ABOUT BPD

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Borderline personality disorder [BPD] is a mental illness that severely impacts a person’s ability to regulate their emotions.” The illness affects over 14 million people in the United States, impacting women three times as much as men.

Some of the symptoms and self-destructive behaviors associated with BPD include self-harm, chronic feelings of emptiness, impulsive behavior (such as substance misuse, disordered eating, unsafe sexual behaviors), unstable personal relationships and feelings of abandonment. About 70% of people with BPD will make at least one suicide attempt in their lifetime.

Additionally, those with BPD are regularly misdiagnosed with other disorders such as bipolar disorder or depressive disorder. Often, adolescents who suffer from BPD are complicated children who need specialized, compassionate care and whose families need considerable support and education.