Perfectionism – and particularly socially-prescribed perfectionism – is a common characteristic of young people with BPD and associated with a range of borderline personality traits.
Young people with borderline personality disorder often experience episodes of paranoia and feelings of suspicion towards other people. These experiences can cause distress and affect
Many clinicians are still reluctant to diagnose BPD in adolescents before they are 18. Stigma and misconceptions surrounding personality disorders cause clinicians to avoid the diagnosis, despite strong evidence that many young people show stable and persistent BPD symptoms. Instead, young people may be diagnosed with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, or psychotic disorders.
Childhood trauma is one of the most important risk factors for the development of BPD. Many instances of childhood trauma happen within the family environment, through relationships and interactions between a child and their caregivers. These experiences can have a big impact on a young person’s emotional and social development, affecting the way they manage emotions and form relationships with others. Experts think these changes may underpin key traits and features of BPD.
Research suggests that personality disorders are, to a large extent, caused by distressing or adverse experiences during childhood that affect the way young people develop emotionally and socially. Consequently, some young people with personality disorders see their behaviours as a normal response to the trauma they have experienced.
As much as family systems can be fundamental in the development of BPD, they may also be crucial it’s treatment and recovery, especially among adolescents and young adults. Family interventions can help to establish family structures, parenting skills, and interpersonal family dynamics that lead to more stable interpersonal relationships, better emotional regulation, and fewer self-harming behaviours.
While borderline personality disorder is most often diagnosed during late adolescence, BPD doesn’t just suddenly develop. Instead, scientists think that interactions of certain biological features – particularly impulsivity and emotional sensitivity – with childhood experiences like social invalidation and trauma lead to the development of BPD.
Accessing specialist treatment is fundamental for adolescents with BPD to live a fulfilling and enjoyable life. BPD is treatable, and there are several evidence-based treatments that are proven to help young people with the disorder to manage symptoms and pursue the things they love.
Hallucinations and delusions are some of the lesser-known – and less often discussed – symptoms of BPD. While research shows that these experiences are common among young people with the disorder, conversations and awareness about the connection are still lacking. In assessments and treatment, they are also often overlooked.
For young people living with untreated ADHD, navigating daily life can be a challenge. Coping with another co-occurring condition like borderline personality disorder can make
Parental addiction affects young people in different ways. Parents are often unable to meet children’s physical and emotional needs when their lives are dominated by seeking a substance or engaging in a behaviour. In many cases, families experience role-reversal, when children or adolescents become responsible for meeting their parents’ and family’s needs, disrupting normal processes of child development.
If a young person is misusing alcohol, it’s important that they receive additional help. With professional support, teenagers can develop new coping mechanisms and address underlying experiences that underpin their behaviours.
In this blog, we offer some basic information about schizophrenia, treatment and recovery. We touch on the impact of schizophrenia on the family, trauma therapy within schizophrenia treatment and the prevalence of the disorder in different places around the world.
