Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental health conditions. Its symptoms can vary widely, overlap with other disorders, and manifest in ways that challenge individuals and those around them. For millions of people living with BPD, a lack of accurate diagnosis and appropriate, trauma-informed care continues to be a significant barrier to healing.
At Hanley Center, we recognize that individuals with BPD are not “difficult”; they are deeply hurting. Beneath the surface of what can appear as volatility or manipulation lies a person who is struggling to make sense of overwhelming emotions, identity disruption, and an intense fear of abandonment. With the proper support, people with BPD can move toward emotional regulation, relational stability, and a life worth living.
The Challenge of Diagnosing BPD
One of the most complex aspects of BPD is the intensity of emotional and relational experiences. Many individuals with BPD experience a pervasive fear of rejection or abandonment, whether real or perceived. This fear can drive extreme behaviors, such as emotional outbursts, impulsivity, self-harm, or attempts to control or avoid loss at all costs.
These behaviors are not signs of attention-seeking or manipulation; they are survival responses rooted in trauma. Unfortunately, the very nature of BPD symptoms can mask the actual needs beneath them, often leading to misdiagnosis or inadequate care. At Hanley Center, we approach BPD not with judgment but with clinical insight and compassion.
Trauma’s Role in BPD
Research increasingly supports a strong link between unresolved trauma and the development of BPD. Individuals with BPD often have histories of abandonment, neglect, emotional invalidation, or other early attachment wounds. These formative experiences shape how they perceive relationships, safety, and themselves.
While trauma is experienced differently for everyone, the result is often the same: difficulty coping with emotions, distorted self-image, and unstable interpersonal relationships. For years, these behaviors were dismissed or stigmatized, labeled as “dramatic” or “manipulative.”
Today, we know better. These individuals are not broken; they are trying to survive emotional pain that feels unbearable. At Hanley Center, we meet that pain with empathy and trauma-informed care designed to help each person understand their past, build emotional resilience, and reclaim their sense of self.
Signs and Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
BPD affects thoughts, emotions, behavior, and relationships. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Intense fear of abandonment
- Rapid shifts between idolizing and devaluing others
- Unstable or chaotic relationships
- Impulsivity (spending, eating, sex, substance use)
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Identity confusion or instability
- Emotional outbursts, rage, or irritability
- Self-harming behaviors or suicidal threats
- Dissociation or feeling disconnected from reality
- Anxiety, depression, and paranoia
- Co-occurring substance use or risky sexual behavior
Every person with BPD is different, and symptoms may present in varying degrees of severity. What unites many individuals with BPD is a profound need to be seen, heard, and safely supported.
BPD and Co-Occurring Substance Use
The core features of BPD, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and interpersonal difficulties, significantly increase the risk of substance use disorders. Studies show that nearly 78% of individuals with BPD will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.
At Hanley Center, we provide integrated dual diagnosis treatment, meaning both mental health and substance use disorders are addressed together by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, therapists, and medical professionals. For individuals living with Borderline Personality Disorder, this approach is especially effective, as therapies like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-focused modalities, and mindfulness-based interventions are proven to support emotional regulation while also addressing co-occurring addiction.
For those who do not have a substance use disorder, Hanley Center also offers a standalone Residential Mental Health Program, where individuals can receive focused, evidence-based care for BPD and related conditions in a structured, supportive environment.
The Risks of Untreated BPD
The emotional intensity of BPD can place individuals at increased risk for self-harm and suicide. Studies have shown that 70–75% of individuals with BPD report at least one act of self-harm. A 2019 study found that people with BPD are also at a significantly higher risk for premature death, most often related to suicide.
These statistics are sobering, but they are not a life sentence. With comprehensive treatment and a strong support system, individuals with BPD can stabilize, heal, and thrive.
If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please get in touch with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988 for immediate support.
Evidence-Based Treatment for BPD at Hanley Center
While BPD can feel overwhelming, recovery is possible. At Hanley Center, we offer evidence-based therapies that empower individuals to regulate emotions, build stronger relationships, and develop a stable sense of self. These include:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – A gold-standard treatment for BPD that focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – A trauma-focused therapy that helps reprocess and release distressing memories that contribute to emotional dysregulation.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helps identify and challenge distorted thinking patterns that impact mood and behavior.
- Group therapy and community support – Creates connection, accountability, and shared healing.
- Family support and education – Helps loved ones understand BPD and create healthier relational dynamics.
For those also struggling with addiction, our integrated substance use treatment ensures that each condition is treated simultaneously with a unified plan for lasting recovery.
A Path Forward
Living with Borderline Personality Disorder can feel like being at war with your own mind, but with the proper treatment and support, peace is possible. You are not your diagnosis. You are not your symptoms. You are worthy of healing, growth, and meaningful relationships.
At Hanley Center, we don’t just treat the disorder—we support the person. Through trauma-informed care, expert clinical treatment, and a compassionate environment, we help individuals with BPD rewrite their story and reclaim their lives.
Hanley Center has been helping people all over the country achieve wellness for more than 40 years. In addition to providing age- and gender-specific treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders, Hanley offers a Patriots Initiative for first responders and veterans, a program specifically for pregnant women, and a boutique residential mental health program for adults. For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1033.
