How do borderlines love

A few of the issues that might arise are:. While these behaviors can make a relationship rocky, people with BPD can also bring a lot of joy. People affected by this disorder are known to be fun, exciting, and passionate. This makes them very devoted and caring partners who are physically affectionate and enjoy spending time with their significant other.

People with BPD tend to have shorter-lived relationships because of their behavior; but successful and long-lasting partnerships are possible.

At the end of the day, people with BPD can fall in love; it just takes some work from both sides of the relationship. Treatment is the first step — options may include:. But more importantly, people with BPD need a strong support network. As long as they are putting in effort, they should learn to develop healthy coping mechanisms and react in ways that are less harmful to the relationship. As long as both partners are pulling their weight and being patient, a happy and healthy relationship is very possible.

To learn more about symptoms and behaviors of people with BPD, contact our team of mental illness professionals at The emotional vulnerability of people with BPD can make it easy to believe that they need rescuing, especially in moments of perceived crisis.

You may jump into the role out of love, out of fear, or both. In turn, your loved one may come to see your rescuing as proof of your love, temporarily quelling their fear of abandonment while growing more and more dependent on you. Meanwhile, you may begin to gain your sense of identity and worth from your role as the rescuer; it can feel good to be needed.

This dynamic, while it may seem comforting for a time, is ultimately destructive for both of you, in part because getting your validation, worth, and proof of love from rescuing or being rescued means there must always be something to be rescued from.

In this case, that thing is borderline personality disorder. When the symptomatology of an illness becomes the site at which love is expressed and received, there is little motivation for healing. Resist the urge to rescue to avoid falling into damaging relationship patterns that can hinder recovery, fuel helplessness, and lead to resentment on both sides.

Let them know that you support them and believe in them. Help them take steps to become more self-sufficient, not less. Of course, this does not mean ignoring legitimate crises. If you believe your loved one is in danger of hurting themselves, call or the National Suicide Prevention Helpline immediately.

An essential part of loving someone with borderline personality disorder is realizing that you cannot fix them. You can have a close, loving, meaningful relationship with them and provide invaluable support, but you cannot heal their illness. What you can do is help them connect with high-quality treatment options.

While it was once believed that borderline personality disorder was inherently untreatable, we now know that to be untrue. Today, skilled clinicians use a range of therapeutic modalities, including DBT and trauma-focused therapies, to help clients find lasting relief from BPD symptoms and restore emotional and behavioral harmony.

Often, residential treatment programs are the best option for people struggling with BPD, as it allows them to participate in a broad spectrum of therapies tailored to their unique needs. Additionally, the residential setting encourages the rapid establishment of trusting therapeutic alliances that are so critical in the treatment of BPD.

Surrounded by compassionate clinicians and peers, your loved one can develop meaningful coping skills and practice them in a safe, supportive environment. Of course, a critical part of healing from borderline personality disorder is creating stronger, more stable interpersonal relationships with loved ones. High-quality residential treatment programs offer family and couples therapy to guide you and your loved one through a shared recovery process.

With the help of experienced clinicians, you can explore how you can support your loved one, identify any unhealthy relationship dynamics, and create a strong foundation for moving forward. Together, you can forge a deeper bond and a healthier, more fulfilling relationship. At Bridges to Recovery, we specialize in diagnosing and treating psychiatric and emotional issues such as bipolar disorder. We provide compassionate and effective care in a serene residential setting so clients can focus on their treatment and recovery without the worries of external pressures and stressors.

Borderline Treatment at Bridges. Bridges to Recovery offers comprehensive treatment for people struggling with mental health disorders as well as co-occurring substance use disorders. Contact us to learn more about our renowned Los Angeles programs and how we can help you or your loved one start on the path to lasting wellness. Treatment Specialties.

View Our Facilities. Meet Our Experts. We are here to listen compassionately. In the past few years, celebrities like Demi Lovato and Catherine Zeta-Jones have bravely opened up about their own struggles with bipolar disorder. Not long ago, experts in the field of psychology believed BPD to be an untreatable illness, and therapists even refused to accept patients with the diagnosis. Then, in the s, Linehan introduced a revolutionary treatment called dialectical behavior therapy, a cognitive-behavioral treatment that emphasizes a strong and equal relationship between patient and therapist.

Marsha Linehan developed dialectical behavior therapy, one of the first effective treatments for BPD. There currently is no FDA-approved medication for BPD, and so patients with the condition are usually treated with medication that targets their co-occurring disorders, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Medications commonly prescribed to BPD patients include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac and Lexapro; or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as Effexor. Multiple studies have linked decreased serotonin activity with impulsive aggressiveness and depression in people with BPD, according to Kreisman and Straus, so patients who strongly exhibit those symptoms respond most positively to SSRIs. A study by Mary Zanarini and her colleagues followed approximately former inpatients with BPD for 10 years, interviewing them at two-year intervals to assess the severity of their illness and determine whether or not they had improved.

The results: Nearly seven out of every eight patients achieved symptom remission lasting at least four years, and half no longer met the criteria for borderline personality disorder. Despite the obstacles and challenges, recovering from BPD is very possible, even likely, based on the stats I mentioned earlier. The patient has to realize, though, that even with medication, recovery is a tough process that requires hard work and change. However, they can be developed, especially with the proper help, and as you achieve small and large successes, failures become less common.

Gunderson and Perry D. BPD is difficult not just for the patient but also for family and friends.