Treating any disorder can be challenging, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is no different. However, the challenges that come with BPD treatment are slightly different from those that come with other disorders. If you are undergoing treatment for BPD, the best thing to do is understand the challenges that occur in the process of healing so that you can better recognize and learn to handle them.
People with BPD tend to split the world into good and bad. At first, a therapist or group members might seem helpful, offering long-anticipated support. However, as these people begin to breach issues to which you are sensitive, you may feel criticized or unaccepted.
In these cases, the people who once appeared “good” are now in the category of “bad.” As a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder, you may reject or mistrust your therapist and other group members as much as you may accept or rely on them.
Although these people might be offering constructive advice or objective observations, you might not listen to or act on these ideas because you’ve given up on trusting these people. This resistance may be passive, or overt – and you may stop showing up for therapy altogether.
One way to prevent this challenge is to learn about the type of BPD therapy you are receiving. Whether it is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), if you know what to expect in the sessions, you might be better equipped to have patience with situations where you feel that you have been flat-out rejected or dismissed.
People with BPD may sometimes use their treatment regimen as a way to manipulate family members or close friends, especially if they urged you to seek treatment in the first place. If a rift occurs between you and your loved ones, you may be tempted to stop going to therapy or taking medication as a way of getting even. If you think is occurring, talk to your therapist or counselor and evaluate why it is that you are seeking treatment – is it for others, or for the betterment of your own life?