How Can Participating in DBT Help Professionals Manage Their BPD?

Unaddressed borderline personality disorder (BPD) can negatively interfere with several aspects of an individual’s life. An individual’s relationships and academics may be severely impacted, and their professional life may also be at serious risk. There is a strong link between BPD and substance use disorder (SUD). Some individuals may avoid seeking care, as it may seem time-consuming, so they choose to self-medicate their condition. Thus, many professionals face difficulty managing their mental health without professional support. Participating in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) at Restoration Recovery can help professionals manage their BPD.

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), borderline personality disorder is a psychiatric disorder that damages an individual’s ability to manage their emotions. Many individuals diagnosed with BPD may experience increased impulsivity and loss of emotional control. 

Most individuals with BPD tend to view things in extremes. Feelings for friends, family, and peers can abruptly change. For example, an individual with BPD may feel they are very close with a certain person but then later extremely dislike that person and want absolutely nothing to do with them. 

If BPD is left unmanaged, impulsive and reckless behaviors related to their mental illness may severely impact their ability to maintain healthy relationships. It is common for an individual facing challenges with BPD to experience intense mood swings. BPD symptoms may not be the same for everyone, but common signs include: 

• Plunging headfirst into relationships or ending them just as quickly

• Having a pattern of unstable relationships 

• Engaging in self-injurious behaviors

• Having chronic feelings of emptiness

• Experiencing recurring suicidal ideation

• Having angry outbursts and moments of intense rage

• Feeling dissociated from oneself

Why Can’t Professionals Manage Their BPD?

BPD can severely impact an individual’s work performance and derail their ability to achieve goals without seeking professional care. Research indicates that BPD is linked with impaired functioning. This has been known to result in elevated unemployment rates. Negative stigma from employers is a prevalent problem.  Stigma, meaning discrimination against an individual or group, can make it very difficult for those with BPD to find employment or maintain steady employment. 

Due to fear of disclosure, anticipated discrimination, and negative attitudes of employers, stigma impedes employment. Unaddressed BPD can make it difficult for a professional to fit in within their work environment too. Professional assistance during the job-seeking process can be useful. 

The Link Between Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Abuse

Due to hurtful stigma, many individuals with BPD tend to avoid seeking professional care. Without professional support, managing strong work performance can be very difficult for professionals with BPD. Therefore, many individuals with BPD commonly self-medicate their mental health condition with drugs and alcohol to function on a day-to-day basis. This only provides temporary relief and typically leads to co-occurring SUD. Such an occurrence is known as a dual diagnosis – and finding a treatment center, such as Restoration Recovery, that treats dual diagnosis is crucial at that stage. 

What Is DBT?

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be defined as an evidence-based treatment option for those facing problems with BPD. It is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment approach that is an effective intervention used to treat BPD. DBT is especially effective in managing a dual diagnosis of BPD and SUD. The treatment option is quite similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) but involves several unique yet critical elements that can help professionals manage BPD. These elements consist of the following: 

• Serving the five functions of treatment: Enhancing capabilities, generalizing capabilities, improving motivation and decreasing dysfunctional behaviors, enhancing and maintaining therapy, and establishing a structured environment
• The biosocial theory, focusing on emotions in treatment: Such individuals with BPD are born with a biologically hard-wired disposition or temperament toward emotional vulnerability
• Consistency with dialectical philosophy: The fuel that powers much of what is unique about DBT in comparison to other CBT treatments
• Mindfulness and acceptance-oriented interventions: A family of methods that enhance present-moment awareness, values-based living, and support nonjudgment

DBT at Restoration Recovery Can Help Professionals Manage Their BPD

Medication alone may not be an effective treatment option. More and more individuals are developing an interest in holistic forms of care. Therefore, several addiction and mental health facilities are supporting a whole-person approach to SUD and mental health recovery. In such programs, many individuals learn new coping strategies and, with steady participation, can become more acclimated to their professional lives.

It can be helpful for some individuals to combine treatment as usual (TAU) with a more natural form of care. Restoration Recovery understands that not everyone responds to the same treatment option in the same way. It can be helpful for professionals to develop an individualized treatment plan with one of our specialists to determine if DBT is the best treatment option.

Established in May 2017 in Auburn, California, Restoration Recovery Center is a product of the desire of a group of experienced therapists who wish to help in the recovery of individuals with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. Our recovery center offers an integrative health approach to drug and alcohol addiction treatment and includes holistic services designed to support the recovery process by healing the mind, body, and spirit. Many holistic therapies are rooted in bodywork and mindfulness practices. Restoration Recovery Center also acknowledges the busy lives of professionals and executives. Our community allows work-related devices and mobile phones. We understand that laptops, notebooks, and smartphones are essential to working professionals. Call us at (888) 290-0925.