How can I help someone with borderline personality disorder?

Updated on

How can I help someone with borderline personality disorder?

If you know someone who lives with borderline personality disorder, here are some ways you can help them:

  • Take time to learn about the BPD to understand what your loved one is experiencing.
  • Encourage your loved one to seek treatment for BPD and ask about family therapy if they’re a relative of yours.
  • Offer emotional support, understanding and patience. Change can be difficult and frightening to people with BPD, but their symptoms can improve over time with treatment.
  • Seek therapy for yourself if you’re experiencing significant stress or symptoms of mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. Choose a different therapist from the person your loved one is seeing.

People with BPD have a significantly higher rate of self-harming and suicidal behavior than the general population.

People with BPD who are thinking of harming themselves or attempting suicide need help right away.

If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or thinking about hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1.800.273.TALK (8255).

Related posts