Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder

Although there is no cure for Borderline Personality Disorder, there can be recovery from the disorder. In other words, although you will still have Borderline Personality Disorder, the symptoms can lessen to such a degree that you can feel “normal” – as if you don’t have the disorder – and you can learn to live a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Borderline Personality Disorder can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, the right amount of sleep, proper diet and exercise, positive affirmations, a positive attitude, courage, spirituality, a willingness to change, and a great deal of determination. Having a good support system is important as well.

• Medication:
There is debate over whether medication or psychotherapy is the most important part of recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder. Either way, medication is important in recovery, because it will treat the symptoms of the disorder. Some of the symptoms are physical, such as anxiety. Anxiety can be treated with anti-anxiety medications. Other symptoms, such as anger and depression, are emotional symptoms, but these can also be treated with medications, such as Mood Stabilizers and Antidepressants. Stress is a symptom that can come from emotional sources but that is reflected in physical ways. There is medication that can reduce stress levels as well.

• Psychotherapy:
Whether psychotherapy is more important than medication in treating people with Borderline Personality Disorder, it is at least as important for recovery from the disorder. There are different types of psychotherapy, but the best form of psychotherapy for people with Borderline Personality Disorder is called Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which was specifically designed for people with the disorder. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a type of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, in which the primary objective is to teach the behavioral skills which help the person with Borderline Personality Disorder to tolerate stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their interpersonal relationships.

• Right amount of sleep:
Sleep is important for everyone, but for someone with Borderline Personality Disorder, what counts is what is the right amount of sleep for you. That may be the “normal” eight hours, or it may be nine or even ten hours per night. Whichever it is, you must be consistent and regular.

• Proper diet and exercise:
Proper diet and exercise are important in keeping your physical body as healthy as you are trying to make yourself emotionally healthy.

• Positive affirmations and a positive attitude:
Positive affirmations and a positive attitude go hand-in-hand. Having Borderline Personality Disorder means that your emotions are difficult to deal with to begin with; going into psychotherapy means that you will be bringing up trauma and pain from your past, and dealing with many negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors in an attempt to change them. Keeping a positive attitude and telling yourself positive things like, “You can do this,” etc., will help you in those times when things are rough.

• Courage:
When times get rough, as mentioned above, it may take all the courage you have just to make it through. Don’t give up! You can make it. Keep up your courage.

• Spirituality:
Most 12-Step programs are based on the concept of a Higher Power, whether that power is God, or whoever. Along with your courage, a strong spiritual foundation will help you get through the rough times, whether the pain is from your past or present. Prayer will help you get through it.

• Willingness to change:
Being aware of the source of your negative behaviors is only half the equation – there can be no progress without change. In order for you to recover from Borderline Personality Disorder, you must be willing to change.

• A great deal of determination:
This goes along with courage. You can have everything else, but without determination, you will not succeed. Determination may very well mean the difference between whether you recover from Borderline Personality Disorder or not. You must be determined to change, no matter what the cost.

• Having a good support system:
One of the main characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder is poor interpersonal relationships. Although your relationships with your family may be strained, hopefully they will still be a good support system for you. Having a good support system is very important for recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder. As you get better, your relationships will also get better.

About the Author

David Oliver is the founder of BorderlineCentral.com a one stop source of information on how to cope and deal with borderline personality disorder.

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