Whether your child is young enough to still live at home or has branched out on their own, getting them to enter Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) treatment may be more of a challenge than you expected.
Sure, you realize that their impulsive behaviors, problems with relationships, and mood swings would all be improved with the right kind of BPD treatment – but no matter how much you try to convince your child, they are still unwilling to participate in any type of BPD treatment.
Whether it’s because they don’t think there is anything wrong with them or they are worried about what will happen if people find out, motivating your son or daughter to enter BPD treatment can be difficult. If you are at a loss for what to do, here are a few tips to help alleviate your child’s fears and motivate them to enter BPD treatment:
- Assure them of recovery: When provided the right kind of Borderline Personality Disorder treatment, your child can make a full recovery from their BPD symptoms. Evidence suggests that 80 percent of adolescents with BPD grow out of it. However, if left unattended, there’s a good chance the disorder will spill into their adulthood. Assure your child that if they enter BPD treatment now, they will be able to live much more functional lives as adults.
- Show them the benefits: Borderline Personality Disorder can affect your kid’s lives in many ways that they may not realize. Point out the ways in which BPD treatment can help them improve their lives. You could tell them that they would be able to fare better at sports and academics if they were able to gain better control over their emotions and feelings, or that they will be able to have better relationships if they are emotionally healthy.
- Offer complete support: As a parent, your support is of utmost importance to your kid. If they are assured you’ll be by their side through the course of their BPD treatment, they’re more likely to go for it. Let them know that you’ll be there for support and are willing to participate in their BPD treatment as needed. Hearing you say those words and showing your concern can be motivating to your child.
- Educate them about BPD: It is essential for your daughter or son to understand the nature of the psychiatric disorder that is affecting them. If they are made aware of Borderline Personality Disorder’s causes and how it affects the brain, they may be more willing to work toward their recovery. Point them to websites, books, and other BPD resources to help them learn more about the disorder they are struggling with, and to help them know that they aren’t alone.
- Validate their behavior and show acceptance: People with Borderline Personality Disorder tend to believe that they will always be misunderstood and unaccepted. You have to assure your child that you understand where their feelings come from and why they behave in certain ways. This will not only help them feel better about themselves, but also strengthen your relationship with them. Providing validation may also make them more willing to get the help they need.
- Help them choose a BPD treatment center: Your child will likely not know much about BPD treatment options and centers. The onus may be on you to do the research and talk to BPD treatment centers to figure out which would be the best for your child. Providing your child with some options is helpful so that they aren’t overwhelmed by the available choices for BPD treatment.
Even if you do your best to motivate your child to enter Borderline Personality Disorder treatment, you may get nothing but resistance. Know that it may take longer than you’d like to get them to enter BPD treatment, but when they finally decide to, the rewards will be worth it.