This article explains what it’s like to live with BPD and how to manage symptoms and possible complications.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
What Is BPD?
Studies suggestmen may be equally affected, but are often misdiagnosed withpost-traumatic stress disorderordepression.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Symptoms
Symptoms of BPDvary between people and can fluctuate over time.
Some people experience many symptoms, while others experience only a few.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
This behavior usually begins in early adolescence.Up to 10% of people with BPD die by suicide.
What is the Life Expectancy of Someone With BPD?
People living with BPD are at elevated risk of premature death.
BPD is one of the most misunderstood,misdiagnosed, and stigmatized mental health conditions.
People with BPD experience structural stigma and stigma from individual healthcare providers.
These include:
Tips for Living With BPD
BPD affects many areas of a person’s life.
Despite the difficulties this creates, there are measures that can be taken to make it easier to manage.
A job preparedness pilot project involving a program called The Connections Place showed great promise.
Earlydiagnosisandtreatmentof BPD can help improve the person’s ability to form stable relationships.
Should you tell people you have BPD?
The decision whether or not to tell people you have BPD is yours alone.
They can also support you and be involved in your treatment.
Self-Image
Internalized stigma can cause people with BPD to feel guilt and shame.
This fosters a desire and willingness to engage in the recovery process and can improve treatment outcomes.
Other trajectories are possible.
Adolescence
BPD tends to first manifest in adolescence.
A reliable BPD diagnosis can be made in adolescents as young as 11 years old.
For adolescents with BPD, these symptoms tend to increase over time.
Prevalence rates of BPD in adolescents vary widely.
Studies suggest a decline in BPD from middle adulthood to advanced age.
More research is necessary to gain accurate information on the prevalence and presentation of BPD in older adults.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is the most-used treatment for BPD.
It can be done individually or in a group setting.
People with BPD may face difficulties at work and in relationships.
BPD is often stigmatized, frequently in health care.
Healthcare workers and mental health professionals should receive training to combat this stigma.
BPD is typically treated with psychotherapy, but medication may be prescribed if necessary.
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