Did you know that 1 in 4 people suffer from mental health issues of some kind each year in England? And not only that, but 1 in 100 people in the UK live with BPD, also known as borderline personality disorder.
What is borderline personality disorder?
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, acts, feels, and relates to others. It is often linked to low self-esteem, intense emotions, and a deep fear of abandonment, making it difficult to regulate emotions and have stable relationships.
Why BPD often begins in teenage years
While BPD is more common in adulthood, the signs of this mental disorder start to show early in our teenage years. This is usually because teenagers go through a phase where their emotions are all over the place, but when these emotions start to become extreme and affect their daily life, this is when it becomes truly concerning.
Emotional changes and teenage development
When a person starts to transition from a child to an adult, they experience rapid emotional, physical, and social change. It’s also when they start having their own identity, make new friends, and become more independent. For the teenagers who are at risk of suffering from BPD, these crucial years can be confusing and painful for them. These challenges are especially important to understand when supporting teenagers. Speaking with a child and adolescent psychotherapist in London could provide useful insights into how BPD develops in young children.
What might a teenager with BPD experience?
Some things which a young person may experience could include:
These may be the signs of an early emotional dysregulation, which is one of the core features of BPD.
Common signs of BPD in teenagers
It is crucial to identify the signs of BDP as early as possible in a teenager before it becomes too late. Although the signs of BPD may differ from one teen to another, some of the most common features found in all teenagers include:
It’s important to remember that teenagers are not doing these sorts of behaviours to seek attention; it’s a cry for help, and these acts are early signs of BPD, as explained by Mind UK.
What causes borderline personality disorder?
A frequent question arises when we talk about BPD: What causes it? Well, there’s no single cause for this disorder, but researchers believe BPD develops from a mix of factors. These include:
Not every teen who has experienced these factors develops BPD, but it is important to remember that it might increase the chances of BPD, especially if they do not have access to early emotional support. For more information, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry offers a helpful overview on BPD in young people.
Supporting a teenager with BPD
To tackle BPD, therapy can be effective, but it is also important to have a family-based support system. If you are a parent or guardian, we understand that it is not always easy to know how to respond when your child shows signs of BPD. However, some actions that can be taken include:
A message of hope and healing
Borderline personality disorder is often misunderstood amongst teenagers, but by receiving early support and the right therapeutic care, a teen can make meaningful progress. Every person deserves to feel their best and fulfilled in themselves and their relationships.
If you’re worried about the mental health of a teenager in your care, then it's time you reach out to a qualified child and adolescent psychotherapist and take the first step towards healing.
References:
https://www.charliehealth.com/post/whats-it-like-living-with-borderline-personality-disorderhttps://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/borderline-personality-disorder-bpd/about-bpd/