According to some estimates, borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects up to 1.6 percent of the adult population in the United States. However, analysts believe the figure is significantly higher, both in the United States and globally. Online BPD therapy, such as that available at BetterHelp.com, as well as traditional in-person counseling, can make a significant difference.
Understanding the disease is essential for treating BPD. Therapists can utilize a variety of therapy to treat BPD and help the individual live a healthy life. Without proper therapy, a person with BPD can spiral downward, affecting both their own life and the lives of others around them.
A Cost Comparison of In-Person and Online BPD therapy
BPD sessions are typically 50 minutes long and cost between $100 and $200 per session, making them somewhat pricey. The majority of BPD specialized therapies are time-limited, lasting one to three years, making in-person counseling prohibitively expensive.
According to a new study, internet counseling may be an effective treatment for persons experiencing symptoms of borderline personality disorder.
BetterHelp’s services cost $60 to $90 per week (1 session), or $240 to $360 per month. You can apply for financial assistance on BetterHelp’s payment page.
Contents
- 1 What is the Definition of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
- 2 BPD Symptoms
- 3 Factors of Risk and Causes
- 4 How is Borderline Personality Disorder Treated?
- 5 What Is the Best Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder?
- 6 DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- 7 Therapy Based on Schemas
- 8 BPD therapist near me or online therapy – How to treat BPD at home?
- 9 Final Thoughts
What is the Definition of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental illness that affects how people perceive themselves and others. It is characterized by powerful emotions that could have a negative impact on a person’s daily activities, relationships, and employment. As a result of those overwhelming feelings, their behavior can become unstable.
As a result of these ideas, the person may become obsessed with their appearance, spending hours trying to conceal or cover up the perceived flaw.
They may avoid mirrors or spend hours staring in them, obsessed on their “flaw.” Though the exact symptoms of the condition differ from person to person, BDD patients usually exhibit similar signs and behaviors.
BPD patients may struggle with their identity, relationships, or self-esteem. It can affect both children and adults, however it is commonly diagnosed in adults exclusively. Because children and teenagers sometimes outgrow their symptoms as they grow older, their potential BPD cannot be effectively recognized and treated.
BPD Symptoms
There are a variety of indications and symptoms that may indicate BPD. However, a medical professional or a psychologist will eventually diagnose it using a variety of approaches.
Among the signs of BPD are:
- Fear of being abandoned
- Relationships that are tight and unstable
- Changes in self-image and identity that are frequent and abrupt, with a tendency to regard oneself negatively.
- Swings in mood that might linger for hours or even days
- Binge eating, risky driving, drug misuse, or abruptly quitting a job are examples of impulsive bad behavior and activities.
- Stress-related paranoia
- Losing touch with reality over a period of minutes to hours
- Excessive rage and outbursts
- Threats or thoughts of suicide or self-injury, often in response to rejection or fear of abandonment
- When the intensity of an issue occupies an excessive amount of attention, creates substantial emotional distress, and hinders the person’s function in their personal or professional situation, BDD is commonly found.
Although there are links between body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders, as well as body-focused repetitive behaviors such as skin picking, nail biting, and hair pulling, the psychological process and CBT therapy strategy are quite different.
Factors of Risk and Causes
There may be variances in brain architecture in areas where the brain is not fully developed. BDD is more common in people who are also genetically predisposed to OCD.
While we don’t know what causes borderline personality disorder, most psychologists and doctors agree that the following may be the cause, or at the very least, are risk factors for BPD:
Genetics: As with most mental disorders, genetics have a significant role in the development of BPD. Those with a family history of this disorder or other mental illnesses may be at a higher risk.
BPD can also be caused by chemical changes (hormonal alterations) in the brain. BPD symptoms can emerge, for example, if the portion of the brain that regulates serotonin does not function properly.
Childhood Abuse: Many persons with BPD describe having a difficult childhood, including being sexually or physically assaulted as a child. Children whose parents are abusive, separated, or drug addicts may also be subject to this order.
How is Borderline Personality Disorder Treated?
BPD can be treated, and therapy is the most common method of treatment. Medicines may also be used, but a therapist will not prescribe them because they are not allowed to do so. If they decide your condition necessitates medication, they will recommend you to a psychiatrist.
When discussing BPD therapy, it’s crucial to remember that many people with this disorder also have other mental disorders or illnesses. People with BPD may also have depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ADHD, PTSD, or bipolar disorder.
If BPD is co-occurring with another mental disorder, the therapist or psychiatrist must treat both conditions concurrently. They may or may not be related, but each must be treated with suitable therapy and medications.
In extreme circumstances, hospitalization may be required if the symptoms become too severe and your general health is jeopardized. This is especially true if the person is on the verge of self-harm or is having suicidal thoughts.
