What You Need To Know When Dating Someone With BPD

Recent questions

• What are some crucial points for dealing with a partner with BPD?

  Lise Lelanc provides five crucial points for dealing with a partner with BPD, emphasizing the importance of understanding the disorder and viewing the behavior through that lens. Partners should not take the borderline's emotional shifts personally, as they are symptoms of BPD. It is essential to provide constant validation to the borderline due to their fragmented sense of self. When a borderline's attachment system activates, symptoms intensify towards the attached person. Overall, having knowledge and empathy towards the disorder is key in navigating a relationship with a partner who has BPD.

• How does BPD affect relationships?

  BPD in a partner can lead to psychological unraveling even for well-adjusted individuals. The untreated borderline's emotions are extreme and rapidly shifting, resulting in unstable behavior that can be challenging for their partner to navigate. When a borderline's attachment system activates, symptoms intensify towards the attached person, impacting the dynamics of the relationship. Partners need to understand that BPD is a neurodevelopmental disorder influenced by genetics and early experiences, which can manifest in extreme emotional reactions and behaviors within the relationship.

• What is the nature of BPD behavior?

  BPD behavior is characterized by extreme emotional reactions and rapidly shifting emotions. Borderlines require constant validation due to a fragmented sense of self, leading to intense attachment and emotional needs. Partners must view BPD behavior through the lens of the disorder to understand the underlying reasons behind the emotional shifts and unstable behavior. It is crucial not to take the borderline's behavior personally, as it is a manifestation of the disorder rather than a reflection of the partner's actions.

• How does BPD impact emotional stability?

  BPD is on the border between neurosis and psychosis, resulting in extreme emotional reactions and unstable behavior. The untreated borderline's emotions are intense and rapidly shifting, making it challenging for them to regulate their feelings and behaviors. When a borderline's attachment system activates, their symptoms intensify towards the attached person, further impacting their emotional stability. Partners of individuals with BPD must navigate these intense emotional fluctuations with understanding and empathy to maintain a stable relationship.

• What are the key factors influencing BPD?

  BPD is a neurodevelopmental disorder influenced by genetics and early experiences, shaping the individual's emotional regulation and behavior. The fragmented sense of self in borderlines leads to a constant need for validation and attachment, affecting their relationships. Understanding the nature of BPD behavior and viewing it through the lens of the disorder are crucial factors in dealing with a partner who has BPD. Partners must recognize that the extreme emotional reactions and unstable behavior are symptoms of the disorder rather than personal attacks.