Welcome to a new series of articles that will look at specific mental illnesses and bust preconceived notions about said illness. We are starting off with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Myth 1: Only adults can have Borderline Personality Disorder

It may be more difficult to diagnose BPD in teenagers since adolescence is riddled with mood fluctuations and a lot of changes, but it is still possible. Research demonstrates that children as young as 11 years old are able to describe their symptoms well enough for a diagnosis. Additionally, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) does not explicitly say that an individual must be 18 years old for a diagnosis, so it is possible for someone in their teenage years to be diagnosed with BPD.

Myth 2: Those with Borderline Personality Disorder are difficult and/or act out to get attention

People with BPD get a bad reputation. They are often described as difficult, needy, etc. People with BPD, due to their condition, might at times behave in ways that makes relationships difficult and that can cause distress to people who care for and about them. In periods of distress or crisis, people with BPD may act out. However, they are not acting out to get attention from others. It may be that they are having difficulty controlling their behaviour; it is a way for them to reach out for help. The fear of abandonment is prominent in those with BPD, and it can come into play heavily in the way someone is acting, but that is because they want to feel better and not be left alone by those they care about. Their actions can be an attempt to control and survive the emotions they are experiencing.

Myth 3: If you have Borderline Personality Disorder, you cannot lead an independent life with meaningful relationships

This is completely false! Many people with BPD lead fulfilling lives even with the difficulties that can come with BPD symptoms. There are many different types of therapy that can help an individual, such as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, the most popular type of therapy today for those with BPD. There are also certain medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers that can aid a person in their daily life.

Having the support of those around them can immensely help an individual lead a fulfilling life as well. They feel like they are not alone and that they can count on those around them.

There are also different ways to help cope and regulate emotions that can help someone live their life to the fullest and in the way that they want.

Myth 4: You have to have childhood trauma in order to develop Borderline Personality Disorder

Although some people with BPD might have childhood trauma like abuse or neglect, that is not the case for everyone. Not everyone with BPD has childhood trauma, and not everyone with childhood trauma will develop BPD. There are many reasons why someone might develop BPD and research is still exploring possible causes, like genetics and the role of the brain’s structure.

Myth 5: Borderline Personality Disorder only affects women 

Early studies of BPD found that women were more affected than men, but more recent studies are showing that women and men are more equally affected than was originally thought. Women and men often show their symptoms differently, and this could possibly account for why it was thought women were more frequently affected. Women tend to display internalized symptoms (like obsessive thinking) while men tend to show more externalized behaviours (such as aggression). These externalized behaviours from men can be construed as something else when they are in fact symptoms of BPD. Men might be less frequently diagnosed with BPD because their displayed symptoms are less commonly associated with BPD.

For help with BPD in yourself or someone you care about, visit amiquebec.org/borderline.

–Gabrielle Lesage
From Share & Care Fall 2024

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