Having said that, the good news is that patients with BPD can make their lives more normal, particularly with the assistance of a BPD therapist. The main and most effective treatment for the disease is therapy. Such persons can learn strategies and mechanisms to cope with their condition and better regulate their emotions with the help of treatment, allowing them to live a better life.
Because symptoms of BPD might return, psychotherapy is an ongoing treatment. As a result, frequent counseling is the best option for treating BPD symptoms. Some BPD clients may require more frequent sessions than others, particularly if they are simultaneously suffering with another disorder.
What Is the Best Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder?
People with borderline personality disorder can benefit greatly from psychotherapy or talk therapy in general (BPD). However, there are specialized therapies that have been discovered that target the difficulties and symptoms of people with BPD.
The following are the various sorts of BPD therapy that a BPD therapist may employ:
DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT therapy is the most commonly utilized treatment for BPD. It is frequently the first line of treatment for BPD clinicians as a kind of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). It primarily focuses on skill-based emotion control, teaching clients how to control and process their emotions while avoiding stressful circumstances. It may also give people a chance to improve their relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners.
This therapy, which emphasizes mindfulness and awareness, assists patients in connecting their ideas and feelings with their behaviors and effects.
Therapy Based on Schemas
CBT and psychoanalysis are combined in Schema-Focused Therapy. It focuses on finding unmet life requirements that are manifesting in their current behavior. This therapy enables people to meet their needs in a healthier manner while also breaking bad habits.
Treatment Based on Mentalization (MBT)
Individuals with BPD who also have anxiety or sadness may benefit from mentalization-based therapy. It teaches kids to notice and appraise their own emotions as well as those of others. The idea behind this therapy is to train people to think before behaving in order to avoid impulsive behavior.
Psychotherapy with a Focus on Transference (TFP)
Psychotherapy is intended to help people understand their problems better. During psychotherapy, a qualified psychologist or therapist will discuss the clients’ ideas, moods, and feelings.
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy, or TFP, has been shown to be just as effective as DBT therapy for BPD. It largely focuses on the client-therapist interaction since it allows the therapist to learn about the client’s relationships with others. Clients, on the other hand, learn from this interaction and apply what they’ve learned to other relationships in their lives.
During these sessions, a psychologist can help you understand about your mental health condition, how to take care of your life, and coping skills.
Psychotherapy may help with a variety of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders.
Psychotherapy can also help with post-traumatic stress disorder, interpersonal problems, and sleeping disturbances. Although it is most often done one-on-one, psychotherapy can also be done in groups or with family members.
STEPPS
STEPPS (Systems training for emotional predictability and problem-solving) is a group therapy that includes the client’s family, friends, and carers. It is a 20-week treatment that is utilized in conjunction with other therapies such as DBT or MBT.
BPD therapist near me or online therapy – How to treat BPD at home?
While traditional therapy in a therapist’s office is common for BPD patients, online BPD counseling is proving to be just as effective.
Online counseling may be an even more practical choice for patients with BPD, who typically require continuous therapy for months or years. Instead of waiting for days for an in-person session, being able to communicate with a therapist digitally via video conference or text message makes things easier to manage.
In fact, clients with BPD may require more frequent communication with their therapist than people with other mental disorders or no issues. Because symptoms can strike at any time, having a therapist on hand for a simple phone call or text message can make all the difference.
Many therapists who normally conduct therapy face-to-face in their offices have introduced virtual therapy as an alternative for individuals who choose to do it just online.
If you search online for ‘BPD treatment near me’ or ‘BPD therapy near me,’ you will obtain results for therapists in your area. To find out if they provide online counseling, go to their website or contact them by phone or email.
Another alternative is to use an online counseling program that can connect you with a BPD therapist from anywhere in the world. BetterHelp.com is one of the world’s greatest online therapy platforms, with a large number of competent therapists. If you’ve been diagnosed with BPD, you can be matched with a therapist who specializes in BPD-specific therapy.
A significant benefit of using BetterHelp.com is that their therapist is accessible via a variety of communication channels. Aside from your regular treatment appointments, you can contact them via messaging within the app if you require quick assistance. Furthermore, it is far less expensive than in-person therapy.
Final Thoughts
Many of us are affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD). In fact, many people do not realize they have this mental condition until the symptoms become too severe and frequent. However, talk therapy, particularly internet therapy, can be very beneficial to such people. It can assist them in gaining control of their ideas, feelings, and, ultimately, behaviors in order to live a better, healthier life.
You and your therapist will determine which therapy is best for you. In addition to conventional talk therapy sessions, they may use a variety of other therapy modalities.