How Do You Help A Child With Borderline Personality Disorder?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Learn as much as you can about BPD and DBT. …
  2. Take Care of Yourself. …
  3. Look Past the Borderline Personality Disorder Label. …
  4. Focus on Validation & Communication. …
  5. Learn to show love while holding boundaries. …
  6. Get professional help.

What triggers a person with borderline personality disorder?


Separations, disagreements, and rejections—real or perceived

—are the most common triggers for symptoms. A person with BPD is highly sensitive to abandonment and being alone, which brings about intense feelings of anger, fear, suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and very impulsive decisions.

What does borderline personality look like in kids?

A

pattern of unstable and intense relationships

.

An unstable self-image or sense of self

.

Dangerous impulsivity

such as unsafe sexual encounters, substance abuse. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

At what age does borderline personality disorder develop?

According to the DSM-5, BPD can be diagnosed

as early as at 12 years old

if symptoms persist for at least one year. However, most diagnoses are made during late adolescence or early adulthood.

How do I communicate with my BPD daughter?

People with BPD often have difficulty talking about their feelings and instead tend to act on them in destructive ways. Therefore, addressing a problem openly by

inquiring

with one’s daughter or speaking to her therapist helps her to deal with her feelings using words rather than actions.

How do I know if my daughter has BPD?


A pattern of unstable and intense relationships

.

An unstable self-image or sense of self

.

Dangerous impulsivity

such as unsafe sexual encounters, substance abuse. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.

Who is most at risk for borderline personality disorder?

Risk factors for BPD include:

Abandonment in childhood or adolescence

.

Disrupted family life

.

Poor communication in the family

.

Are borderlines aware of their behavior?

People with borderline personality disorders are

aware of their behaviors

and the consequences of them and often act in increasingly erratic ways as a self-fulfilling prophecy to their abandonment fears.

What happens if BPD is left untreated?

If left untreated, the person suffering from BPD may find themselves involved with

extravagant spending, substance abuse, binge eating, reckless driving, and indiscriminate sex

, Hooper says. The reckless behavior is usually linked to the poor self-image many BPD patients struggle with.

How can you tell if someone has borderline personality disorder?

Signs and symptoms may include:

An intense fear of abandonment

, even going to extreme measures to avoid real or imagined separation or rejection. A pattern of unstable intense relationships, such as idealizing someone one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn’t care enough or is cruel.

What happens if you ignore a borderline?

Family members may be quick to deny or argue the feelings experienced the person with BPD. If these feelings are ignored, the

individual may resort to self-destructive ways to express their emotions

.

How do you make someone with BPD feel loved?

  1. Acknowledge the Realness of BPD. …
  2. Make Room for Yourself. …
  3. Stop Rescuing. …
  4. Encourage High-Quality Treatment. …
  5. Treatment at Bridges to Recovery.

Can someone with BPD ever be happy?

This person says it exactly right — people with BPD have very intense emotions that can last from a few hours to even a few days, and can change very quickly. For example, we can go from feeling very happy to suddenly feeling very low and sad.

Can someone with BPD be a good parent?

People with borderline personality

disorder can be very effective and nurturing parents

, but because the symptoms of BPD can be very intense, for many people this does take some work. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life.

Can a 12 year old have borderline personality disorder?

Borderline symptoms in 12-year-olds

signal risk for pervasive poor functioning during the transition to adulthood

. This association is driven by genetic influences, suggesting that borderline symptoms and poor outcomes are manifestations of shared genetic risk.

Do borderlines get jealous?

In close relationships,

a person with BPD may appear jealous, possessive, or hyper-reactive

. These individuals often fear being left alone and have deep feelings of worthlessness. In many cases, this disorder is the direct result of childhood trauma, abuse, violence, or neglect.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.