How To Motivate Someone With Borderline Personality Disorder?

A person’s potential to control emotions is significantly affected by a borderline personality disorder, a mental condition. This breakdown in emotional regulation can make a person more impulsive, harm how they feel about themselves, and damage their relationships with other people.

If you have a loved one who has received a BPD diagnosis, you may make efforts to motivate them to enhance communication, establish respectful boundaries, and maintain your relationship.

Borderline personality disorder

A mental health condition called borderline personality disorder affects how you feel and think about yourself and others, making it difficult to function in daily life. Issues with self-image, trouble controlling one’s emotions and behavior, and history of rocky relationships are all included.

When you have a borderline personality disorder, you may find it difficult to tolerate being alone and have a severe fear of abandonment or instability. Even if you desire to build enduring and meaningful connections, improper anger, impulsivity, and frequent mood swings may drive people away.

Usually, by early adulthood, borderline personality disorder develops. Early adulthood seems to be when the problem is worse, and it may progressively become better as people age.

Motivating and Supporting Someone with BPD

If you know someone who has a borderline personality disorder (BPD), you are familiar with the stress of this challenging issue. You might not want to know how to react helpfully to help them stay motivated to overcome this disorder.

A person with BPD may benefit significantly from the support of their family members and friends in managing and minimizing symptoms. You can support and motivate a person with BPD by using the following strategies :

Study up on BPD.

Learning about BPD is the first step for the family, friends, and other supporters who wish to provide practical assistance. When the underlying reason for the behavior is recognized, you are more likely to respond to challenging behaviors helpfully.

Show confidence and  Be respectful.

Early life trauma has a significant correlation with BPD. A person’s sense of safety and control over themselves, other people, and the outside world is weakened by early childhood trauma. A support person must approach the connection in a way that builds trust and respect, as these qualities can be beneficial and therapeutic for a person with BPD. Though you might think you know what’s best, give the BPD sufferer the chance to decide for themselves. Express your belief in their skills and enquire about how you can assist.

Be dependable.

Many BPD sufferers have a history of attachment issues, which breeds apprehension and distrust. You must maintain consistency and honesty in your role as a support person. Do what you say. You’ll do as much as you can. Setting boundaries in advance is acceptable and frequently required. Try to concentrate on what you can provide regarding resources and time.

Encourage Professional Help.

Relationship conflict and self-harming behaviors are two of the most challenging BPD symptoms that are reduced by both individual and group therapy. Professionals in the mental health field can also provide assessments for other mental diseases that need to be treated, like anxiety and depression. Support personnel can offer information and, if necessary, help set up appointments. Having hope that assistance is accessible can benefit those with BPD.

Determine their strengths.

It is possible to think of BPD as a self-identity issue. People with BPD are uncertain of who they are and how others see them. Everyone possesses talents and strengths. Support individuals might be of assistance by pointing out good qualities and particular skills they have observed. You must be truthful and able to provide instances in which the person displayed these traits. Make sure to record successful attempts at coping and behavioral adjustments.

Enjoy together.

Healthy relationships and attachments grow when people feel happy and at ease with one another. One of the most beneficial things a support person can do is recommend a healthy activity that both of you will love, like gardening, going for a walk in the park, going to a concert, or watching a hilarious movie. Together, these self-soothing exercises strengthen the relationship between the BPD sufferer and the support person.

Consider suicide seriously.

Compared to the normal population, those with BPD have a higher risk of suicide. It is crucial to inquire about a person’s intentions if they express interest in taking their own life or making suicide-related gestures. Let the person know you will take action out of concern for their safety. If in doubt, contact a hotline or local mental health agencies to get assistance.

Know yourself.

Understand your boundaries and when a relationship is stressing you out. Every connection involves demands and give-and-take. It requires more effort than most partnerships to support someone with BPD. When you need a break, be honest with yourself. Consider this a form of self-care for you and a healthy relationship, not a rejection or a rebuke. Your ability to love and look for yourself sets a strong example for the person you assist.

The effects of BPD on individuals, their families, and friends can be lessened with continuous and helpful assistance. One of the most beneficial things you can do for someone suffering from BPD is improve your ability to react helpfully.

Signs And Symptoms

People with a borderline personality disorder may suffer severe mood swings and struggle with their self-image. They can abruptly go from intense closeness to intense hatred of others. Unstable relationships and emotional suffering can result from these shifting emotions.

Borderline personality disorder patients also frequently have extreme viewpoints, such as all good or negative. They may behave impulsively or dangerously, and their ideals and interests might shift quickly.

Conclusion

Relationships are typically challenging for persons with borderline personality disorder (BPD), especially those closest to them.

 Even if the person with BPD isn’t willing to acknowledge the issue or seek therapy, you can enhance the connection and your quality of life regardless of whether it’s your partner, parent, child, sibling, friend, or another loved one. It will get them motivated to seek therapy and get better. Although there is no miraculous treatment for BPD, many people with the disorder may improve, and their relationships can become more secure and fulfilling.