How to Best Support a Teen with Borderline Personality Disorder

 

Teens with personality disorders deserve some time to grow before that kind of diagnosis is set in stone. Typically, teens haven't yet grown into their personalities. They haven't yet grown into their minds, bodies, and emotions. Because the brain is still in development during adolescence, there is still a lot to grow into as a teen. However, some teens might begin to show signs of having a personality disorder. 

A personality disorder is considered to be a mental illness in which there are long-lasting unhealthy behaviors, thought patterns, and inner experiences, which seem to hold true across many areas of a person's life. These unhealthy patterns and behaviors often go against the grain of what society is willing to accept. For instance, someone with a personality disorder might be aggressive, intense, socially awkward, self-harming, or overly emotional. The unhealthy patterns of a personality disorder tend to be unchanging or inflexible, bringing about significant distress in a person's life. However, because a teen is still growing, the symptoms that he or she experiences might not be the inflexible patterns of a personality disorder, but rather another psychological illness. 

Nonetheless, there are some teens who already show signs of a personality disorder. For example, Borderline Personality Disorder is an illness that some adolescents are diagnosed with. This illness can come with the following symptoms:

·         Extreme reactions, such as panic, rage, or frantic behavior.

·         A pattern of intense and stormy relationships with family and friends.

·         Swinging from idealizing others to extremely disliking them

·         Avoiding real or imagined abandonment

·         An inability to maintain a stable sense of self

·         Dangerous and impulsive behavior 

·         Self-Harming Behavior

·         Mood Instability

·         Chronically feeling empty

·         Inability to regulate feelings of anger

·         Signs of dissociation with reality

The deep-seated traits in a teen’s behavior is the primary indicator of Borderline Personality Disorder. Symptoms are chronic and typically represent a teen’s baseline. In other words, these symptoms are inherent in a teen’s usual behavior. For instance, a teen with this illness may experience impulsivity, irritability, and aggression may experience these symptoms regularly. Furthermore, teens with this illness tend to have mood swings, as indicated above. However, unlike Bipolar Disorder (classically known as an illness with extreme mood swings), teens with Borderline Personality Disorder experience mood swings that are abrupt, short-lived, and often in response to an external trigger.

To best support a teen with Borderline Personality Disorder, it's best to get them professional support. Therapies, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, addresses the many difficulties a teen can have. Teens can also learn coping tools, build support networks, learn better relational skills, and boost their self esteem in therapy, all of which can equip them to better face the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. 

If you or someone you know experiences any of the above symptoms, contact a mental health professional assistance. With the right diagnosis, whether it's Borderline Personality Disorder or another illness, a teen can begin to receive proper treatment to address their symptoms.

Managing the Symptoms of Teen Bipolar Disorder

 

Bipolar Disorder is characterized by the swing of moods between mania and depression. It can be difficult for both a teen as well as his or her family to cope with this illness. The symptoms of this disorder can be tricky and challenging to manage. However, with the right tools and support, it can be done. This article will provide a clear description of the typical symptoms of bipolar disorder and the steps to take to manage them. 

There are two distinct experiences that come with Bipolar Disorder – mania and depression. Mania might feel good for a teen who is experiencing it because it can sometimes come with great creativity, wonderful insights, brilliant ideas, and feelings of invincibility. At the same time, mania can feel uncomfortable. Here are some additional symptoms of mania that can make it an uneasy experience:

·         Irritability

·         Intensity

·         Dangerous choices

·         Risky behavior with little awareness of any potential consequences

·         Belief in doing well might keep a teen from taking their medication

A teen who is manic might max out his parent's credit card, have unprotected sex with someone he or she hardly knows, or go gambling and bet his or her entire savings at the casino. Mania might at the surface seem like it's a version of happiness, but it's a mood that comes with significant risks. 

At some point, a teen with Bipolar Disorder will swing to the other side of the spectrum and experience depression. Bipolar disorder (bi meaning two) is characterized by the swing of moods between mania and depression, moving between both poles. An episode of depression can come with the following symptoms:

·         Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood

·         Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

·         Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

·         Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

·         Loss of interest in sexual activity

·         Decreased energy or fatigue

·         Difficulty making decisions, concentrating or focusing

·         Difficulty in memory

·         Restlessness or irritability

·         Oversleeping

·         Sudden weight gain or loss

·         Suicidal ideation

In order to best manage these experiences, there are some relied upon treatment methods that have been successful over time. The cycles between mania and depression can continue to worsen if not treated. And the swing between both these states can be incredibly uncomfortable and unsafe. Typically, treatment of Bipolar Disorder includes minimizing mood swings through the use of medication and therapy. Typical forms of treatment might include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, life skills training, psycho-education, and hospitalization, if necessary. When medication is combined with therapy, there is a greater chance of maintaining mental health and managing the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.

If you're a teen experiencing the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder or if you haven't told an adult about your experience, talk to a parent, teacher, or school counselor about what's going on. The sooner you can get support for yourself, the better.

Deciding Whether to Tell Your Friends About Your Mental Illness

If you’re a teen with depression, anxiety, or Bipolar Disorder, then you might wonder on occasion whether or not to tell your friends about your mental illness. You might be concerned about whether they will judge, neglect, or even reject you. It can be a hard decision to make, especially because there is so much attention in adolescence on being accepted among friends. There are some important factors to keep in mind when making this decision. This article will address those and hopefully facilitate the best decision for you.

Deciding whether to tell your friends depends on a variety of circumstances. First, your friends might be the type of people who understand and who will accept you regardless of what you’re experiencing. But you might need to assess whether your friends will be accepting or judgmental towards you. Second, you might need to think about whether sharing this piece of information about yourself will better your friendships or make them worse. Sometimes when a person is going through a difficult time, it can be the very thing that brings a relationship or a friendship closer together. Yet, some teens may not see it as important and may not give too much attention to it. And for some teens, the mental illness might be what places a burden on your friendship. You will have to give this some consideration.