Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is an illness that can affect any person from any background. According to a study, the prevalence of borderline personality disorder is 1.6% in the general population and 20% among psychiatric inpatients in the United States.
People with BPD need to be understood and treated compassionately, as they require psychological assistance. However, not all these individuals have the same BPD condition. There are four different BPD subtypes. This blog will discuss discouraged BPD, how it’s different from BPD, its symptoms, and the available treatment options.
What is Discouraged BPD?
A borderline personality disorder condition is classified into four subtypes. Discouraged BPD is one of these subtypes. When a person has discouraged BPD, the dependent part of their personality disorders dominates much of how they think, feel, and behave.
These individuals are highly dependent on others, making them very needy and clingy. They often present themselves as passive until they believe they have been abandoned. Once they feel abandoned, they struggle with anger management and emotional stability. Although dependent and needy, any care or attention will not satisfy them.
How is Discouraged BPD Different from BPD?
A discouraged BPD personality’s dependency is often most visible when they become reliant on someone with whom dependence is unbefitting, such as a casual friend or a new partner they started seeing. Compared to other borderline personality disorder subtypes, a person with this subtype may appear outwardly depressed.
Individuals with discouraged BPD have apparent clinginess and a submissive “follower” mindset. While this person may appear indecisive or, at least, weak-willed on the outside, they typically struggle emotionally with their lack of leadership and anger toward others around them.
Who Can Develop Discouraged BPD?
Men and women from any background can develop discouraged BPD, although women are more likely to be diagnosed than men. This might be due to a neurobiological reason like as low estrogen levels or a prejudice caused by institutionalized sexism.
According to research, the condition affects men and women equally. However, women are more likely to seek therapy, be urged to seek treatment, or be officially labeled or misdiagnosed as having BPD. This diagnosis is frequently made throughout adolescence and is usually made before the end of early adulthood.
What are the Symptoms of Discouraged BPD?
According to the DSM-V, there are several signs and symptoms of BPD. The symptoms listed below are what clinicians check when diagnosing BPD or discouraged BPD. These are seen as impairments in personality functioning.
Some BPD symptoms unique to the discouraged BPD traits include:
- Excessive dependence on others
- Poor emotional regulation
- Pliant and easily influenced by others, even when it contradicts one’s desires
- Extremely loyal
- History of unstable relationships
- Submissive and meek when pursuing a leadership role
- Chronic feelings of vulnerability and weakness
- Tearful episodes and intense anger
- Self-persecution and victimization; believing others have ill-intentions
- Constant feelings of being in jeopardy
- Feeling hopeless, helpless, powerless, and depressed
- Meek due to low self-esteem, insecurity, and vulnerability
- Destruction or purposeful loss of belongings, whether by physical violence against items or a cycle of obtaining, giving away, or selling them
- Reliance on fantasy as a form of escape, frequently engaging in fantasy-based media (novels, movies, and comics)
- Complaints of chronic or recurrent sickness, sometimes somatic
- Substance abuse
- Self-deprivation (as opposed to self-indulgence), which stems from the intense emotion of worthlessness
- Suicidal thoughts
- Impulsive behavior
What Causes Discouraged BPD?
It may be challenging to determine the precise etiology of BPD or its discouraged subtype, as it has many mental health disorder problems. The source of this condition is diverse and not accessible or quickly recognizable.
Although the cause of BPD is complicated and complex, including many distinct life variables, many researchers tend to agree on several likely contributing reasons. Some of these causes and correlations are as follows:
- Neurobiological factors such as estrogen levels
- Childhood trauma, particularly abuse and neglect
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Environmental factors aside from trauma like family and social stability levels
- Social factors, including social experiences in childhood
- Genetics, particularly in genes DRD4 and DAT and chromosome nine
How is Discouraged BPD Diagnosed?
Discouraged BPD is diagnosed based on the following:
- A detailed interview with your doctor or mental health provider
- Psychological evaluation, which may include the completion of questionnaires
- Exam and medical history
- Discussion of your symptoms and signs
Discouraged BPD is primarily diagnosed in late adolescence or early adulthood. A person under 18 may be diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder if their symptoms are severe and continue for at least a year.
What are the Treatment Options for Discouraged BPD?
Discouraged borderline personality disorder management and therapy are critical for patients to live active and satisfying lives to the best of their ability. This is especially essential because BPD is associated with a high risk of self-harm.
The primary approach to managing and treating BPD is psychotherapy. Therapists can modify the type of therapy that best suit the patient’s needs. The purpose of psychotherapy is to help patients:
- Learn to manage uncomfortable emotion
- Focus on their ability to function
- Learn about their disorder
- Work on improving relationships by being aware of their feelings and those of others
- Reduce their impulsiveness by helping them observe feelings rather than acting on them
Mindfulness-based therapy MBT can be effective in treating this mental health condition. The following are two examples of psychotherapies used to treat borderline personality disorder.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): This therapy was created exclusively for those with borderline personality disorder. DBT employs mindfulness principles or awareness of one’s current circumstances and emotional condition. DBT teaches patients how to manage their powerful emotions, eliminate self-destructive behaviors, and strengthen their relationships.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This treatment can assist patients in identifying and changing fundamental beliefs and behaviors that result from erroneous views of themselves and others and difficulties relating with others. It may help them reduce mood swings, anxiety symptoms, and self-harming behaviors.
Learn More About Discouraged BPD With Acera Health
Managing, treating, and recovering from discouraged BPD may be challenging, but it is possible with the right medical specialists and support networks. Acera Health is the premier behavioral health service provider in Orange County, whose mission is to help patients create a new pathway to mind restoration and life transformation.
Although Acera Health only treats mental health specifically, the institution can treat a substance abuse problem through its dual diagnosis program. We understand it can be challenging to live with discouraged BPD, but we’re here to help you. Our team of mental health professionals has proven experience in treating mental health conditions.
Please contact us for more information and start your wellness journey today.
