​of​ ​the

main​ ​medications​ ​in​ ​this​ ​category​ ​that​ ​help​ ​treat​ ​patients​ ​with​ ​personality​ ​disorders​ ​are​ ​Risperdal

(generic:Risperidone),​ ​Seroquel​ ​(generic:Quetiapine​ ​Fumarate),​ ​Zyprexa​ ​(generic:​ ​Olanzapine),

Clozaril​ ​(generic:Clozapine),​ ​and​ ​Abilify​ ​(Generic:Aripiprazole).​ ​All​ ​of​ ​these​ ​medications​ ​are

used​ ​to​ ​help​ ​treat​ ​conditions​ ​such​ ​as​ ​schizophrenia,​ ​bipolar​ ​disorder,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​reduce​ ​episodes​ ​of

mania​ ​and​ ​depression.​ ​Though​ ​Dr.Bien​ ​says​ ​“​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​medication​ ​on​ ​the​ ​market​ ​today​ ​that​ ​is

viewed​ ​by​ ​psychiatrists​ ​as​ ​a​ ​cure​ ​for​ ​BPD”​ ​(Frederic​ ​Bien,Ph.D),​ ​t​hese​ ​antipsychotics​ ​help​ ​to

restore​ ​balance​ ​of​ ​neurotransmitters​ ​in​ ​the​ ​brain,​ ​decrease​ ​hallucinations,​ ​reduce​ ​suicidal

thoughts​ ​in​ ​patients​ ​who​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​self​ ​harm,​ ​and​ ​help​ ​patients​ ​think​ ​more​ ​clearly​ ​and​ ​positively

about​ ​themselves,​ ​feel​ ​less​ ​agitated,​ ​and​ ​become​ ​more​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​everyday​ ​life.

Borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​is​ ​a​ ​rare​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​that​ ​causes​ ​unhealthy

relationships​ ​and​ ​a​ ​very​ ​negative​ ​self​ ​image​ ​with​ ​symptoms​ ​including​ ​identity​ ​disturbance,

unstable​ ​relationships,​ ​and​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​abandonment,​ ​but​ ​treatments​ ​are​ ​available​ ​through​ ​therapy​ ​and

medication.​ ​ ​There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​unhealthy​ ​behaviors​ ​ ​that​ ​borderlines​ ​partake​ ​in.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​due​ ​to​ ​all

the​ ​symptoms​ ​of​ ​the​ ​disease.​ ​Fortunately,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​hope​ ​for​ ​people​ ​with​ ​BPD,​ ​seeing​ ​as​ ​there​ ​are

many​ ​treatments​ ​for​ ​the​ ​disorder.​ ​And​ ​there​ ​are​ ​more​ ​discoveries​ ​about​ ​the​ ​disease​ ​being​ ​made

everyday.​ ​In​ ​fact,​ ​as​ ​Dr.​ ​Friedel​ ​states,​ ​“Over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​decade,​ ​two​ ​lay​ ​advocacy​ ​groups​ ​have

1​ ​
​ ​Antipsychotic​ ​drugs​ ​are​ ​a​ ​class​ ​of​ ​drugs​ ​that​ ​are​ ​also​ ​known​ ​as​ ​neuroleptics​ ​or​ ​major​ ​tranquilizers​ ​and​ ​are​ ​primarily​ ​used​ ​to​ ​manage​ ​psychosis,​ ​mainly​ ​in

schizophrenia​ ​and​ ​bipolar​ ​disorder.

been​ ​founded,​ ​the​ ​Treatment​ ​and​ ​Research​ ​Advancements​ ​Association​ ​for​ ​Personality​ ​Disorder

(TARA​ ​APD),​ ​and​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Education​ ​Alliance​ ​for​ ​Borderline​ ​Personality​ ​Disorder​ ​(NEA-

BPD)”​ ​(Robert​ ​O.Friedel,​ ​/M.D.).​ ​This​ ​information​ ​just​ ​furthers​ ​the​ ​belief​ ​that​ ​there​ ​will​ ​be​ ​a

cure.​ ​For​ ​now,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​official​ ​cure,​ ​but​ ​as​ ​previously​ ​stated,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​treatments​ ​that​ ​can

help.​ ​The​ ​next​ ​time​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​appears​ ​to​ ​be​ ​insane,​ ​on​ ​drugs,​ ​or​ ​just​ ​psychotic,

think,​ ​and​ ​realise​ ​that​ ​they’re​ ​probably​ ​suffering​ ​from​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​that​ ​is​ ​out​ ​of

their​ ​control.
 Works​ ​cited

Salters-Pedneault,​ ​Kristalyn.​ ​“How​ ​prevalent​ ​is​ ​borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder?”​ ​Verywell​.​ ​Verywell,​ ​6

Apr.​ ​2016.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

“Distress​ ​tolerance​ ​in​ ​dialectical​ ​behavior​ ​therapy.”​ ​GoodTherapy.org​ ​Therapy​ ​Blog,​ ​17​ ​Jan.​ ​2013.​ ​Web.

27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

“Treating​ ​BPD.”​ ​2016.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

Newsmax.​ ​“Borderline​ ​Personality​ ​Disorder:​ ​Top​ ​Drugs​ ​That​ ​Work.”​ ​FastFeatures​.​ ​Newsmax,​ ​20​ ​Nov.

2014.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

“BPD​ ​overview.”​ ​2016.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

2016.​ ​Behavioral​ ​tech​.​ ​1996.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

Bien,​ ​Frederic.​ ​Drug​ ​trials'​ ​encouraging​ ​results​ ​for​ ​borderline​ ​personality​ ​disorder​ ​«​ ​personality​ ​disorder

awareness​ ​network​.​ ​1​ ​Aug.​ ​2016.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.

“History​ ​of​ ​the​ ​disorder.”​ ​2012.​ ​Web.​ ​27​ ​Oct.​ ​2016.