Borderline Personality Disorder Requires Specialized Treatment for Recovery

CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Having a relationship with someone who struggles with borderline personality disorder (BPD) can be difficult and draining.  Learning about the disorder and its roots in feelings of low self-worth can help provide compassion, but healthy boundaries within the relationship are vital for both the person struggling and their loved one.

"Recovery is possible for BPD, we see it every day," said Melissa O'Neill, LCSW, director of program development at Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment center in the Chicago area, for women and adolescent girls struggling with mood disorders such as BPD, trauma, addiction, eating disorders and other co-occurring disorders. "Education about the disorder is helpful so that an individual can recognize their patterns in relationships and struggles to regulate emotions."

Recent statistics show that in the United States, 1.6 percent of the population has BPD. This means that more than four million people have BPD in the U.S. alone.

With proper treatment, individuals with BPD learn how to better regulate emotions and maintain the structure of healthy relationships. They begin to practice healthy boundaries, manage urges to sabotage relationships, and begin to tolerate healthy intimacy.

One of the primary beliefs within BPD is that "I, alone, am not worthy." This belief can spread into many other problematic thoughts and beliefs such as suicide ideations, codependency in relationships and extreme emotional volatility.

Most individuals with BPD attempt to find ways to regulate those emotions by using self-destructive behaviors such as self-injury, eating disorder behaviors, frequent and intense relationships and both the sabotage of self and relationship with others.

At Timberline Knolls, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are offered to provide a foundation of evidence-based treatment that supports recovery from BPD. In addition, psychoeducation is provided for shame reduction, allowing the individual to reframe their history of behaviors as an attempt to regulate emotions.

"If you have a loved one with BPD, encourage him/her to seek professional help and reinforce the message that recovery is possible," adds O'Neill.

About Timberline Knolls:

Timberline Knolls is a leading private residential treatment center for women and adolescent girls (ages 12 – 65+) with eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, mood and co-occurring disorders. Located in suburban Chicago, residents receive excellent clinical care from a highly trained professional staff on a picturesque 43-acre wooded campus. An adult partial hospitalization program is also available on campus for step down as well as in Orland Park, Ill., for women to direct admit. For more information on Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, call us at 877.257.9611. We are also on Facebook – Timberline Knolls, LinkedIn – Timberline Knolls and Twitter - @TimberlineToday.

SOURCE Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center

Related Links

http://www.timberlineknolls.com