Not so visible aspects of Borderline Personality

BPD is broadly related to Self - Harm, Impulsivity and mood swings or anger.

It’s commonly known that Borderline’s are black and white in thinking, most dominant diagnosis is given on presence of self harm to BPD.

Hidden aspects -

1. Loneliness

People with BPD recall as young as 13 years old, experiencing lifelessness and received derogatory remarks on sharing that experience.

A constant loop that makes one think - “no one notices I exist” goes on in their minds.

The drama isn’t to gain attention, it’s to end the dark loneliness!

2. Trust and Self

At many clinics we tend to hear, A BPD person will make their partner go nuts and the books describe them paranoid creatures who would call to check on their partners even if they are a minute late than the promised time.

Actually, no one talks about the lack of trust to survive alone in that minute a patient of BPD might be experiencing. Imagine panic attacks every minute perceived in the mind!

Just saying -

People with BPD are like people with third degree burns ~ Linehan

People with BPD are like children drowning in the water, learning to swim and relearning at every wave!

Sexual harassment- self-care

Many a time, we all experience awkward stares, stalking, and inappropriate comments or unwanted touches. People showing predating behaviours making another person uncomfortable are present all around us - workplace, at home, gyms, parks.

Many people may or may not be able to seek help or needed support. Here are few therapeutic techniques from various schools of thought that might be helpful for one's sense of control, care, and well-being.

1. Self-awareness technique - Anyone touching your body without consent might leave many of you distanced/disconnected from your physical self for some time. In this case, use the five senses to direct your attention to your awareness and presence. Try to point to five things you can see within your reach, four sounds you hear, three smells near you, two things you can touch, and one thing you can taste. If you are in an inaccessible setting, visualise these objects/people you want to see, sounds you want to hear, foods you recognise smells and taste of, and use your feet to become aware of the ground. This technique might help people experiencing nightmares and flashbacks - direct the attention using sense organs.

2. Self-compassion & positive self-affirmations - Being a victim to unwanted touches, uncomfortable stares, and teasing might give birth to unhelpful and automatic negative thoughts. These thoughts might look like - "I'm dirty", "Did I do something to provoke them?" - causing self-blame and critical perception. These thoughts are a result of an unfortunate event. Identify these automatic thoughts and counter them with other rational explanations & questions - "What would I tell a friend who encountered such an event?", "I cannot take guilt or blame for their action." Mindfulness technique to direct attentional focus without any judgements in this situation might prove beneficial.

3. Acknowledge & Express emotions - Awareness might open the path to acknowledgement. To admit that you feel angry, frustrated, disappointed, shocked, numb, frozen might lead to coping with these emotions. Crying, screaming, shouting, talking with someone, silently absorbing the incident are all ways to express oneself.

4. Grieve & Mourn - Lack of consent might create feelings of powerlessness and helplessness. Invasion of privacy, body and personal space might be similar to a loss. Let yourself mourn and grieve this loss. Use journals, support networks, read from reliable sources, and find your healthy way to grieve.

5. Re-defining boundaries - Chaos, confusion, and lack of trust might begin to happen within the self and around other people. It is okay to create healthy boundaries for oneself and other people - "I'm not comfortable standing so close. Can you please step back while we talk?" Trusting others might take time, so create your safe spaces.

6. Communicate with your partner - Even if you aren't comfortable sharing the incident or event, acknowledge and share your desires/wants in the relationship related to sexual intimacy with your partner, even if you may not want to act on them. You may also ask their needs/wants/desires and create an understanding with each other.

7. Routine - Be mindful of disturbed eating/sleeping and poor hygiene. A routine might reinforce steps towards integrating yourself into your day-to-day events.

Disclaimer - This is not a replacement for any emergencies, psychological services, psychotherapy or psychiatric support. These are brief self-help practices that might/might not be beneficial.

How do I find "the right" Psychotherapist?

I have often heard people share - "how do I find myself the right psychotherapist?" or "What do I ask in my first session?"

Here are a few things you might want to check before booking yourself for a psychotherapy session and information you might want to know.

1. Check for Qualifications - If you want to seek support, please consult a Clinical Psychologist. In India, a Clinical Psychologist is a registered psychotherapist with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) who has obtained an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology. For medical treatment, you can consult a Psychiatrist (who has pursued MBBS).

2. Read about them and their work - You can always check the professional profiles and affiliations of your psychotherapist. Read about the publications and research interest, authored book, written in a magazine. All of this will help you identify areas of their interest.

3. Ask about their experience - You can always read and ask your psychotherapist about their previous experience with a particular diagnosis, specific symptoms, and situations. It will help you seek assurance and trust in them.

4. Enquire about the training - Check with your psychotherapist about the psychological paradigm - What psychotherapy interventions are they trained in and use? Read about that intervention and become informed.

5. Ask for Supervision & Referral - As medical doctors have a team of doctors in a hospital, psychotherapists use a similar concept. A supervisor facilitates the psychotherapy sessions of a psychotherapist like a mentor. Feel free to ask your therapist if they provide referrals as and when need be.

6. Check for ER and availability - It is good to note your psychotherapist's availability and working hours. If you have or know someone who has experienced emergencies, then ask for the protocol in advance.

7. Confidentiality - You should be psycho-educated or informed about the confidentiality clause in psychotherapy. However, ask questions and throw situations at them to allow you to feel safe in the therapeutic setting.

These are a few suggestions. Please note, psychotherapists have unique ways of working. The sessions are structured and goal-oriented. Still, give yourself and your new therapist some time before you begin to find a new one!

There is no right or wrong psychotherapist. They all create their way of working!