Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can cause major problems in a person’s life, but it can be even more difficult to endure when the person experiences symptoms of psychosis. When this happens, are there options for treating the symptoms? Renewal Oasis offers treatment for BPD psychosis that helps address the symptoms of BPD. We understand how to use specific therapies to help people understand what’s going on and participate in minimizing their psychosis episodes.
What is BPD Psychosis?
Borderline personality disorder is a type of personality disorder that affects how a person interacts with others and views the world. It can dramatically impact a person’s ability to have healthy relationships with others, as well as successfully hold down a career. BPD affects how people act and think and often causes confusion in being able to accurately perceive others. It can result in acting out irrationally and pushing people away.
One symptom that can occur as part of the illness is BPD psychosis. This symptom is mainly characterized by having hallucinations. The most common type of hallucination is auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), which occur in 29%-50% of patients. AVH happens frequently and causes a great deal of distress for the person, who perceives the voices as controlling them and evil in nature. They usually do not recognize that these are hallucinations but instead think they are really happening.
Signs of BPD Psychosis to Look Out For
Someone who has BPD psychosis will experience AVH that are critical in nature and often encourage the person to act in self-destructive ways. Other signs can happen that loved ones can look out for to help them understand when someone experiences psychosis. Common symptoms of BPD psychosis include:
- Visual hallucinations
- Gustatory hallucinations (strange or unpleasant tastes)
- Olfactory hallucinations (smells and aromas that aren’t actually present)
- Tactile hallucinations (feeling someone or something touching a person’s skin or beneath the skin)
- Thought blocking (suddenly unable to finish a thought or sentence)
- Disassociation
- Delusions
- Feeling their thoughts or actions are being controlled by outside forces
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately seek medical treatment. A doctor or mental health clinician can perform an assessment, provide a full diagnosis, and recommend a course of treatment.
Dangers of Psychosis
Someone who has episodes of BPD psychosis can actually put themselves in danger. For example, someone who hears voices telling them to do things cannot tell that what they are hearing is not real. They may follow the orders they hear, even if they can cause harm to themselves or others. Someone in the middle of a psychotic episode may threaten others or act out violently toward them. As well, someone who does not receive treatment for their BPD psychosis can end up with permanent damage to their brain structure.
More than physical dangers can happen to someone who does not seek treatment for their psychosis. It can cause a person to be unable to hold down a job and even result in homelessness.
Can Borderline Personality Disorder Psychosis Be Treated?
A person who has BPD usually reaches the onset of it by the time they are a young adult. Because the condition can be difficult to diagnose initially, someone who suspects they or a loved one has it should consult with a professional trained to recognize BPD. These experts can also recognize the symptoms of BPD psychosis. While borderline personality disorder cannot be cured, with the right treatment program, the individual can learn to manage their symptoms. Additionally, some people find that their symptoms improve somewhat as they age. This aspect is more common among those who receive managed care for their condition over time.
There are two main approaches used during borderline personality disorder treatment. The main one is the use of psychotherapy to help people understand their condition and their limits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is often employed to help manage their symptoms and develop the ability to regulate their emotions and learn healthy coping skills. Having those skills in place can help reduce the risk of having psychotic episodes.
The second approach is the use of prescription medications. No drugs are specifically designed to treat BPD psychosis, but they can still benefit the person because they help manage the symptoms.
Contact Renewal Oasis About Treating BPD Psychosis in Palm Desert, California
Do you have borderline personality disorder and sometimes experience episodes of psychosis or know someone who does? When this happens, it can be frightening to both you and your loved ones. Renewal Oasis offers treatment for BPD psychosis that allows you to manage all of your symptoms. We provide treatment through both outpatient and residential programs so we can help people with a variety of mental health needs and schedules. Our therapy staff uses their years of experience and a compassionate approach to assist in helping you improve your mental health. We also provide options for prescription medications to help ease your symptoms.
Would you like to talk about your options for getting treatment for yourself or someone you love? Contact us today and see how easy it is to find help.
