A man’s mental health is quite important for him to be physically fit and healthy. If he is not mentally healthy then it will be hard for him to be physically fit. While most men are aware of common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, not all men know about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Let’s read on to know more about it.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is known to be a complicated mental health disorder as well as more common among women. However, this does not mean that men are not prone to BPD. This is a mental health condition in which it is hard for men to regulate their emotions and feel their emotions intensely for a long period of time. Along with that, if they go through an emotionally triggering event, it becomes hard for them to become stable.
When a man is unable to regulate his emotions due to borderline personality disorder, it leads to poor self-image, difficult relationships, impulsiveness as well as an intensely emotional response to stressors. He can also indulge in dangerous behaviours, such as self harm.
*It is estimated that 1.4% of the adult US population experiences Borderline Personality Disorder. Nearly 75% of them are women. Although men may be equally affected by borderline personality disorder, they are often misdiagnosed with PTSD or depression. This is because BPD works differently for men than it does for women, such as:
Men living with BPD may feel or act differently than women living with the condition.
People living with BPD can also have other health conditions. The other conditions that men with BPD have might not be the same ones that women have.
Men and women living with BPD tend to get different types of treatment.
Keeping this in mind, we decided to talk about Borderline Personality Disorder in men. Have a look below:
Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
When it comes to the diagnosis of BPD, there are certain symptoms which must be looked out for in a man. These symptoms include:
Strong and mostly irrational fears of abandonment accompanied by frantic as well as desperate efforts to avoid it.
In the context of relationships, alternating periods of idealisation (intense love and admiration) and devaluation (feelings of revulsion and disillusionment).
Persistently unstable self-image and sense of identity.
Impulsivity in at least two areas that can cause damage to self or others like reckless spending, substance abuse, binge eating, compulsive gambling or unsafe driving.
Episodes of acute emotional disquiet, such as irritability, anxiety, or anguish that lasts for hours or days.
Chronic feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness, and low motivation.
Explosive, intense bursts of uncontrollable anger.
Outbreaks of dissociative symptoms marked by extreme paranoia, suspicion, and a disconnection from reality.
Suicidal threats and actions along with self-harming behavior, such as cutting, burning, pulling out hair or scratching the skin until it bleeds.
Treatment for Men with Borderline Personality Disorder
The struggle with BPD is real for men. A man diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder cannot ignore the fact that he needs treatment by a professional. The most common type of treatment for men with BPD is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). This therapy is based on cognitive principles that aims to teach BPD patients on how to control their emotions that leads to problems in their lives and relationships. DBT includes both individual sessions as well as group training skills. It will help you improve how you feel about yourself and your ability to function.
Conclusion
Borderline personality disorder in men can make them unstable in life and feel like a ride of intense mood swings that last for days. Men with BPD can become very impulsive and indulge in dangerous activities like having unprotected sex with strangers. Along with that, sustaining relationships can become hard for such men due to instability. They are unable to trust people, believing that they want to harm them. However, with the right treatment you will be able to manage your mental health and become stable.